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 Holmes MEd, has dedicated her career to making a lasting impact on the lives of students in Alabama. She has eight years of experience in the public education sector and currently serves as a regional literacy specialist with the Alabama Reading Initiative, a program of the Alabama State Department of Education.

In her current role, Holmes works to enhance the literacy skills of third-grade students. She emphasizes evidence-based literacy practices, striving to remove barriers and empower students to become proficient readers.

Holmes holds a BS in criminology and political science. Her degree has given her a unique perspective on the societal and systemic factors that can impact a child’s ability to learn effectively. She also holds a master’s in elementary education. When not immersed in the world of education, Holmes finds joy in traveling with her family and cooking.

Publications

•  , (Understood)

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 (HOO-lee-on-a ER-two-bay) is the 2021 National Teacher of the Year. As an educator in Las Vegas, Urtubey taught in special education settings. She also developed schoolwide, muti-tiered systems of support (MTSS) for academic, social-emotional, and behavioral interventions. In 2022, President Biden appointed Ms. Urtubey to the President’s Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics.

A bilingual, first-generation immigrant, Juliana has worked throughout her career to help students be proud of their identities and acknowledge their strengths. One of her greatest accomplishments is teaching linguistically gifted students to be confident readers, writers, and mathematicians who also care deeply about the wellness of their communities. She has used her platform as Teacher of the Year to advocate for a “joyous and just” education, one that is inclusive and celebratory of all students’ identities, families, and communities. She has shared her message with educators and policymakers nationwide, including at the White House and Harvard University. She has also made numerous national and international media appearances, including on Good Morning America, the “Today” show, Univision, and Telemundo. In 2021 she was featured on the cover of People Magazine’s “Person of the Year” issue representing educators.  

Urtubey is a National Board-Certified Teacher. She holds a bachelor’s degree in bilingual elementary education and a master’s degree in special bilingual education from the University of Arizona. She has had the opportunity to study and teach in Ecuador, Mexico, Spain, and Puerto Rico. Urtubey is a member of the board of directors and a teacher fellow for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. 

She lives in Arizona, where she enjoys tending to her collection of house plants and spending time outdoors.

Speaking engagements:

• Harvard Graduate School of Education Commencement

As featured

• CBS This Morning Teacher of the Year Announcement

• The Sweet and Innovative Ways Teachers Kept Kids Engaged in Remote Learning: ‘We Tried Everything’

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 has spent the last 15 years teaching in urban settings, focusing on social-emotional awareness, cultural and ethnic diversity, experiential learning, and educational empowerment. 

As a founding member of a new high school in an economically disadvantaged area in West Philadelphia, Saavedra spearheaded innovative initiatives for developing novice teachers and meeting the needs of all students. As an assistant principal, he focuses on developing leadership and empowering students and families to gain access to the educational opportunities they deserve. He has also served on numerous committees focused on equity, social activism, learning and thinking differences, curriculum creation and review,  and staff retention and recruitment. At Understood, he hosts the The Opportunity Gap podcast.

Saavedra holds a BA in history and secondary education and an MA in TESOL from Fairfield University in Connecticut. He also holds an MEd in Educational Administration from Arcadia University.

Publications

• Virtual Learning Was Better for Some Kids. Here’s What Teachers Learned From Them, (Education Week, 2021)

• “Q&A With the Opportunity Gap Host, Julian Saavedra”, (Understood, 2022)

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.