WSESU EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE LEAGUE

Mikaela Simms has been working as WSESU Diversity Coordinator for over 10 years. She arrived in Vermont by way of the San Francisco Bay Area and Guinea West Africa; where She taught middle school with an emphasis on Social Justice. In her current role she emphasizes humanizing every situation and making connections across disciplines and other dividing lines. “Our job as educators is to be curious about every student and colleague. It is through deep inquiry that we learn about ourselves and the equitable world we wish build.”

Hannah van Loon is a Paraeducator in the PreKindergarten at Dummerston School. She enters her second year as Chair of the school’s Diversity and Equity Council.  Hannah also serves on the Dummerston Leadership Council which collaborates with the DEC exchanging conversations and doing ongoing work on action based goals around equity, diversity, acceptance and inclusion of all students in the Dummerston School community. Hannah enjoys a walk in the woods, reading and visiting Maine when she can.

I recently transitioned to academic support after teaching upper elementary grades for several years. I believe in creating learning spaces where all students feel safe and seen. When students find their voices, they become changemakers in our world. Relationships and community are at the heart of my teaching practice. When not at school, I love to grow vegetables, read novels with a cat on my lap, and wander in the woods. I am also learning trapeze, a practice which reminds me that learning new things is thrilling, and that scary things won’t always feel scary.

Willoughby is an art teacher at Oak Grove School.

Shannon Kelly (she/her) is Equity and Social Justice Coach for grades K-8. Having served as a Diversity Teacher Leader for the last few years, Shannon is looking forward to this opportunity to support staff and students in our district’s ongoing work toward equity and social justice.

Nina Nabizadeh is lucky enough to be the art teacher at Guilford Central School where they have too much fun. They are first generation Iranian American and ceramic artist.

I teach social studies to 7th & 8th graders, and am passionate about incorporating social justice into our work together, including telling stories about history that are not always told. Over the years I have lived and traveled in a number of other countries. I am a parent, and have also worked in early childhood education. I’ve been teaching at BAMS since 2010, and am also involved in local community activities such as women’s chorus and parenting for social justice groups.

Becca teachers social studies at BAMS.

Aminah Christine is an academic support teacher at the middle school.

I am a sixth grade teacher at Academy School. I strive to create caring citizens who are passionate about creating communities and a sense of belonging for others. I regularly bring my students outside of the classroom to expand their learning, broaden their sense of self, and connect them to our local community.

Carey is the librarian at Putney Central School.

I taught in primary grade classrooms for fifteen years before transitioning to academic support.  I am passionate about early childhood and elementary education and love finding ways to make social justice learning accessible to even our youngest students.

Solomon is a social worker at GSS.