Laurie Bargstedt

PHOTO PENDING

Term 2010 – 2013
Johnstown, NY
Program Manager for Adult Literacy and Corrections Education for Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES, Johnstown, NY  
Laurie Bargstedt is the program manager for Adult Literacy and Corrections Education for Hamilton-Fulton-Montgomery BOCES. She has nearly 20 years experience in adult education, including recruitment, case management, teaching, and administration. She has served several professional organizations, including the New York Association of Continuing/Community Education (NYACCE) and Literacy Volunteers of Fulton County, functioning in several roles for these organizations. Laurie recently secured a Literacy Zone grant to expand services to adult learners in Amsterdam, NY. Whether trying to motivate herself or others, Laurie reflects on this quote: “Don’t ask God to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your own feet.”

Marie Doerner, M.Ed.

Term 2008-2011
San Diego, CA
Program Chair, Disability Support Programs and Services, San Diego Continuing Education, San Diego Community College, San Diego, California Works on Board as mentor to Diana Hunter  
Marie has worked extensively with technology and has a Masters Degree in Education Technology. She currently teaches at Springfield college via a hybrid online class that uses the internet extensively. She has also worked on WebCT and Blackboard classes as well as designing the Website for SDSU's Women's Studies Program.  Marie has an academic background in this area; however, her main focus for the last few years has been curriculum development. Marie is the Instructional Leader for the Disability Support Programs and Services for the San Diego Continuing Education, part of the San Diego Community College District.  Marie also works with creating a major switch to direct instruction for its Basic Skills Initiative Program. Marie develops curriculum for the basic math and writing programs and predominantly works with students whose goal is the GED.

Stacie Evans, M.A.

Term 2010 – 2013 (2^nd Term)
Brooklyn, NY
Director, Community Empowerment Program, Lutheran Family Health Centers, Brooklyn, New York Stacie is the Director of Adult and Family Education for Lutheran Family Health Centers (LFHNC) and a Basic Education teacher at Turning Point Education Center. She has worked in adult education for sixteen years as a teacher and program director in literacy, basic education, GED and ESOL programs. Stacie has an M.A. in creative writing from the City College of New York, and in 1999, she was the recipient of New York City’s Literacy Recognition Award for outstanding service in the field of adult education. She created a series of chapbook-style first readers for adults, and in recent years, her work has included developing a programmatic focus on domestic violence and human trafficking, two issues which significantly affect Sunset Park, Brooklyn, the neighborhood where her program is located.  

Diana Hunter

Term 2008-2011
San Diego, CA
ABE Student Leader, San Diego Continuing Education, San Diego Community College & Literacy Tutor, Americorp, San Diego, California 
Since attending the WE LEARN conference in 2007, Diana has really worked on leadership. She attended the Henry Huffman Learner Leadership Institute last year and graduated with flying colors. This year she is acting as a facilitator for a similar program at the Carlsbad City Library. She wants to develop more programs for Learners to Lead Learners. Diana is very interested in empowering women. She believes that, through education, women can gain self-confidence and self-esteem. She has written articles for the WE LEARN newsletter about her experiences and loves to teach women how to advocate for themselves. Diana worked for Scripps Research Foundation for 27 years. During that time, she developed her skills to function effectively in the corporate world. These skills would be invaluable as a member of the WE LEARN Board. She has been in the classroom as a literacy student for the last few years.

Amelia Onorato, M.A., M.S.

Term 2008-2011 (2nd term)
Jamaica Plain, MA
Faculty, Boston University Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, Boston, Massachusetts  
Amelia has been teaching adults for the past 20 years in settings ranging from Adult Basic Education and Refugee Resettlement, to university level Intensive English Language Programs.  Her teaching focus in recent years has been on helping students make the transition to university study.  She currently teaches ESL and academic preparation at Boston University's Center for English Language and Cultural Orientation Programs, and she also teaches writing at the College of Public and Community Service at UMass-Boston.

Alicia Pantoja, B.A.

Term 2008-2011
Philadephia, PA
Graduate Student, University of Pennsylvania, Language and Literacy Division, Reading/Writing/Literacy Program 
Alicia is the past Education Director at English For Action (EFA) in Providence, RI. Alicia brings a great deal of experience in non-profit management and community building. She has also planned and facilitated many large and small popular education and participatory approach trainings for staff, board, volunteers, community members and learners. Alicia is a fully bilingual (English/Spanish) immigrant from Venezuela who graduated from Brown University. She has spent time working with immigrant communities all around the US. Committed to working and collaborating with communities to bring about social change, Alicia embraces the ways in which WE LEARN emphasizes participatory processes, education, and language as a tool for social change. She wants to figure out where WE LEARN can become more effective or grow, and to help with research and financial support for new initiatives. 

Lorna Rivera, Ph.D.

Term 2009 - 2012 (on temporary leave)
Roslindale, MA
Faculty, Associate Professor of Women’s Studies, University of Massachusetts-Boston, Boston, Massachusetts  
Lorna is an associate professor of Women’s Studies at the UMass-Boston.  She is a former GED program director and ABE teacher.  She teaches and writes about issues related to women, education, poverty, and the Latino/a community in New England. Lorna has been with WE LEARN since the early days, serving on the WE LEARN Board from 2001 to 2007. After a year’s hiatus, she would like to return to help WELEARN with grant-writing and fundraising as well as other capacity-building activities.  She also hopes to strengthen WE LEARN’s research agenda by fostering collaborations with researchers who are interested in women’s literacy.

Laurie Sheridan, M.A.

Term 2009 - 2012
Milton, MA
Workforce Development Coordinator, World Education, Boston, Massachusetts  
Laurie has been an adult educator and labor educator for many years. She has worked in many areas affecting women such as union organizing, child care advocacy, equal pay for equal work, job skills training, combating sexual harassment on the job, and workplace health and safety. She currently works at World Ed and SABES. Laurie is also an active member of WE LEARN and believes that her experience in non-profit management, as well as her skills in organizing and leadership development would be useful on the WE LEARN Board.

Shellie Walters

PHOTO PENDING

Term 2010 – 2013
Sumner, WA
Pemco Insurance Co. 
I’m a student of ABE and I‘m leader and I always trying develop other student around me. I am the Vice Chair for the Student Advisory Council for ProLiteracy. I am also involved in the Seattle Speakers Bureau and help to recruit new students to join. I have been involved in WE LEARN for the past year on the Conference Committee.

Karen Wyman, B.A.

Term 2009 - 2012
Albuquerque, NM
Resigned Summer 2010

Mev (Mary Evelyn) Miller, Ed.D. Founder / Executive Director

Ex Officio