Meet The Presenters

Dr. Go-Miller is passionate about meeting the needs of all learners, especially those who demonstrate unique gifts and talents. She was a classroom teacher of gifted students for more than 25 years and is currently the instructional coach for gifted and talented education in Lodi Unified School District.

I have been a teacher for 31 years in Lodi Unified. I currently teach third grade, but have taught 2nd-6th grades. I have also been lucky to be instructor for Project Impact/TCSJ for 25 years.

I graduated from UC Davis and taught high school for six years. Then I pursued my master's degree in STEM Education from TCSJ and because a STEM coordinator for Tracy Unified. I am now a Environmental Coordinator and teach part-time at TCSJ. Things that I love include: the outdoors, Project-based learning, baking, and gardening, and being with my family.

I am a distinguished educator with over 24 years of classroom and leadership experience. I graduated from the Benerd School of Education at The University of the Pacific with my B.A. Liberal Studies Degree and Preliminary Teaching Credential in 1998 and cleared my Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in 1999. For the first 20 years of my career I taught Kindergarten through Third Grade. In 2015, I went back to school to earn my Preliminary Administrative Credential followed shortly the following year with earning my M.A. in Educational Leadership from Teachers College of San Joaquin (TCSJ). Over the course of my career I have taught for three of our San Joaquin County School Districts (Stockton, Lincoln and Linden Unified). From August of 2019 through June of 2022 I worked for Linden Unified as the TK -12 Instructional Coach and TCSJ Induction Mentor. Since 2018 I dipped my toes into Adult Education and have taught 2 different Pre-Service Courses for TCSJ and will be starting my fifth class at the end of April 2023. In the Fall of 2022 I was selected as the Student Engagement Specialist for Linden Elementary. I am currently in the middle of my second year for this site based supportive role, and looking forward to many future years ahead in this position. I bring the excellence, enthusiasm, organization and collaborative leadership desired for presenting at your upcoming EduGrowth conference. Over my career, having the opportunity to develop, lead, and present engaging workshops and curricular content to all ages and experiences has enhanced my passion for educational mentorship. If I had to summarize my ultimate goal it would read like this: Be a part of an exemplary team of leaders, dedicated to mentoring educators who “together” will create the foundational support necessary for all teachers to not just survive but THRIVE in the field of education.

Math BA and Single Subject Credential from CSU Sacramento. Environmental Literacy MEd. from TCSJ. Taught in Natomas, Galt Joint Union Elementary School District, and Modesto City Schools. 6th year as a Teacher Coach.

Lisa Reece has over 20 years of teaching experience in Merced and San Joaquin counties with students from pre-school through post-secondary. Lisa believes at her core that children are individuals that deserve to be nurtured in an environment where they can thrive as life-long learners. They are in fact the center of the educational process. Her goal is to create within educators a desire to be a guide on a child's journey through education. We must provide skills that foster thinking, collaborating, creating, developing, serving, and sustaining. Lisa serves as the coordinator of Single Subject and CTE credentials and is an instructor at TCSJ. She has a single subject credential in English, an Administrative Services credential, in addition to a Juris Doctorate.

Dr. Myra Gardea-Hernández completed her studies at San Joaquin Delta College, Teachers College of San Joaquin and University of the Pacific. While at University of the Pacific, she earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies and a Multiple Subject BCLAD teaching credential; an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction; an Administrative Services Credential; and a Doctorate in Educational Administration and Leadership. Myra started her journey as an educator in 2007 and has worked in multiple San Joaquin County school districts as a dual immersion and mainstream teacher, a GED and ESL instructor and as an elementary school Assistant Principal. Myra joined TCSJ in 2022 as the Coordinator of Teacher Induction and Professional Learning Center and currently coordinates the Administrative Services Credential Programs. She is dedicated to supporting others in reaching their educational goals. Her commitment to lifelong learning and the pursuit for continuous growth inspires her to learn about anything and everything.

With nearly two decades of experience in education, Lori has taken on multiple roles including instructional coach, administrator, and classroom teacher. As an advisor and instructor for the TCSJ graduate studies program, Lori also shares her expertise and knowledge with aspiring educators. When she's not working, she enjoys spending time with her four children, including three adults and one teenager, as well as her beloved pets. Additionally, Lori loves to explore new destinations and travel whenever possible.

I joined SJCOE in 2007 after working as a middle school teacher and teacher leader in Stockton. Over the past 16 years I have developed and facilitated over 500 professional learning sessions for teachers, instructional coaches, site and district leaders, parents, and county office leaders across SJCOE. Instructional methodologies, collaboration practices, and system improvement approaches have been my primary focus areas. In addition to professional learning facilitation, I taught "Curriculum for the 21st Century" for TCSJ, I am SJCOE's Regional Lead Facilitator for 21CSLA, and I co-lead SJCOE's CA MTSS initiative, ESSA support, and Differentiated Assistance partnerships.

Kristine is the Environmental Literacy Coordinator at the San Joaquin County Office of Education, where she plays a vital role in promoting environmental awareness and education. With an M.Ed in Environmental Literacy from Teachers College of San Joaquin, she is equipped with the knowledge and skills to inspire students and teachers alike. Kristine's educational background is diverse, having earned a bachelor's degree in Teaching English and Swedish as a Second Language from Daugavpils University in Latvia. This international experience has fostered her passion for working with students from diverse cultural backgrounds, fueling her love for travel and continuous learning. Outside of her professional pursuits, Kristine finds joy in photography and hiking, often sharing these adventures with her husband and their two children. She values these moments as opportunities to connect with nature and appreciate its beauty. Being part of the SJCOE STEM Programs fills Kristine with pride and fulfillment. Collaborating with a dedicated team, she helps develop programs that empower students and teachers to cultivate personal awareness and respect for the natural world, ultimately becoming responsible stewards of the environment. Kristine's dedication to environmental literacy and her unwavering commitment to fostering a love for nature make her a valuable asset to the San Joaquin County Office of Education and the community it serves.

Palma is an award winning Early Childhood teacher with over 40 years of classroom experience teaching ELL and EO students. She creates research-based, developmentally appropriate materials and shares innovative methods that foster conceptual understanding and total student engagement strategies on her blog, KFUNdamentals, and in her dynamic presentations for educators throughout N.America.

Innovative, adaptable leader. Experienced in multi-stream programs, working knowledge with program integration at the community college level. More than 30 years education experience including instruction, college counseling and administrative experience. Skilled in both written and oral communication, leadership and organization. SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS •Thirty- five years of experience as an effective educator •Consistently receives top student evaluations; strong record of student retention • Superb communicator – rapidly connects with students, staff/team, and community members • Twenty years of outstanding management and supervisory knowledge • Stanislaus County Office of Education Teacher of the Year 2005 •State of California Teacher of the Year 2006 • Regional Occupational Teacher of the Year 2006 • American Leadership Senior Fellow 2015 • CSU Fellowship for Outstanding Research 2016

Kristin has spent the past eight years dedicating herself to the field of education in various capacities. Her journey has taken her from the classroom, where she honed her teaching skills, to the district level, where she served as a Coordinator of Instruction, Technology, and Programs, and now to her current role as Vice Principal. Kristin's career path includes a unique foundation in corporate sales, leadership, and entrepreneurship, which she cultivated before finding her true calling in education. The intersection of these pathways has helped her to develop a passion in helping educators grow in their practice, with a clear focus on equity and student learning. Currently, Kristin is particularly excited about the convergence of education and technology. She believes in the power of leveraging AI in education to streamline processes and save educators valuable time, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: helping young minds reach their full potential.

Chris Brown has taught high school science in San Joaquín county for over 10 years in Stockton, Tracy, and now in Ripon. With bachelor's degrees in music and environmental science and a master's in education curriculum and instruction from Pacific, he tries to take the best of all of his backgrounds to create engaging lessons for students. His current areas of interest in education are grading practices, problem/project based learning, increasing engagement through real-world STEAM activities, and integrating AI into his prep and lessons.

Amy Frame, Ed.D., based in Visalia, CA, is an experienced educational leader with a passion for environmental education and sustainability. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCLA, focusing her dissertation on the efficacy of environmental education on college, careers, and civic engagement. Amy holds a Master's in Instructional Leadership from Harvard and a Bachelor's in History & Art History from UCLA. She has served in various leadership roles, including Director of Strategic Partnerships at Ten Strands, Director of Education at Grown in L.A., and Director of Curriculum & Instruction at the Environmental Charter School network. During her 14 years in the classroom, she taught English, History, and Science to 3rd through 12th graders. In her 6 years as a college instructor she has taught courses in Humanities methods, assessment, equity, and building capacity for sustainability in STEM.

Anne has been an educator in LodiUSD for 34 years. She has taught multiple grade levels as a teacher. She has been an instructor for TCSJ for more than 20 years working with IMPACT, the MIAA program and Residency@TCSJ. When she is not teaching she enjoys reading, going to the movies, watching the Giants, being at the beach, and wandering the aisles of Target.

I have been teaching Moderate to Severe for over 25 years and also working for TCSJ over 20 as well. I focus my teaching on teaching independence, functional academic skills, and developing a relationship with my families. My primary focus is to make my students as independent as possible so they will have skills that will carry them throughout their educational years and into their adult life.

Passionate about making space for neurodiversity in public education, Shannon has dedicated her career to helping educators understand that there is no one "right" way of thinking, learning and behaving. Once we can embrace human difference as the "norm" we can create a truly inclusive learning environment in which student variability is seen as a benefit to the classroom experience. With a background in teaching UDL, SEL Competencies, Mindfulness, Upstanders, yoga, and more Shannon is well prepared to explore with you how to create a safe and inclusive classroom for ALL your students.

I am New in my role at TCSJ, have been in Education for over 20 years as a Principal, TOSA, and Curriculum Specialist for Tracy Unified and K-8 teacher for Stockton Unified. Doctoral Candidate w/UOP with a passion for Educational Technology.

Mary Beth Barber works for the California State Library managing the COMPASS program (California Online Media Program for Access and Student Success). COMPASS brings online school-library resources (e.g. Britannica, TeachingBooks, PebbleGo, PBS and arts videos) to every public school, and was previously known as the K-12 Online Resources Program. Mary Beth has worked for the state of California for over two decades for cultural agencies, was a member of the arts framework committee for CDE in 2019, and is currently a reviewer for the California Young Reader Medal program.

I have been in education for 31 years. 23 as a classroom teacher, and the last 8 as an instructional coach. I have a passion for developing a love of learning in students. I also desire for all teachers and students to be successful in their educational choices. I want all teachers and students to have the tools they need to be great.

I am a reading intervention teacher at Ripona Elementary in Ripon. I've taught kindergarten through 12th grade for the past 17 years. I hold a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction in Reading with an emphasis in Elementary Education.

Yvette Menchaca has worked as an educator in an alternative education setting for over 16 years. She has taught English and Social Sciences to secondary at-promise students for SJCOE Court and Community Schools & Programs (COSP) since 2008. Yvette accepted an administrative position as the Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) Coordinator to support the implementation of Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports, Trauma Informed Care, and Restorative Practices. Site administration responsibilities has helped to her to cultivate other integrated support services that align efforts to meet the needs of the whole child while increasing student learner outcomes. In 2018, she became a licensed trainer of Restorative Practices through the International Institute of Restorative Practices (IIRP) and continues to support the program-wide implementation of proactive and restorative approaches to building positive relationships while addressing student discipline issues that hold students accountable while improving equitable outcomes.

Hey Everyone! My name is Caity Carter and I am a passionate education specialist with over seven years of diverse experience. I have special education credentials in mild moderate support needs and extensive support needs, as well as a master's degree in special education. I have worked across various settings, including as a para-educator, in non-public schools, resource programs, mild moderate classrooms, extensive needs programs, and adult transition initiatives. I am currently serving as an instructional coach at a virtual charter school, and dedicate my daytime efforts to creating a virtual adult transition program and coaching education specialists. By night, I take on the role of an adjunct professor, for TCSJ's pre-service, impact, and master's program students. I am also a passionate DIG (Diversity, Inclusion, and Growth) advocate, actively working to ensure that special education is not only accessible but also inclusive for all individuals.

Karie is an educator with over 20 years experience who specializes in both Second Language Acquisition and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). She works in Stockton Unified School District as an EL Instructional Specialist. Additionally, Karie has taught in various teacher education programs, including CSU, Sacramento, CSU Stanislaus, and Teacher’s College of San Joaquin. She is excited to have recently launched her own consulting company, Karie Nelson Consulting LLC.

Carol Brooks is an educator and consultant with nearly 30 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and instructor in higher education settings. She coaches adults working in schools and education-related settings to 1) cultivate an organizational culture that prioritizes the well-being of school staff, and 2) work towards a long-term commitment to actively acknowledge and address the impact of stress and trauma on employees. She holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Saint Mary’s College of CA. As a lecturer in TCSJ’s IMPACT program, Carol is committed to fostering learners’ collaborative, equity-driven leadership and supporting their professional growth.

I have over 15 years experience in teaching special education, including teaching students with extensive support needs, and students in resource placements. I have taught at the middle school, high school, and transitions/young adult levels. Both my Masters of Education and my Doctorate of Education are in Curriculum and Instruction. I am committed to supporting teachers in designing and developing lessons that are both rigorous and appropriate for their students' respective abilities.

Fred Cochran is a former elementary and EL teacher, instructional coach, and administrator. He is currently the UDL Implementation Specialist for Continuous Improvement and Support at San Joaquin County of Education. His Universal Design for Learning (UDL) journey began when he became a county office lead for Multi-tiered System of Support (CASUMS). Fred is the UDL Huddle Lead for the Capital Central Foothill Area Consortium, co-facilitator for the CA UDL Network and the CA UDL Coalition. He developed and continues to curate The UDL Toolkit (www.bit.ly/Toolkit4UDL) and podcasts UDL & U in Real Time and UDL What's on the Menu.

The "Tech Maestro" from Silicon Valley is a lot more than just an expert in modern learning. A distinguished Education Evangelist at Adobe, he's been dubbed a GeekDad, TechJedi, and even SuperMariachi by peers and admirers alike! Boasting 30+ illustrious years in the realm of education, Martin has not only envisioned but sculpted the future of tech in learning. He's a pioneer in marrying classroom tradition with innovative blended learning both in workplaces and academic spaces. With a vast portfolio that includes pioneering blended curricular programs — adopted by educational institutions from local districts to prestigious universities — Martin's impact is felt far and wide. Whether you're in a classroom in the US, attending a workshop in Canada, or engaging in a webinar in Latin America, the odds are you've come across Martin's transformative teaching techniques. Having donned many caps, from being a teacher, curriculum coach, and technology director to an online education maestro, Martin's expertise is unparalleled. He's a sought-after voice, presenting across local to international stages on molding the next-gen educational strategies. Dive into his most recent ventures at (TheTechProfe.com)

Luis “Tito” Talamantes has been a Mariachi educator in the Stockton Unified School District since 2014. His ensembles have been invited to the White House (2016), The Kennedy Center for the performing arts (2018), performed for Motown legend singer-songwriter, Smokey Robinson, have placed in many national competitions, opened for comedian George Lopez. His music has been placed in the Swiss short film, L’Artificier. Talamantes written works focus on exercises for the classroom mariachi ensemble and pieces for young mariachi ensembles. His marching band arrangements have been played by numerous ensembles in the Midwest, Colorado, and even Cornell University’s Big Red Marching Band. Talamantes has also written pieces for the American Strings Teachers Association for Mariachi and string orchestra and has led several Mariachi education clinics in Northern California. Talamantes currently directs Mariachi Ocelotlan at the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music and UC Davis’ Mariachi ensemble.

I have worked in Lodi USD for 18 years. 10 years teaching middle school science, 5 years as a science instructional coach, and 3 years as an elementary vice principal. I have taught at TCSJ for 6 years in the single subject area. I love visiting my grandkids, going on trips with my husband, and riding my motorcycle. :-)

Cate Tolnai supports educators and leaders as an Adobe Creative Educator! She has been in education since 2002, and brings her experience in classrooms and as a site, district, and county administrator to each of her projects and sessions. Cate is committed to designing professional learning opportunities that empower educators and engage them with dynamic, creative activities and real-world strategies. She commits to supporting the design and integration of technology, teaching, and creativity across grade levels and content areas with a direct focus on equitable and innovative instructional design.