“People should be able to chart the course of their own lives -- and I have long believed that the best path toward that kind of self-determination is through education. Through education, the playing field is made more level; opportunities emerge, doors are opened, barriers are torn down. As a teacher, I try to create an atmosphere of trust and openness. I just love and celebrate my students for the wonderful people they are and the world-changers they will be. I believe that in expecting the best from them, that is what they deliver. I know that this experience with the LEAP schools will make me a better, more effective teacher and I look forward not only to what I can offer but also what I can learn.”

A teacher for 16 years, Pam is finishing her 4th year teaching English at High Tech High International, a charter school in San Diego, CA. Before that, she taught composition courses at San Diego Mesa College, Sacramento City College, and University of California at Davis. A graduate of San Diego State University (BA in English with a Political Science minor) and Cal State Sacramento (MA in English with an emphasis on rhetoric and women's literature), Pam received her teaching credential from High Tech High's credentialing program and hopes to continue learning at every opportunity.

“As an educator, I am a very strong believer in experiential education and cultural immersion. Service learning should not just be about those with privilege giving or helping those less fortunate; true service learning occurs when all participants learn and benefit from the experience....[I am eager] to share my understanding of science and to help LEAP students have fun learning more about science.I hope to form a multi-generational connection with South Africa in order to build the local competencies for regenerative community projects that will generate meaningful employment opportunities, while preserving the local cultural and eco systems. This is an exciting opportunity to share knowledge, develop community research techniques to illuminate authentic needs and empower young people to coordinate social enterprises and educational initiatives to meet those needs.”

After graduation from University of New Hampshire with a BS in environmental science and an MS in environmental engineering, Jamie has dedicated himself to helping and educating people. Presently working for the Branson School in California, Jamie teaches environmental science and physics. He has gained a rich experience in the environmental field by working for Camp Laurel in Readfield, Maine coordinating waterfront activities and projects and as a watershed engineer researching and designing ecological based solutions for environmental problems. He brings a love of teaching science and working with young people to the Teach with Africa team.

“In my previous two-week experience in Africa, I amassed more wisdom about spiritual wealth than I had throughout my entire life... my understanding of the power of faith, and my belief that love is all that matters, deepened during my trip to Nairobi, Kenya. I went there to teach children, and as it turned out, these students became my teachers. I know this experience will be transformational for me.”

Katie spent two weeks in Kenya in May 2009, where she worked with children through Ray of Hope, whose unaccredited school and medical clinic is located in Kawangware. As a writer and lifelong child advocate, Katie taught writing to 59 children ages five to thirteen, who were crowded into Ray of Hope's two small classrooms. Katie is a family law attorney, mediator, and writer. Her educational background includes a B.A. in Psychology from Fairfield University; an Master of Counseling (M.C.) degree from Arizona State University; and a J.D. from University of San Francisco School of Law. Katie also facilitates a writing workshop at City College of San Francisco, entitled "Writing Creative Nonfiction in a Stream of Consciousness."

“I am drawn to Teach with Africa because the people behind these projects exude an indescribable passion for pioneering education through practical ways. Here is a group of people who realize the importance of building and maintaining relationships with young people.... There is a huge theme of relationship building that I sense between TWA and all the partners in South Africa. TWA is willing to be empowered and empower in its engagement with all those South African partners. I want to be part of such a movement.”

Originally from Zimbabwe, Francis came to the U.S. in August 2002 to study mathematics. He graduated with honors from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, where he concentrated in financial markets. He has been teaching for the past three years, beginning at Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts. He presently works for Holderness School in Holderness, NH, teaching Statistics and Precalculus. Francis brings a heart for Africa to the Teach with Africa team and a unique perspective that will be powerful for our group: "I am from Zimbabwe, and the South African story is also my story."

“I am eager to learn and use everything I know... I love the connections I build with children. As a youth counselor, I didn't just teach arts and crafts, I helped with social issues, fears, and trying to make their experience something memorable. As a result, I learned far more from them than I bargained for.”

Dana brings project management experience to the TWA MBA fellowship in construction management, ecommerce start-ups and website/graphic design/development. She has her BA in Art (emphasis in Graphics/Web Development) from the University of Santa Barbara, California, and is currently working on her MBA in Global Strategic Management from Dominican University of California. Dana is looking forward to applying her creativity and communication skills to the community development projects at LEAP.

“At a very early age it was taught to me that education opens doors in life, and for the last five years as a middle school teacher I have tried to convey this to every student that I have taught. Education is a way to overcome economic and social barriers that are present in both the United States society and South African society.... As a Teach with Africa fellow, I will continue my mission of teaching students that a zip code or a township does not determine the quality of education they are entitled to as students.”

Josh is passionate about teaching, both as a full-time teacher and a youth mentor. He has his BS in Liberal Studies focused on Education, Science and History from Longwood University and his Masters in Counselor Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is currently teaching 7th and 8th grade Life Sciences at KIPP Philadelphia Charter School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which serves students from economically and socially challenged neighborhoods. Visiting South Africa has been a lifelong dream, and Josh brings his passion for teaching and learning to the TWA team.

“It is said that education is the great equalizer. I would suggest that education can be the great equalizer if education is equitable. Great work must be done to bring equity to schools, both in South Africa and in the US. As published on LEAP School's homepage, 'A bird builds its nest with another bird's feathers.' We're all in this together, and my professional and personal success rests in contributing to educational equity in this world.”

Heather believes her young students will be the future leaders in the global community, and she considers herself charged with teaching them to be culturally literate, to value diversity, and to work for social justice. She is an experienced teacher with a BS in history from Santa Clara University and a graduate degree in education from Notre Dame de Namur University. Heather brings a heart for advancing thinking around diversity and inclusion in the educational context as well as experience in math and writing enrichment.

“When I started working at KIPP and teaching students that had no viable educational options, I became a part of a larger social movement. I became an agent of change in the lives of students of the Westside of Chicago. With education, my students are able to make decisions about their lives and choose their own paths rather than leaving it up to circumstance or fate. They can decide what they want their life to be and then create their own happiness. After a life-changing experience as a TWA fellow last summer, my personal mission to offer high-quality education to students who have been otherwise disserviced has become global.”

Mona is a Nationally Board Certified teacher in Early Adolescence Mathematics and has a Master of Arts in Education and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with concentrations in Math and Science Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.  She is currently working as the grade level chair and fifth grade math teacher at KIPP: Ascend Charter School, a public charter college preparatory middle school in Chicago.  Mona’s emphasis on math and science teaching and her charter school teaching experience at KIPP prepare her well for teaching in the classroom alongside the faculty at the LEAP Maths and Science School.

“I hope to learn about other methods and theories of teaching, as well as about the people who have created the program at LEAP. I hope to learn more about myself as an educator and about the culture of the people of South Africa. I consider myself a lifelong student and hope to immerse myself in learning during this program.”

Monica has been a teacher for 14 years, and is qualified in English, math, science, history and teaching second language learners. She has an AA and AS from Santa Rosa Junior College and a BA in liberal studies with a minor in biology from Domincan University of California. Monica is currently completing her Level II Education Specialist certification at Dominican. As a kayak instructor and camp coordinator for Sea Trek Ocean Kayaking and also as the faculty sponsor of an Outdoor Club at the middle school where she teaches, Monica has worked with adults and children of all ages as a teacher, instructor and camp coordinator. She provides her students with experiences in the natural environment and a place to experience family. Monica is also a photograper and enjoys observing people and reflecting her travels through her work.

“The biggest barriers to connecting with another person are one's own biases and a closed mindset. I find it difficult to form a meaningful relationship if I cannot seek to understand the other person's perspective. I find this kind of sympathy (the real understanding of where the other is standing) of utmost importance. I try to be aware constantly of why I think differently than someone else, and not just how I think differently. Although I do not think that it is possible, or even desirable, to have agreement in everything with another person, I do value knowing why we hold our diverse views, and why those differences might be important to our developing the relationship.”

Steve is an English teacher and the co-director of the upper-school Service Learning program at Pacific Ridge School, in Carlsbad, CA. He has a diverse professional background in political, educational, military and non-profit contexts. Besides his full-time job as an educator, Steve serves as a co-director of the non-profit organization Omprakash, which builds partnerships with grassroots health, education, and environmental projects around the world, and connects them with volunteers, donors, and classrooms that can learn from and support their work.

“Based on my experience last summer and my continued involvement with Teach With Africa throughout this year, I firmly believe that LEAP's approach to social change is the method that holds the key to fostering a sustainable, open world. I am choosing to return to South Africa to submerge myself in this honest and reflective community in an effort to gain a deeper understanding of myself and the people around me. Likewise, my goal is to share my skills and learning in hopes of planting a seed of change.”

A returning TWA Fellow from 2009, Subina is a 2009 Graduate of the Green MBA program at Dominican University of California, with particular focus on systems management and critical thinking. Working as the director of technology for a small design firm for the past four years and in multimedia and technology at a design start-up, she has experience in project management and technology integration. Subina is pursuing the opportunity to teach entrepreneurial workshops in India to build upon the knowledge she gained from her experience in South Africa.

“All educators have the ability to be agents of change, but you actually have to take on that challenge. My students immediately pick up on my enthusiasm for learning. My life is connected to education and learning, and when I am in the classroom I share this part of my life with my students. In doing so, I am inviting the students into my life, showing them who I really am as a person.”

Kevin is a student teacher working on a single subject teaching credential in the social sciences and special education. He brings a passion for high school youth and the effect of educational models on student success, especially in South Africa. He has a BA in history from the University of Hawaii and is currently enrolled in the Masters in Education program from Dominican University of California.

“I try my best to be transparent with my students. This means allowing time for conversations surrounding what it means to "learn," and how we can work together to create a safe, comfortable (yet challenging and rigorous) learning space. I believe that it is essential to be honest with my students and open to their feedback. It is through humility and an excitement to constantly embrace alternate perspectives that my teaching can improve. It is important to me that my students know that they are loved and safe to learn when they are at school.”

A graduate from UCSD with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (with special emphasis on Ecology, Behavior and Evolution) and a minor in Psychology, John received his teaching credential from High Tech High's credential program. He has taught Biology at High Tech High International for the five years. John has had the opportunity to collaborate with the Ackerman Lab at ETH in Zurich to develop labs and has also worked with Biobridge at UCSD to develop and implement labs in his classroom. John has also worked in research as well as the field of eco-tourism. With all of these experiences, he is most passionate about the process of teaching and learning.

“Teach 'with' implies an exchange of ideas; a learning experience in which both parties benefit.... I am drawn to Teach with Africa because I seek to learn with my students in Africa in hopes that I may share my new experiences and insights with my students in the United States. I see my summer with TWA as the beginnings of a cultural exchange... in hopes of generating compassion, understanding and dialogue.”

Marc has been teaching students with varied cultural, social and economic backgrounds for nearly ten years. He has a BS in Elementary Education from the University of Maryland, College Park and his Masters of Education in Teacher Leadership from High Tech High Graduate School of Education. He is currently a 7th grade Integrated Math and Science Teacher at High Tech Middle in San Diego, California, where he actively collaborates across disciplines and creates and implements a project-based curriculum. He brings this commitment to and experience with project-based learning to the LEAP Schools.

“I know the power of mentorship... after developing my own mentor, I was able to not only complete my undergrad degree but also felt empowered enough to go on to complete my Master's degree. I can only hope that I, in turn, can give back to other students, empowering them to further their own educations. This sort of 'give back' has been a constant theme in my life.”

Deborah brings 30+ years of business experience to the project, along with over 2 decades of involvement with youth organizations. She has her BS in Global Strategic Management from Dominican University of California and is completing her MBA there in May 2010. Deborah was most recently the Director of Finance and Administration for a non-profit dedicated to the education and health of the incarcerated population, and has years of experience in accounting and financial consulting specializing in non-profit work. She is eager to contribute to development of the LEAP school communities and to learn, in turn, from those community leaders.

“I am so excited to return to South Africa and continue my journey of helping change and growing my relationships. My South African and LEAP family changed me last summer, they made me a better teacher, but more importantly it has made me an open person in life and work!”

Jennifer is returning to Teach with Africa this summer. Jennifer last summer came to TWA through Dominican University of California, where received a master's in science in Education. She holds her multiple subject teaching crediential certificate and B.A. in Liberal Studies with a Math emphasis. She is currently working as a 6th grade teacher at St. Paul's Elementary School in San Francisco, where she is also a member of the technology committee and the athletic director. Jennifer desires to take a leadership role this summer as she would like to start a new journey in her teaching career, the road of administration. She is very excited to be spending time with John Gilmour and Principals of the LEAP schools.

“I ve been teaching teenagers and adults of all ages for some 20 years now and I continue to see the untapped creative force that lives inside each and every person, and how the voice can be fully used as a powerful tool for inspiration and full self-expression. I am excited to help the children involved with Teach with Africa to awaken that same creative force with themselves.”

Vernon Bush is a singer/songwriter, musician and recording artist, who worked with Whitney Houston and jazz legend and song stylist, Nancy Wilson . With his two groups, ("The Vernon Bush Group" and "VSOUL"), he has opened for artists as Gladys Knight , Stanley Jordan , Mickey Hart , and Michael Franti & Spearhead and has toured over Europe. He is also a featured vocalist with the Glide Ensemble at the world-renowned Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco as well as musical director of The ICA Choir and former musical director of the Glide Teen (Performing Arts) Choir (GTC). A passionate singer as well as a consummate voice teacher and coach, Vernon has taught privately in New York, Los Angeles, London, Holland as well as San Francisco and also teaches workshops in voice and speech production. Vernon's focus is on unblocking' the voice -- finding the voice and freeing it from judgmental censors. His goal is to foster a sense of inner connection and well-being through music. Vernon Bush has been singing gospel from the time he could walk. Having grown up in the Baptist church community and being the son of a prominent Baptist minister in New York City, he directed his first choir at the age of fifteen, and since then, has been working with aspiring singers of all ages from around the world. He currently lives in San Francisco, teaching elementary and high schools as well as being one of the faculty teachers at the innovative Jazz School in Berkeley, CA.

“When I'm working in South Africa I'm exactly where I want to be. Nothing could be more exciting, challenging or heartbreaking. There is so much hard work, pride and entrepreneurial spirit, and all it takes is knowledge to release that power.”

Sarah is Executive Director of the Environmental Finance Center at Dominican University of California. Some of her efforts in this position include coordinating state Green Business Programs throughout California, Hawaii and Arizona, working with southwestern Native American tribes to promote recycling and green technology adaptation, and developing climate change adaptation and mitigation approaches for rural and disadvantaged communities. Sarah is an Expert Witness for the USEPA National Environmental Finance Advisory Board. She also serves as adjunct faculty within the GreenMBA program at Dominican University of California. She is the immediate past vice president for the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS). In addition, Sarah continues to serve as a Grassroots Democracy Trainer for the LWVUS and has worked with organizations in Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Armenia and Jamaica. Other international work includes developing programs in Sustainable Enterprise in South Africa. She holds a masters degree in environmental geography from Cambridge University.

“I am currently on a journey of a lifetime. Last summer as a TWA fellow in Jo'burg I was exposed to an education model that just made sense to me. For the first time in my life I became part of a system that forces both learners and teachers to question the traditional education system and take active roles in creating a new type of learning. Since returning to LEAP 3 in Jo'burg I have faced obstacles that I had never expected. Each day at LEAP I face challenges, confront issues and form relationships that allow a new type of learning to take place. Through this process I am learning so much about myself forming new views about the world we live in.”

A 2009 TWA Fellow in Johannesburg, Sara returned in January 2010 to teach full-time on faculty at LEAP 3. It was after returning from her Peace Corps service in West Africa four years ago that she began to seriously pursue her interest in teaching and began working at that time as an educator in a school that looks for innovative solutions to foster growth in all children. At the public high school where she worked in Fremont, CA, Sara served as a member of collaborative teams to restructure the school into environmental and social justice academies that provide underserved children with the support they need to make it to college and beyond. She coordinated the creation of a GreenTech academy that prepares students for careers in biotechnology and the environmental fields, and she taught academy English classes that focus on environmentalism and social justice. While in Benin, Sara developed a hands-on outdoor classroom to teach students about conservation of the local forest and also worked with groups of female students to help strengthen their confidence and voice in the classroom so they could find success in the professional world.

“Seeing a light go off in the eyes of a student when he or she sees it is possible to capture and communicate with ease by using technology creatively and gracefully is a goal I set for myself whenever I work with young people and digital applications.”

Karen, often called by her nickname K2, is a Digital Arts Elective teacher at Town School for Boys in San Francisco and a returning TWA Faculty-in-Residence from 2009 when she conducted a Creative Computing Workshop for LEAP students and faculty. As well, she worked on several filmmaking projects including documentary work with another TWA Fellow for Realistic, a local community youth rehabilitation program. Karen has also been working with Leap alumni in South Africa and in San Francisco in multimedia arts training with an eye on further development and integration of technology arts programs at Leap. Teaching middle school boys for over 13 years, she teaches Digital Photography, Web Design, Desktop Publishing, Graphic Design, Animation, Video Production, and Sound Recording and Podcasting Arts. A Broadcasting major from San Francisco State University, she toured the world with many jazz and rock artists including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Hall and Oates, Cyndi Lauper, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Chris Isaak, Carlos Santana and others as a tour manager, live sound mixing and recording engineer/producer. She has worked as a curriculum consultant for teachers and schools and has tutored individuals in technology arts software. Karen believes every student, no matter from which end of the earth they hail, has the capacity to learn the skills and tools necessary to express creative ideas in a digital format. Comfort with the technology of the day is key to maintaining a broad arsenal of modern day communication skills. Karen has spent time in Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa and loves the varied music, food, culture, people and breathtaking beauty of the African continent.

“Teaching and living in difficult, often unfamiliar environments has necessitated my growth in the areas of confronting issues and being open to change. I value the opportunity to learn from mistakes by viewing them through a variety of lenses, as I pursue my personal and professional interests in education: exchange programs and reciprocal learning, project development and implementation, and the mentoring of young adults looking to improve their lives.”

Jonah has been teaching English for 13 years in both the U.S. and abroad. He has his BS in Education, with a Secondary Education/English Concentration and a Masters in Education in Curriculum and Instruction/English Concentration from Portland State University. Jonah has worked in Sierra Leone in educational efforts against gender abuse and child trafficking, and has worked in Southern Africa as the recipient of a Fund for Teachers grant to develop curriculum for high school and post-secondary education students. Jonah brings a heart for educational development in Africa, and he was a lead faculty member in Teach with Africa's first South African-US Student Workshop and Cultural Exchange in San Francisco in January 2010.