Understood Teacher Fellowship

Carly Bowden is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a seventh-grade math teacher in Andover, Kansas. She holds a BS in mathematics education from Emporia State University. Bowden is in her fifth year of teaching and serves as a VOYA STEM Fellow.

Shaquala Butler is an Understood Mentor Fellow and a reading specialist in Huntsville, Alabama. She holds a BS in criminology and political science from Florida State University and an MA in elementary education from the University of West Alabama. Now in her fifth year in the classroom, Butler serves as the elementary content specialist for Teach for America–Alabama. For her capstone project during her fellowship year, Butler updated and delivered a presentation on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for Teach for America.

Jessica Cisneros, MEd, is an Understood Mentor Fellow and a kindergarten teacher in Washington, DC. She earned a BA in Latin American and hemispheric studies from The George Washington University. She also earned an MEd in elementary education and an MEd in special education from Lesley University. Cisneros has been teaching for seven years, is a trained Wilson instructor, and has taken on teacher leadership roles in her school. Cisneros co-presented with Understood Teacher Fellow Michelle Capriotti at NNSTOY’s 2019 National Teacher Leadership Conference for her fellowship capstone project during her fellowship year.

Stephanie Doyle, MA, is an Understood Teacher Fellow and co-teaches in third-grade language arts and general education in Roanoke, Virginia. She holds a BA in psychology from Roanoke College and an MA in education from Walden University. Doyle has been teaching for 20 years and is the 2009 Virginia State Teacher of the Year.

Kimberly Eckert, MEd, is a 2019–2020 Understood Teacher Fellow and a high school English teacher, district program coordinator, and instructional coach in Brusly, Louisiana. She holds a BA in social work and an MEd in special education from Northwestern State University. Eckert has 12 years of teaching experience. She is the 2018 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the NEA Social Justice Activist of the Year Award in 2019.

Arthur Everett, MSEd, is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a high school government, economics, and support services teacher in Brooklyn, New York. He holds a BA in organizational behavior and American civilization from Brown University. He also earned an MSEd in teaching students in urban settings from Long Island University. Everett has been teaching for 15 years and was a 2016 Classroom Teacher Ambassador Fellow with the U.S. Department of Education.

Christina Gutierrez, MSed, is a 2019–2020 Understood Teacher Fellow and a first-grade special education teacher in New York, New York. She holds a BA in psychology and Latin American studies from the University at Albany and an MSEd in general and special education from the Bank Street College of Education. Gutierrez is in her tenth year of teaching.

Lakrisha Howard, MA, is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a kindergarten teacher in Newark, New Jersey. She holds a BS in exercise science and sports studies from Rutgers University and an MA in education from Relay Graduate School of Education. Howard has been teaching for eight years.

Lauren Jewett is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a third/fourth-grade special education teacher in New Orleans. She has been teaching for 10 years and holds a BA in history and political science from the University of Rochester. Jewett is a National Board Certified Teacher in the area of Exceptional Needs Specialist. She is currently pursuing an MA in English from the Middlebury College Bread Loaf School of English and is in the ASCD Emerging Leaders 2019 program.

Jonathan Juravich, MA, is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a visual arts teacher for grades K–5 in Powell, Ohio. He holds a BA in art from Otterbein University and an MA in art education from the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Juravich has 14 years of teaching experience. He is the 2018 Ohio State Teacher of the Year and was a finalist for the National Teacher of the Year.

Beth Maloney, EdD, directs arts education for Act One, a nonprofit devoted to bringing arts field trips to Title I students in Arizona. She holds a BA in elementary education and an MA in leadership and supervision from National Louis University. She also earned an EdD in higher and postsecondary education from Argosy University. Maloney was a classroom teacher for 20 years and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She is the 2014 Arizona State Teacher of the Year.

Shira Moskovitz, MA, is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a fifth-grade special education inclusion teacher in Sunnyside, New York. She holds a BA in graphic design and an MA in elementary education from CUNY Queens College. Moskovitz also earned a post-master’s certificate in special education from CUNY Brooklyn College. She has been teaching for five years.

Kareem Neal, MA, is an Understood Expert and a self-contained special education teacher in Phoenix. 

Brian Smith, MA, is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a kindergarten teacher in Claremont, North Carolina. He holds a BA in psychology and human/community services from Lenoir-Rhyne University and an MA in elementary education from Gardner-Webb University. Smith has been teaching for 18 years and served on the board of the North Carolina International Dyslexia Association for 10 years.

TJ Thornton, MAT, is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a fourth-grade teacher in Tumwater, Washington. They have a BS in social studies from Western Oregon University and an MAT in elementary and middle school education from Willamette University. Thornton has been teaching for 11 years.

Juliana Urtubey, MA, is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a special education teacher working in inclusion and resource settings in Las Vegas. She holds a BA in elementary education with bilingual education certification and an MA in bilingual special education, both from the University of Arizona. Urtubey is a National Board Certified Teacher and the 2021 National Teacher of the Year. During her fellowship year, she authored an article about how teachers can support families of English language learners during the special education referral and evaluation process.

Christina Armas, MA, teaches English as a New Language (ENL) in Queens, New York, working with kindergartners in general education and special education classes. She has 16 years of experience in the instruction and assessment of English language learners (ELLs), working both with newcomers and with students with interrupted formal education (SIFE).

Armas has extensive experience with ELLs who have learning and thinking differences. She collaborates regularly with general and special educators, paraprofessionals, and other service providers. She is trained in and implements several Orton–Gillingham curricula such as Recipe for Reading, Preventing Academic Failure, and Engage NY: Skills.

She recently completed a teaching fellowship with Understood, where she participated in online sessions focusing on Universal Design for Learning (UDL), direct instruction, advocacy in education, and empathy. She earned her MA in TESOL at Hunter College.

Kara Ball, MEd, is an elementary science and STEM education specialist with Baltimore City Public Schools. She earned a BS in special education and elementary education from Towson University and an MS in curriculum, instruction, and assessment from Walden University. For her capstone project, Ball authored an article about how her own experiences with learning and thinking differences have shaped her teaching.

Michelle Capriotti, MAEd, teaches special education in Chandler, Arizona. She holds a BA in psychology from St. Mary's College, an MAEd in curriculum and instruction from Arizona State University, and a post-master’s certificate in educational policy from Arizona State University. Capriotti co-presented with Understood Teacher Fellow Jessica Cisneros at NNSTOY’s 2019 National Teacher Leadership Conference for her capstone project.

Eric Crouch, MEd, is an Understood Teacher Fellow and a fifth-grade general education teacher in Columbus, Georgia. He has a BS in early childhood from Columbus State University, an MEd in elementary education from Troy University, and a specialist certificate in educational leadership from Columbus State University. In 2019, Crouch was named one of 50 finalists for the Global Teacher Prize.

Pauli Evanson, MA, teaches elementary special education in Brooklyn, New York. She earned a BS in natural resources from Cornell University and an MA in childhood education and special education from New York University. For her capstone project, Evanson created printable resources about early childhood mathematics for teachers to share with families.

Kate Garcia, MEd, teaches high school special education science in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. She has a BS in business administration from La Salle University and an MEd in special education from Chestnut Hill College. Garcia co-presented with Understood at the American Federation of Teachers 2019 Biennial Conference for her capstone project.

Denise Panaligan, MA, teaches middle school special education in Los Angeles. She holds a BA in economics and Asian American studies from UCLA and an MA in urban education policy and administration from Loyola Marymount University. For her capstone project, Panaligan created a professional development series on inclusion for her school.

Eric Russell teaches middle school science in New Orleans. He earned a BA in sociology from Clayton State University. He delivered a presentation on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) for the science and social studies teachers at his school for his capstone project.

Julian Saavedra, MA, is an assistant principal in a public school in Philadelphia. He began his career as an educator in 2004 in Hunan, China, as a conversational English instructor and has spent the last 15 years in a variety of urban settings. Saavedra has focused his work in the classroom on social-emotional awareness, cultural and ethnic diversity, experiential learning, and educational empowerment. He has held various teacher leadership roles in both public and charter schools in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania; including social studies department chair, curriculum developer, grade level leader, and co-director of equity training.

Recently, Saavedra has focused his work on fusing trauma-informed practices into the general education classroom setting. As a founding member of a new high school in an economically disadvantaged area in West Philadelphia, he has spearheaded innovative methods to develop novice teachers and collaborate with outside organizations to meet the needs of all students. In addition, he has served on numerous network-wide committees focused on initiatives around equity, social activism, learning and thinking differences in the general education setting, curriculum creation and review, and staff retention and recruitment.

Saavedra holds a BA in history and secondary education and an MA in TESOL from Fairfield University in Connecticut.

Ashlee Upp, MEd, teaches first grade in Camden, Delaware. She earned a BS in education from the University of Delaware and an MEd in educational leadership from Wilmington University. Upp recorded an Understood Expert Chat called “How to Use Mindfulness to Manage Strong Emotions” for her capstone project.