Marita Diffenbaugh
Board Chairperson
|
Marita Diffenbaugh has served as a teacher, administrator, and has provided leadership support for districts, schools, and classrooms. She gained expertise and experience as a student-focused, purpose driven servant leader and uses this to support school and district leadership in the strategic development of mastery-based education and instructional technology implementation.
Marita is currently sharing her passion and leadership skills to support the expansion of Elevate Academy, a public Career Technical charter school of choice for students in 6th-12th grades who are not finding success in their current education. As a partner with Elevate Academy’s co-founders, Marita is connecting education with industry and community by developing, planning, and launching this new North Idaho school in Fall 2022. As a passionate learner, Marita enjoys connecting learning goals to community resources and needs. She believes that hope is a prerequisite for learning, and looks for opportunities to help others see their value. She also believes that every human being has something amazing to share with the world, and she looks for ways to help learners of all ages develop their full potential. |
Jacqueline Gonzalez Board Member
|
Jacqueline Gonzalez is a well-respected professional, education consultant, and writer with more than 20 years of practical experience and endless energy and passion for teaching all ages. Based in Miami, Florida, Jacqueline delivers across the education sector outstanding teaching and consulting services to inspire and prepare educators, administration leaders, and students alike with straightforward instruments and successful tools for contemporary educational best practices and out-of-the-box thinking. Her background is in special education working with students with disabilities and gifted students in math and science education.
As an author, Jacqueline shares her knowledge and expertise in writing articles related to 21st-century teaching and learning, including traditional, blended and virtual teaching. Currently, Jacqueline is sharing her expertise by delivering webinars and PDs to large audiences and coaching K-12 teachers using the technology she is so keen to introduce and make available across all schools, and for all students. Her mission is to coach educators in new and updated learning methods and technologies by sharing best practices and thinking tools to empower spirited educators for life. |
Kim Miller Board Member
|
Kim Miller is a 2nd Grade teacher at Barbara Morgan STEM Academy in Meridian, Idaho. She has 25 years of experience in integrating technology into a primary classroom. Kim also serves on the Idaho Leadership Council for Discovery Education, and provides training for Discovery Education, technology integration, and STEM for schools and districts in the state of Idaho. She has led school technology teams, and designed and implemented iPad integration projects at the school level. Kim was selected as the 2016 West Ada School District Teacher of the Year.
Kim is a 2016 winner of the Jacobs Educator award. The Jacobs Educator Award honors outstanding Pre-K-12 teachers who use technology in the classroom. Jacobs Educators are part of a nation-wide community of highly successful teachers who work with the world renowned education faculty at the School of Education at Indiana University Bloomington in a variety of capacities, including teaching, research, and special projects and events. |
Dr. Cindy Moss Board Member
|
A nationally respected thought leader in STEM education and reform, Dr. Moss brings over 31 years experience in district leadership, classroom instruction and inquiry based learning to her work as a champion for STEM engagement and career & workforce readiness.
Dr. Moss is a sought-after speaker on the topic of student engagement through STEM and was selected by the National Science Foundation to serve on the federal commission, which created the “National Action Plan for Addressing the Critical Needs of the US Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education System.” In 2012, Dr. Moss was recognized as one of the top “100 Women in STEM” and in 2017 was recognized as 1 of the top 25 business women in Charlotte by the Charlotte Business Journal. Dr. Moss served 10 years as Director of PreK-12 STEM Education for the Charlotte Mecklenburg School system, the 17th largest district in the US. Dr. Moss moved into this role after 21 years as a classroom teacher, where she received numerous awards for excellence including RadioShack’s National Teaching Award and the Milken National Educator Award. |