WESTERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Christy Sainz

Term: 2019-2021

Email: christysainz16@gmail.com

Arizona Education Association

Local

• Tucson Education Association
• Tucson EA Board of Directors
• Region 1 Director
• Chair of Professional Development Committee
• Member of Covid19 Contingency Plan Task Force
• Member of TEAPAC (Political Action Committee

State

• AEA Board of Directors Region 1 Director
• Educators of Color Task Force Co-Chair
• Ethnic Minority Caucus Chair
• State County Elections Task Force member
• Teacher Leadership Institute Fellow
• Teacher Leadership Institute Technology Coach
• National
• Micro-credential Curriculum Writer
• Micro-credential Assessor
• Micro-credential National Professional Learning Community Facilitator
• LGBTQ+ Caucus Member
• Western Region Director for the Hispanic Caucus

Personal Highlights

I am from Tucson, Arizona born and raised.  I am the youngest sibling and grandchild on both sides of the family.  I am a proud graduate from the University of Arizona where I double majored in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English and Communications.  I feel fortunate and blessed to have accomplished such a feat, especially being the first college graduate in my immediate family.  I have just completed my 21st year in the classroom, and I am still humbled to be an active role model of this esteemed profession.  Teaching is not a job; it is a passion that I chose to foster and I am a better person because of this.

We speak two languages in my household; Spanish and English, which has allowed me to be not only be a better communicator, but an even better listener.  A person’s language is their voice which is why it is vital that we take the time to listen.  I spent the first 13 years teaching Humanities, Language Arts 7/8, ESL, and Physical Education at the middle school level surrounded by amazing students and staff of color.  These last 7 years I have been teaching Honors/AP English 11/12 at my alma mater, Tucson High Magnet School.  My site has allowed for diverse lessons with curriculum to match.

I have found myself every single year reflecting on the educational experiences, students, and pondering what the future holds.  My genuine wish is for one day in the near future to be able see the results of the seeds that we as educators have planted through utilizing our voice and advocating.  Fully funded public schools with enriched culturally diverse curriculum that our students so deserve would be a beautiful and much needed start.

NORTHEAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Saul Ramos

Term: 2018-2020

Email: saulramos613@gmail.com

Massachusetts Education Association

Local

• 1st Vice-President
• Building Delegate
• ESP Negotiations Committee
• ESP Sick Bank Committee (Chair)
• Rules & Bylaws Committee (Vice-Chair)

 State

• 2016 MTA ESP of the Year
• 2016 Red Sox Most Valuable Educator
• ESP Committee (2013-Present)
• EMAC (2014-Present) (Vice-Chair)
• Rules and Bylaws Committee (2015-Present)
• Equal Opportunity Council (2013-Present)
• Environmental Health and Safety Committee (2013)
• Delegate to the MTA Annual Meeting (6 years)
• Emerging Leaders Program graduate – Williamstown 2012
• Grievance I and I Training (2012-2013)

 National

• Hispanic Caucus
•  ESP Director (2012-2014)
•  Northeast Regional Director (2014-Present)
•  Elections Committee Chair (2013)
•  Elections Committee Member (2015)
• Representative Assembly Delegate (7 years)
• NEA Resolutions Committee (2015)
• MTA NBI Committee (2015)
• Minority Leadership Training graduate 2011
• English Language Learner Program: A State and Local Summit (April 2013)
• ELL Pilot Program participant (2015 & 2016)
• NEA ESP Leaders for Tomorrow graduate (2015)
• NEA Para-Educator Institute Workgroup (2015-Present)
• NEA SOGI Committee (2015-present)
• NEA ESP Digi-Book profile (2015)

Personal Highlights

I have been a Braillist for the Worcester Public Schools in Worcester, Massachusetts for the past 18 years. I work with visually impaired students, adapting their class work into large print or Braille. My main goal is to make sure our students are integrated into their neighborhood public schools, become familiar with their surroundings, and make them as independent as possible. I have had strong ties with my students, having worked with one student from Kindergarten until he graduated from high School. I am an advocate for English Language Learners and Special Education students. With a lot of patience, understanding, and guidance, our students are capable of accomplishing anything any other student can. I believe in the public school system, as I am a product of it, and also in all the wonderful Educators who work within its walls, who day to day struggle to make this a better world for our students. I am a proud Latino born in San German, Puerto Rico and raised between Worcester, MA and San German. I attended Elementary School in Massachusetts, and Middle/High School in San German. It was a great experience to receive my education and fully develop and understand both languages. As a Latino, I am proud of my roots and the beautiful mix of cultures we all come from. I am a mixture of my mother’s Spaniard heritage and my father’s African and Taino heritage. I am an avid advocate for maintaining our culture alive and making sure our community, especially our youth, are in touch with their roots and embrace the beauty of it. Through Education and Art it is possible. I consider myself an Artist as much as an Educator. One way I do this is through my involvement with several leading nonprofit Arts Organizations in New England, including AS220, Trinity Rep, The Providence Latin American Film Festival, Grupo Arcoiris of Rhode Island, and most recently as founder of “Arte Latino of New England (ALNE)” as it’s Artistic Director. Through these I have helped in providing access to Spanish language and bilingual events through live performances, film, workshops, and cultural education, while helping adults and young Latinos discover hidden talents, build self-confidence, and solidify their cultural and individual identity.

MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Hugo Jackson

Term: 2018-2020

Email: lighthouselions@hotmail.com

Maryland Education Association

Professional Highlights

Local

• Local building representative for the HCEA
• Head of the local Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee for HCEA
• Former Co-Chair of the State Minority Affairs Committee (MSEA) and current member

National

• MID-ATLANTIC REGIONAL DIRECTOR (APPOINTED SUMMER 2014)
• HCEA Membership Committee
• Former NEA Diversity Trainer (20115-2013)
• TEAACH participant at Northrup Gruman
• Honeywell Space Educator Participant
• NASA Star Partner in conjunction with Puerto Rican teachers
• Chaperoned student to Guanica, Puerto Rico for Science and Cultural Exchanges         NEA Diversity trainer

Personal Highlights

I was born in Richmond, Virginia, and eventually moved to the Baltimore, Maryland, area where I graduated high school from Milford Mill High School. I graduated from Towson University. While at Towson University I participated in the National Student Exchange program and spent a semester at North Carolina State University. I worked in Higher Education for a few years before my love for teaching sent me to the K-12 area. I earned my Master’s Degree from Coppin University in Adult & Continuing Education and a Masters Equivalency from The John Hopkins University in Special Education. Currently I am teaching 8th grade Special Education at Lime Kiln Middle School in Howard County, Maryland, and previously taught Reading Modules.   Additionally, I am an adjunct college professor and assistant softball coach at Howard University.

My passion is to make sure that to make all minorities are represented in leadership positions and treated fairly and equally!

SOUTHEAST REGIONAL DIRECTOR

Ryans Calmont

Term: 2018-2020

Email: Calmontr@gmail.com

FEA- Florida Education Association

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHT 

Local /OCEA

• Association Representative
• Past Multi Level/ High School Executive Board
• Past MAC Committee
• Past ESPs Organizing Committee
• Past Membership Committee

State/ FEA

• FEA Governance Board
• FEA MAC Committee
• FEA Delegate

National /NEA

• NEA Diversity Cadre Trainer
• NEA Cultural Competence Cadre Trainer
• NEA Hispanic Caucus Southeast Director
• NEA Resolution Committee

Current Credentials

• BA in Psychology – University of Central Florida
• ESOL K-12 Certified Teacher
• ESE K-12 Certified Teacher
• Reading K-12 Endorse Teacher 

Bio

I am the son of a black mother and a Jewish father. I was raised in Haiti by my grandparents for the first 11 years of my life. It was here that I discovered racism for the first time. I was around five years old. Because of my mixed ethnicity, my skin complexion is much lighter. There was one time my aunt was driving me to school and classmates called her my maid. This hurt me because they were making fun of my black aunt because of my light skin color. I was often referred to as “ti blan,” which means “whitey”. At such a young age I struggled to understand why I was being bullied for something I had no control over. 

Through the racism I experienced, my grandparents taught me a valuable lesson. They taught me to judge a person by their character and not their race or ethnicity. These childhood lessons have made me a better person, teacher and father. I now have children of my own and their ethnicity is even more diverse, as their mother is Spanish. I have passed on to them the same appreciation for diversity that my grandparents taught me so many years ago in Haiti. 

All of these experiences – Haiti, fatherhood and living throughout the United States – have offered me a perspective that few are privileged to have. It is because of this multicultural background that I feel compelled to advocate for diversity and social justice. 

Professional Highlights 

I’ve been an educator in Osceola School District, in Florida for the past 20 years. In that time I have worked as a substitute teacher, ESE support staff, behavior specialist, and now as a teacher for the past 17 years. I have also had the opportunity to work in all three levels, elementary, middle, and now high school. Currently, I’m a reading teacher, but I am also privileged to be the running back /linebacker coach, wrestling assistant coach and the girls’ flag football head coach. 

 In the past eight years I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to attend some amazing leadership training, like the NEA Minority Leadership Training, and Diversity and Social Justice Trainings. My training has inspired me to be an advocate for social justice.

RETIRED DIRECTOR

Evelina Chapa-Loya

Term: 2019-2021

Email: ecloya@gmail.com

Texas State Teachers Association

Professional Highlights

Local/Region

• Ysleta Teachers Association Building Representative
• YTA Newsletter Editor
• YTA President
• YTA Vice-President
• YTA PAC Chair
• YTA Board of Directors
• Region 2B President
• Region 2B Vice-President
• Region 2B Board of Directors
• Garland Education Association Middle School Director
• GEA Campus Leader
• GEA President
• GEA Treasurer
• Region 4E President
• Region 4E Board of Directors
• Garland Area Retired TSTA NEA Vice-President

State

• Texas State Teachers Association Budget Cmte
• TSTA Constitution, Bylaws Chair and Elections Cmte
• TSTA Compliance Cmte
• TSTA Hispanic Caucus Secretary
• TSTA Board of Directors representing Region 2B
• TSTA Board of Directors representing Region 4E
• TSTA Board of Directors—Senior NEA Director
• TSTA-Retired Life Member
• TSTA-Retired Vice-President

National

• NEA Director for Texas (2 terms)
• NEA-WIC Women’s Issues Cmte
• NEA- Read Across America Advisory Cmte
• NEA-Hispanic Caucus Elections Chair
• NEA-Hispanic Caucus Secretary
• NEA-WLTP Cadre Trainer
• NEA-Social Justice Cadre Trainer
• NEA-Cultural Competence Cadre Trainer
• NEA United States Delegate to Education International 7th World Congress – Ottawa, Canada
• NEA Retired Life Member

Education

• University of Texas at El Paso—Bachelor of Science Lifetime certification in Elementary Education (PreK-8)
• Sul Ross State University—Masters of Education—(PreK-12) Reading Specialist
• Certification in Middle School Computer Literacy (Middle School 7-8)

Personal Highlights

I am of Hispanic ancestry. I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas.  My mother’s family came from Spain in the 1760’s and settled in San Elizario, TX. They moved to El Paso and were one of the pioneer families that settled there. My father’s family came from Genoa, Italy in the 1760’s and settled in Mexico, then moved to El Paso.

I have a son, Matthew Paul (Computer/IT) and a beautiful daughter-in-law, Allyssa (Elementary Librarian). Both attended Southern Methodist University.  I am proud to be a grandmother to two beautiful grandsons, Easton 7 and Avery 4.

Education was always emphasized in my family.  My father learned to speak English in the fourth grade and used education to better himself.  He was a civic leader and was the first Hispanic to be elected to the El Paso ISD School Board. Both my parents encouraged my siblings and myself to go to college because they knew “Education was the Key.”

I did just that. I always wanted to be a teacher.  When I was a little girl, I would place my dolls in chairs and proceed to teach them to read. It was so much fun.  I loved school and reading was my favorite subject. Thus, I became a Reading Specialist.

In high school, I was a member of Future Teachers of America and became a member of the Texas State Teachers Association. This is how my involvement began in NEA.  Once I started teaching, I joined the local, state and national association. I have been a member for 45 years.

In my teaching career, I have taught 7th and 8th grade as well as high school for 43 years. I have been Teacher of the Year in Ysleta ISD and been the first runner-up in the District Teacher of the Year. I love teaching, especially students who are struggling because I can see the potential they possess.  (ELL, Autistic, Special Ed, Dyslexic, 504, behavior issues, etc.) They are diamonds in the rough who just need a little polishing so they can shine and show the brilliance they have inside.

As an educator, I make a difference. I am a proud Latina and proud to be a part of the teaching profession.

STUDENT DIRECTOR

Roman Trejo

Term: 2019-2021

Email: roman.trejo00@gmail.com

Local/Region

• Moraine Valley Aspiring Educators Chapter founder
• Moraine Valley Community College Aspiring Educators President

State

• United States Hispanic Leadership Institute (USHLI) Delegate (3yrs)
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HaCU) conference IEA/NEA Delegate

National

• NEA Aspiring Educators Advisory Committee (2019-2020)

Education

• Moraine Valley Community College (currently attending)

Personal Highlights

Born to a single mother, I learned the importance of hard work and leadership. Growing up, I spent most of my time with my grandmother while my mother worked during the day. My grandma not only played a major role in further forming my leadership style, but also instilled the connection to my indigenous Latinx culture. While helping me with homework after school, she would also tell me events of her childhood and interesting stories her grandma used to also tell while growing up as well. Parts of my grandma’s stories would include her passions, and goals she wished to meet. One of her dreams was to graduate high school and become a teacher. As I grew older, I understood the sacrifices by both my mom and grandmother were so I could achieve what they did not have the chance to.

My defining characteristics can be attributed to my life experiences, and what I observed over time. As a freshman in high school, I decided to become honest with the world surrounding me by accepting myself as a gay individual. After receiving overwhelming support by my parents and friends, my fight to advocate for others and myself became born.

Prior to connecting with the NEA Hispanic Caucus in high school, I had never considered a career in education. After seeing the power Latino educators hold, and their role in the shaping of the next American generation, I had realized communities like my own need educators willing to fight for them instead of becoming a barrier to their success. As early as my junior year of high school, I established myself as an advocate for my peers. Represented through my organizational work, I implemented DACA clinics at Dwight D Eisenhower High School, lead student walk-outs for comprehensive gun control, and challenged my community high school’s school board to change district policy to include protections for DREAMer students. After enrolling in Moraine Valley Community College, Latinx peers and I began to establish the institution’s first ever Aspiring Educator chapter with a focus on the recruitment of more educators of color. My journey through education has opened opportunities to further LGBTQ+/Latinx visibility and our ability lead the future of this association.

Term: 2019-2021

Email: yrodriguez3@outlook.com

Massachusetts Teacher Association

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHT

Local/EAW

• Building Delegate
• Member of the Contract Action Team (CAT)
• Organizer of the first National ESP day
• ESP committee member
• Organizer of the IA welcome back breakfast
• Member of the By laws Committee

State

• ESP Committee co-chair
• Resolution Committee Member
• By laws and standing rules Committee member
• Alana State-wide Member
• Summer Organizer
• Task force on race Committee member

National

• Resolution Committee Member
• ESP Director for the Hispanic Caucus