ESD-U Faculty
The effectiveness of ESD-U is grounded in our quality instructors and mentors, who have pertinent, real-life knowledge and experience to share with program candidates. All instructors and mentors are educators with extensive experience in the field of education.
Program Mentors
Mentors are assigned by the district, and often work in the same building as candidates, (sometimes even the same classroom) so they have in-depth, first-hand knowledge of the students, school and region being served.
Program Field Supervisors
Field supervisors are assigned by the program and perform multiple observations throughout the candidate’s field experience. Based on the observations, the field supervisors provide real-time, applicable feedback to the candidate regarding performance relating to teacher role standards and ESD-U program outcomes, and provides documents and evaluation for the program.
Interested in a job at ESD-U?
Look through our open positions and apply!
Lead Faculty
Click to learn more about each faculty member.
Michele Davis, Elementary Education Faculty Lead
Elementary Education Teacher
Michele Davis brings over 10 years of passionate teaching experience to her current role as an Elementary Education Teacher in the scenic Columbia River Gorge. She has held key positions including Title I Director and EL Specialist, enabling her to support students from diverse backgrounds. In her spare time, Michele enjoys exploring the natural beauty of the Gorge area through hiking adventures with family by her side. She also unwinds by cozying up with a good book, always excited to let the turn of a page spark her imagination.
What drew you to education as a career?
I was a struggling reader in 4th grade and my teacher Mrs. Miller was the first person who believed in me. She worked with me to get caught up. I love the way she built relationships and invested in her students. I knew I wanted to become a teacher and impact students the way she impacted my life.
Strengths and interests in education:
Strong organizational skills, team oriented, hands-on learning, flexible, and empathetic
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Bachelors of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education with ESOL Endorsement; Masters of Science in Education in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education; Reading
Courses:
ELEM 101, ELEM 202, ELEM 303, ELEM 909/910, RDG 105/110, RDG 303, ELEM Test Prep
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Dr. Heather Heap, Ed.D., Special Education Faculty Lead
Special Education Lead
As the current Special Education Lead, Dr. Heather Heap draws from over 23 years dedicated to empowering and elevating students facing learning challenges. She has worked with students across several states including California, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington.
What drew you to education as a career?
I believe every person can learn and grow. Therefore, I foster learning wherever my journey takes me.
Strengths and interests in education:
Autism, Co teaching, Restorative Justice, Research Based Practices
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Special Education, Administration, Social Studies
Endorsement areas:
Special Education
Courses:
SPED 707, SPED 905/910
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Stephanie Welniak, M.A.Ed., English Language Learner & Reading Faculty Lead
Multilingual Education Program Coordinator, Battle Ground Public Schools
As the Multilingual Education Program Coordinator for Battle Ground Public Schools, Stephanie Welniak taps into her over 13 years of experience empowering diverse learners to implement student-centered initiatives improving outcomes for EL students.
What drew you to education as a career?
I started my career in education as a middle school math teacher. I knew so many students who struggled with math and believed they weren’t good at it. I enjoyed helping students find success by making math comprehensible, meaningful, and relevant to their experiences.
Strengths and interests in education:
I really enjoy designing and facilitating professional development because supporting the work of educators keeps me embedded in current research and effective best practices. I love sharing new information and ideas with teachers and learning from their experiences in return.
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Master of Arts in Mathematics Education for Grades 5-12; TESOL Endorsement; Middle Level Math Endorsement; Administrative Certification Grades PK-12; Elementary Education K-8
Endorsement areas:
English Language Learner
Courses:
ELL 101; ELL 404; ELL 909/910; ELL Deep Dive Seminar; ELL Test Prep
“We as educators must take seriously our responsibility to create growth-mindset-friendly environments – where kids feel safe from judgement, where they understand that we believe in their potential to grow, and where they know that we are totally dedicated to collaborating with them on their learning. We are in the business of helping kids thrive, not finding reasons why they can’t.”
Sharyn Hoffert, Reading Faculty Lead
ORTIi Implementation Coach
Sharyn Hoffert is currently an ORTIi Implementation Coach with over 27 years of experience in education including her work as an adjunct instructor for undergrad Literacy coursework and Reading Specialist/Dyslexia certification. Since earning her national board certification, Sharyn has been a promoter of responsive teaching and is a passionate advocate for a better understanding of how students with dyslexia learn to read. She lives in Boring, Oregon with her husband, two boys, one dog, three cats, and her amazing parents.
What drew you to education as a career?
I am passionate about equipping and empowering K-5 educators to use evidence based instructional practices to ensure that all students become literate.
Strengths and interests in education:
Dyslexia; Responsive teaching
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Elementary Ed K-9
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education; Reading
Courses:
ESU Reading 202
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Faculty
Click to learn more about each faculty member.
Sherlunda Anderson Smith
Special Education Teacher
Sherlunda Anderson Smith is currently a Special Education Teacher with over 23 years of experience in education. In her spare time she loves to read and travel.
What drew you to education as a career?
It actually chose me.
Strengths and interests in education:
I love building relationships.
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Special Education and Administration/Leadership
Endorsement areas:
Special Education
Courses:
SPED 303/404
“Seek first to understand, and then to be understood!”
Gahlya Auel, Ed.S
Inclusionary Practices Coordinator
Gahlya Auel, Ed.S is the Inclusionary Practices Coordinator for ESD 112. In her 15 years of experience in education, she has worked as a school psychologist and with students from birth through 21 years of age.
What drew you to education as a career?
A desire to advocate for and support students that do not “fit” into the typical box and work to change structural processes that are creating barriers for students.
Strengths and interests in education:
Special education, early childhood special education, early intervention, Universal Design for Learning
Certification/Endorsements Held:
ESA, Initial Admin
Courses:
Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Setting Up an Inclusive Classroom, Social-Emotional Learning in an Inclusive Classroom
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
(paraphrased)
Dr. Adrian Cortes
Special Education Department Head & Teacher, Camas High School
Adrian Cortes is currently the Special Education Department Head & Teacher at Camas High School. As the department head, he leads a team of resource room special education teachers, instructional para educators, Integrated Academic Program Special Education teachers and Integrated Communication Teachers. In his 9 years of experience in education, Adrian has participated in the nationwide Content Advisory Panel to form the test framework for the Special Education subtest for new teacher candidates as well as the 2023 National Evaluation Series (NES) National Benchmark Conference. He has also presented initial research at the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE). In his spare time, Adrian enjoys spending time with family, Peloton cycling & Tred running, CrossFit, trail running, boxing, reading and collecting books, wine, golfing and traveling.
Education Background:
Undergraduate degree in Human Development; Master’s degree in Education; Doctoral degree in Education: Instructional Design & Development
Strengths and interests in education:
Culturally Responsive Teaching Pedagogy; Online video observations and real time peer reflective analysis for new teacher candidates
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Special Education; Washington & Oregon Principal Admin and Program Admin Endorsement
Endorsement areas:
Special Education
Courses:
SPED 707, SPED 808 & Leading Paraeducators
“What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight – it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”
Julie Cucuel
Director, Columbia Gorge STEM Hub
Julie Cucuel is currently the Director at Columbia Gorge STEM Hub with over 23 years of experience in education. Additionally, her other roles in education include: Board of Directors Oregon Science Teachers Association, Board of Directors Gorge Technology Alliance, PDS Specialist for National Council of Professional Recognition (CDA), Adjunct Faculty in ECE at Columbia Gorge Community College, and the Author/Owner of “Much Better than Yesterday” resources/website. Julie is married to her high school sweetheart and a parent of a teenager. She loves biking, snowboarding, and travel!
What drew you to education as a career?
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher!
Strengths and interests in education:
STEM, Science, Instructional Coaching, Instructional Leadership, Early Childhood Education
Certification/Endorsements Held:
OR Elementary Education; AZ ESL Endorsement; CO & AZ Elementary Education & Administrator Licensure
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education
Courses:
ELEM 606, ELEM 607
“Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried something new.”
Molly Daley
Regional Mathematics Coordinator
Molly Daley is currently the Regional Mathematics Coordinator for ESD 112 and has been working in education for over 24 years. In her role at the ESD, Molly works to engage people with math outside of school. She thinks math play is the best way to expand narrow ideas of what math is, help people feel connected with math, and show each person they are a math person. Molly loves supporting teachers, schools, and community partners to make math play a part of the learning environment. In her free time, she enjoys running, golf, and pickle-ball with her family. Molly is always up for a new experience and anything that gets her outdoors.
What drew you to education as a career?
I love learning myself and I could listen to and observe children’s thinking all day. Curiousity is a natural human state and I love exploring my own questions and following the curiosity of students.
Special skills or interests in education:
I was an avid reader and writer myself and most interested in literacy when I started teaching. Somewhere along the way I fell in love with math and I have yet to get bored!
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Master in Teaching; National Board Certified Teacher
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education
Courses:
ELEM 405 Math/STEM Methods 1; ELEM 406 Math/STEM
“We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.”
Natalia Gai Christofferson
Third Grade Teacher
Natalia Gai Christofferson is currently a third grade teacher at Hockinson Heights Elementary School. In her 13 years of experience in education, she has also been a Special Education paraprofessional for Preschool students (ages 3-5).
What drew you to education as a career?
From a young age I knew I wanted to be a teacher. The idea was solidified while in Third Grade. My teacher and her student teacher’s excitement about learning fascinated me. They encouraged me to continue to read as much as I could and ask questions about everything. I was fortunate to have phenomenal educators until graduation. These educators motivated students to take risks in their learning. They helped students see themselves as readers, writers, mathematicians. scientists, etc.
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education
“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.”
Amy Hernández Matsumoto
High School Spanish Teacher
Amy Hernández Matsumoto is currently a high school Spanish teacher at Union High School. With over 27 years of experience in education, Amy has also worked as an SIOP Coach, International Traveler Lead Teacher, as well as a WABE & La Cosecha Presenter. She loves to travel with her students and has taken them to Panama, Perú, Ecuador, and Costa Rica. Outside of education, Amy owns a restaurant (Pizzeria La Sorrentina) with her husband.
What drew you to education as a career?
I have always wanted to work with second language learners as my father didn’t learn to speak English in schools until he was 9 years old. He was a migrant farm worker and during those times in Washington State it was more of a sink or swim type of system and he was ridiculed for not knowing English and taught to feel lesser than. That was my main reason for wanting to become a teacher. I also just love working with kids and seeing them grow into these incredible human beings.
Strengths and interests in education:
If I could find a way to build in a program where students in the DL program could start in an education program in high school, I would love that.
Certification/Endorsements Held:
K-12 Bilingual Ed, K-12 Spanish, K-12 English as a Second Language
Endorsement areas:
English Language Learner
Courses:
Lesson Planning with SIOP; Intro to ESL
“They thought they could bury us. They didn’t realize we were seeds.”
Patricia A. Jones, M.S. Education
Curriculum Developer, Instructional Learning Coach & Multilingual Learner Program Coordinator
Patricia Jones is currently a Curriculum Developer, Instructional Learning Coach & Multilingual Learner Program Coordinator in K-12 education. She has more than 35 years of experience in all K-12 grades and specializes in very diverse learners in very diverse learning environments.
What drew you to education as a career?
I know teaching to be a calling to serve with love.
Certification/Endorsements Held:
K-12; National Board Certification – ELA Adolescence and Young Adulthood
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education; English Language Learner; Reading
Courses:
ELEM 505, Reading 808
“Dwell in possibilities.”
Sara Kaviani
English Teacher, Battle Ground High School
Sara Kaviani is currently an English teacher at Battle Ground High School. In her 21 years of experience in education, she has earned national board certification and been a BEST mentor teacher.
What drew you to education as a career?
I enjoy working with diverse groups of people and love the creativity that teaching affords. Teaching is also a lot of fun.
Certification/Endorsements Held:
English and Special education
Endorsement areas:
Special Education
“Success is not final; failure is not fatal. It is the courage to continue that counts.”
Lisa Kong
School Based Instructional Coach
Lisa Kong is currently a School Based Instructional Coach. Throughout her 10 year educational journey, she has dedicated herself to serving within diverse school communities. Her passion lies in dismantling barriers for marginalized groups historically neglected by the system. As an educational leader, Lisa aspires to foster collaboration, striving towards an inclusive educational system – one that not only facilitates accessibility but also enriches the lives of every student, irrespective of their skills or identity markers. Her ultimate aim is to empower students to become the best versions of themselves, equipped with the skills necessary to flourish in society and beyond. Lisa is a mother to two amazing daughters and enjoys doing hot yoga, cooking and playing outdoors!
What drew you to education as a career?
As the child of refugee parents, I intimately understand the challenges of navigating the American school system as a child of English Language Learner parents. My firsthand experiences have instilled in me a deep empathy and insight into the struggles faced by families like mine. I have long harbored a strong desire to support individuals from similar backgrounds and to be a part of the work to create systems, policies, and practices that foster an educational experience that is accessible and inclusive to all students.
Strengths and interests in education:
I am passionate about teacher professional development, technology, and educational frameworks that encompass project-based learning both inside and outside of the classroom..
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Elementary Multiple Subjects and Principal License
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education
Courses:
ELM 606 & ELM 607
“We need to dismantle the belief that there is a ‘normal’ way to be or to learn, which perpetuates white supremacy in our schools.”
Rebecca Lamendola Fry
Independent Ed Consultant & Trainer
Rebecca Lamendola Fry is currently an Independent Ed Consultant & Trainer with over 23 years of experience in education. In addition to being a State Trainer for the past 12+ years, she has worked across the U.S. with Inclusionary Groups as well as volunteered in Zambia with kids with disabilities. In her spare time, Rebecca is very active and enjoys hiking, backpacking, kayaking, SUPing, traveling, reading, running, and biking.
What drew you to education as a career?
A child with Down Syndrome who lived in my neighborhood.
Strengths and interests in education:
ALL things SPED!
Certification/Endorsements Held:
NBCT; M.Ed Administration
Endorsement areas:
Special Education
Courses:
SPED 303/404
“As iron sharpens iron, so does one person sharpen another.”
Dr. Dusty Gail Low
Special Education Teacher
Dr. Dusty Gail Low currently works as a Special Education Teacher and also runs a STEM summer camp. With over 10 years of experience in education, she started as a preschool teacher and then transitioned to a pareducator where she worked in a variety of different classrooms. Dr. Low holds two master’s degrees and a doctorate in education. She has been married 23 years and has two teenage children, two dogs, two cats, two lizards and several fish. In her spare time, she is a collector of strawberry shortcake and enjoys making crafts.
What drew you to education as a career?
Having my own children then getting a job as a pareducator showed me how special and unique our special education population is. I wanted to be their advocate because in my school I rarely saw the kids with disabilities. They would arrive on the bus then vanish for the rest of the day. I was also a support for the resource room when I was in the fifth grade. I would help and test a girl on her letter sounds, (dibels) then leave and get a sticker. I never imagined I would be doing the same thing 30 years later, but when I looked back, I remembered how great it was to go to that class. It just felt right.
Strengths and interests in education:
Social Emotional Learning – Dissertation focused on this area. SBA testing – Committee member to support analyzing the test for our students, KDP (Kappa Delta Pi) scholarship reviewer.
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Special Education Endorsement K-12; Reading Endorsement K-12; Special Education Administration Certificate
Endorsement areas:
Reading; Special Education
Courses:
SPED 101; SPED 202
“Take some time along the way to see what’s nice about today.”
Kelly Moses
ML Specialist, Oak Harbor Schools
Kelly Moses is currently an ML Specialist at Oak Harbor Schools serving Navy dependents and their families. In her 22 years of experience in education she has held positions as the Multilingual Director and Federal Programs Director at Edmonds School District and the ELL Coordinator at Battle Ground School District. Kelly is a current member of the OSPI WIDA Teacher Leader Cohort and formerly a member of the OSPI Multilingual Education Advisory Committee and WABE Board. She lives on beautiful Whidbey Island in Washington state.
What drew you to education as a career?
My father was a Department of Defense teacher and principal in Germany.
Strengths and interests in education:
Bilingual, German/English, MTSS, UDL, Project GLAD and SIOP
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Administrative; Elementary Education; ELL
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education; English Language Learner
Courses:
ELL 202; ELL 707
“Everybody smiles in the same language.”
Dr. Sherry Sanden
TOSA, ELA/Literacy, Goldendale School District
Dr. Sherry Sanden is currently a TOSA in ELA/Literacy at the Goldendale School District. Within her 31 years in education, she was formerly an associate professor of early childhood literacy at Illinois State University. Dr. Sanden’s family is the light of her life including three adult children and seven grandchildren.
What drew you to education as a career?
I am amazed and fascinated by children’s early development, especially their language and literacy learning. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to support that.
Strengths and interests in education:
Early childhood and elementary literacy, especially early childhood and elementary reading and writing instruction
Certification/Endorsements Held:
WA Professional Teacher; Endorsements: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education
Endorsement areas:
Reading
Courses:
Reading 101
“In books I have traveled, not only to other worlds, but into my own. I learned who I was and who I wanted to be, what I might aspire to, and what I might dare to dream about my world and myself.”
Dina Sawyer
Special Education Teacher/District Behavior TOSA
Dina Sawyer is currently a Special Education Teacher & District Behavior TOSA. In her 15 years of experience in education, she has taught all grade levels (Preschool through High School) as well as provided ABA services while working in clinical settings.
What drew you to education as a career?
I always knew I wanted to work with students who were hurt, struggling, or just needed an advocate. Originally I thought I would go into counseling and got my BS in child psychology, but after working in the schools as a para in intensive needs classrooms, I realized I had much more time to have an impact and effect change in a child’s life while at school.
Strengths and interests in education:
I love all things behavior, especially working with those tricky kids that just need someone to give them the skills to manage in a different way.
Certification/Endorsements Held:
BCBA; Master’s in Special Education
Endorsement areas:
Special Education
Courses:
SPED606
“Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love.”
Pranjali Upadhyay
Integrated Curriculum Coordinator
Pranjali Upadhyay is currently an Integrated Curriculum Coordinator at ESD 112 with over 15 years of experience. She started her career as a High School Science Teacher in Los Angeles and is passionate about creating more opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to experience empowerment and success in school and beyond. In her current role, she creates professional development, curriculum, and programs that support schools and districts.
What drew you to education as a career?
I love working with young people and believe that they have the capacity to make positive change in their lives, in their communities, and in the world.
Strengths and interests in education:
Funds of Knowledge, Culturally-Sustaining Pedagogies
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Elementary; High School Science
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education
Courses:
Culturally Responsive Teaching
“Liberating education consists in acts of cognition, not transferals of information.”
Weslee Vann
MTSS Regional Implementation Coach
Weslee Vann is currently a MTSS Implementation Coach at ESD 112 with over 16 years of experience in education. She started her career as an Elementary School Teacher in Vancouver, Washington. She loved her time as a classroom teacher and the relationships she formed with her students to be able to engage them in meaningful learning. Opportunities arose for her to take on coaching roles that allowed her to reach more students and support staff as an educational leader. She believes that the foundation to providing equitable access to learning for each student is by removing systemic barriers and rebuilding equitable systems of support that are student centered and prioritize the dignity, identities, and lived experiences of the students we serve.
What drew you to education as a career?
I always knew that I wanted to have a career that served others. I spent time during my high school and college years participating in programs that worked with youth which led me to wanting to be a classroom teacher.
Strengths and interests in education:
Always Relationships First.
Restorative Practices, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Integrated Multi-Tiered System of Supports, Inclusive Practices, Equity-Focused Strategies and Approaches
Certification/Endorsements Held:
BA in Liberal Studies, MA in Curriculum & Instruction, K-8 Teaching Certificate; Principal Certificate
Endorsement areas:
K-8 Education, Administration
Courses:
Culturally Responsive Teaching, Equity, PBIS/Classroom Management
“One child, one teacher, one pen, and one book can change the world.”
Shannon Waunneta McCombs
Adjunct Professor, Clark College & WSUV
Shannon Waunneta McCombs is currently an adjunct professor at Clark College & WSUV. She has over 26 years of experience in education as well as 9 years as an instructional coach. Shannon loves stories, especially those of her students. Creating a community where there is collective ownership in teaching and learning is the favorite part of her career.
What drew you to education as a career?
A desire to increase access and find ways to build confidence and open pathways for more students in the classroom and systemically.
Strengths and interests in education:
Integrating Subjects to Increase Understanding and Engagement; Building Thinking Classrooms
Certification/Endorsements Held:
NBCT Early Adolescence Math; WA Continuing Cert: ELA, Math, Science, Earth Science
Endorsement areas:
Elementary Education
Courses:
ELEM 707
“The road to success is always under construction.”
Jeanne-Marie Wright, M.A.T
Instructor and Field Supervisor for ESD-U
Jeanne-Marie Wright is currently an Instructor and Field Supervisor for ESD-U. With over 35 years of experience in education, she has served multilingual learners in a variety of roles: as an ELL Specialist, ELL TOSA and Coach, as well as a general education teacher. Jeanne-Marie has also been an Instructor for Portland State University, Washington State University, Portland Community College, and Clark College in the areas of ESL and Teacher Education. She served on the Washington Multilingual Education Advisory Committee (MEAC), Washington Association for the Education of Speakers of Other Languages (WAESOL), as well as the Washington Association for Bilingual Education (WABE). Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Jeanne-Marie now lives in Vancouver, WA with her husband, Tony.
What drew you to education as a career?
I had some excellent teachers in high school that encouraged me to become a teacher.
Strengths and interests in education:
I am a GLAD and SIOP Trainer and have provided training for teachers K-12 over the past 20 years.
Certification/Endorsements Held:
Continuing Elementary and Secondary Teacher Certificate; TESOL Certificate; ESOL Endorsement
Endorsement areas:
English Language Learner
Courses:
ELL 606; ELL 808
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”
