“Growing our own” designers, vetters and deliverers of high-quality professional learning content, Hope Street Group boasts 10 Teacher Fellow (TF) alumni who serve as TF Facilitators in Hawai’i, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Utah. These dynamic duos were selected for their leadership throughout their Fellowship experience, and a willingness to continue supporting the work of the program in their states.
Leading face-to-face and virtual sessions for cohorts of TFs, the TF Facilitators work closely with their State Director and national Hope Street Group staff to personalize the content and create a stimulating, inclusive adult learning environment that supports TFs’ competency development. Review this PDF to learn more about our stacks of Professional Learning modules, and the impact areas we observe as a result of a TF’s training, coaching and peer support.
To collaborate with TF Facilitators, please connect with them individually, follow @HSG_Ed on Twitter, and/or contact the respective TF program’s State Director.
Teacher Fellow Facilitators
Hawai’i Teacher Fellow Facilitators
Dana Ishii
2014-2016 HI Teacher Fellow
Haleiwa, Hawaii
Technology Integration Coach and Coordinator
Dana Ishii is currently working to explore new teaching roles and models at Sunset Beach Elementary. She works as a Philosophy for Children and Mindfulness facilitator/teacher with third and fourth graders, teaches fifth and sixth grade Computer Science/Engineering classes, along with serving as the school’s technology coach and coordinator, including supporting the school’s newly redesigned Makerspace/Project Based Learning and Library space. Dana has also worked as a Special Education teacher. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education and Masters degree in Instructional Design and Educational Technology from the University of Hawaii. Professionally, she would love to continue to be a part of school and teaching redesign but believes above all else, that all children should have opportunities to practice kindness, to learn to think critically and to care deeply about the people and world around them. Born and raised on the North Shore of Oahu, Dana enjoys spending time outdoors riding horses, mountain biking and hiking, along with spending time in the ocean.
Jonathon Medeiros
2014-2016 HI Teacher Fellow
Kapaa, Hawaii
State Office Teacher
Jonathon Medeiros is a National Board certified teacher who has been teaching and learning about English Language Arts, rhetoric, and the joys of failure with Kauai High School Students for 12 years. He is currently the State Office Teacher for the Leadership Institute and is the director of the Kauai Local Teacher Fellowship, now in its second year. Jonathon earned a BA in English from the University of Portland, an MA in English from Portland State University, and an M.Ed from the University of Oregon. He strongly believes in teaching his students what Nick Offerman once said, that if you change all of your mistakes and regrets, you’d erase yourself. Born and raised on Kauai, Jonathon enjoys surfing and spending time at the beach with his wife and daughters.
Loretta Labrador
2014-2016 HI Teacher Fellow
Molokai, Hawaii
Vice Principal
Loretta Labrador is a Vice Principal at a Hawaiian-Focused public charter school on the small, remote island of Molokai. She has spent her career there for 12 years – previously as a Special Education Teacher, Reading Curriculum Coordinator, and Student Services Coordinator. She hold a bachelor’s degree in Communications from The Ohio State University and earned her teaching credential and Masters of Education from Chaminade University of Honolulu. She is currently pushing further on graduate studies in Rural and Urban Education Leadership at University of Arkansas. Professionally, she is passionate and driven to provide excellent instruction and school experiences to all children regardless of zip code. She is a mother of two children. Loretta enjoys the beach, traveling, and being with her family.
Kentucky Teacher Fellow Facilitators
Tiffany Gruen
2015-2017 KY Teacher Fellow
Erlanger, Kentucky
Instructional Coach
Tiffany Gruen is in her 14th year as an elementary educator in Northern Kentucky. Currently, she is the instructional coach and teacher of gifted and talented students at Miles Elementary. Tiffany is a member of the Resilient and Ready by Design cohort, analyzing the impact of childhood trauma and strengths-based, trauma-informed classroom practices. Her passion for civics education extends to her state work as a member of the Social Studies Review and Development Committee. She was given the Kentucky Council for the Social Studies Outstanding Elementary Teacher Award in 2014. Tiffany received both her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree from Northern Kentucky University.
Jami Martinez Reynolds
2015-2017 KY Teacher Fellow
Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Instructional Coach
Jami Martinez Reynolds is in her 13th year as a middle school educator in Hardin County. Her current job is as the instructional coach at Bluegrass Middle School. Jami received her Bachelor’s degree in middle grades education (math and social studies) and Master’s degree in technology from Western Kentucky University. She has also obtained a Specialist in Education degree from the University of the Cumberlands. She believes that school-wide collaboration and using data to inform instruction are both needed in order to meet the individual needs of all students. Jami was born and raised in Panama. She speaks Spanish fluently, enjoys reading educational books, and spending time with her family.
North Carolina Teacher Fellow Facilitators
Bryan Christopher
2015-2017 NC Teacher Voice Fellow
Durham, North Carolina
H.S. English and Journalism Teacher
Bryan Christopher has taught English and journalism at Riverside High School since 2007 and writes about teaching, learning and policy for a variety of publications. He is a National Board Certified Teacher and has worked as a mentor teacher in Duke’s Master of Arts in Teaching program, policy analyst with the National Council of Teachers of English and North Carolina Scholastic Media Association board member. Bryan was Riverside’s 2014 Teacher of the Year and a 2017 Educator’s Choice Content Award recipient. He earned a B.A. in English and communications from Denison University and M.A.T. from Wake Forest University.
Courtney Sears
2015-2017 NC Teacher Voice Fellow
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
2nd Grade Teacher
Courtney Sears is a second grade teacher at Ephesus Elementary in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has been teaching and learning with young children for twenty years. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and was a 2013 Honor Teacher of the Year for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Courtney works in a 1:1 school and is passionate about using technology to transform student learning experiences. She enjoys reading and writing about curriculum, equity, and technology. Courtney earned a B.A. in Sociology from James Madison University and an M.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Cincinnati.
Tennessee Teacher Fellow Facilitators
Michael Bradburn
2015-2017 TN Teacher Fellow
Alcoa, Tennessee
Intervention and Instructional Coach
Michael Bradburn started his career in education as a kindergarten teacher at Alcoa Elementary School. He spent 13 years in the classroom before transition into the role of intervention and instructional coaching. This position give him the opportunity to coach teachers, support the implementation of the Read to be Ready framework, coordinate the RTI program at his school, and manage Title 1 components for his school. Michael is involved in building relationships with the students in Alcoa and continues to lead professional learning for the department of education. He was involved in the revision of the Tennessee state standards, a math coach, and a science facilitator for teachers across the state of Tennessee. He was the 2014 East Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Michael earned a B.S. and M.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and a Education Specials in Instructional Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.
Michael is the husband of Heather who is a developmental therapist and father to Brenton (11), Thatcher (10), and Landry (6). Michael enjoys running, photography, and binge-watching reality television shows.
Cindy Cliche
2016-2018 TN Teacher Fellow
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Math Coordinator
Cindy Cliche’s teaching experience includes over 35 years as a K-2 teacher and the past two years as the Math Coordinator at Murfreesboro City Schools. Cindy has worked as a Teacher Trainer and Math Content Expert with the Tennessee State Department of Education. In addition, she is the Project INSPIRE Assistant with Middle Tennessee State University and Murfreesboro City Schools. Cindy has also worked with other educators writing content resources for NCTM. She was the 2004 Presidential Awardee in Math and Science Teaching. Cindy received her Bachelor’s Degree from Ball State University and her Masters from Berry College.
Utah Teacher Fellow Facilitators
Debbie Morgan
2017-2018 UT Teacher Fellow
Monroe, Utah
High School Science Teacher and District Technology Coach
Deborah has 16 years experience in the science classroom and currently teaches high school science in a rural setting at South Sevier High School in the Sevier School District. She also serves as a district technology coach for secondary teachers. In 2009, Debbie was awarded both the National Association of Geoscience Teachers Outstanding Earth Science Teacher Award for the state of Utah and southwest section of the United States as well as the Utah Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award. Most recently Deborah was selected as an Education Advisor, for the K-12 STEM education project, Bringing the Universe to America’s Classrooms, a WGBH initiative in collaboration with NASA. Debbie earned a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Utah State University and a Master of Science in Geoscience from Mississippi State University.
Bridget Varner
2017-2018 UT Teacher Fellow
Cedar Hills, Utah
1st and 2nd Grade Teacher
Bridget has taught at Deerfield in Alpine School District for five years. She has taught 1st grade for one year, STARS summer school for four years and just finished her 4th year teaching 2nd grade. Helping students improve their confidence as a learner and develop a love learning is Bridget’s favorite part of her job as a teacher. Bridget received teacher of the year for the year 2016-2017. She also received the PTA teacher of the year award in 2015-2016. She earned her Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Endorsement from Southern Utah University.