Participants A-M
Stephanie Baker My name is Stephanie Baker, and I am from Georgia. I have been an elementary school teacher for the past eight years. I've taught the first grade, ESOL, and the fifth grade. My students are mostly Latino, and emerging bilingual speakers of English and Spanish. Also, I am a doctoral student at the University of Georgia in the Language and Literacy Education department, and my research focuses on biliteracy development among bilingual students, critical pedagogies focused on issues of power surrounding language use, and feminist perspectives in the early childhood classroom among Latina students. 
Nicole Caracciolo Hi everyone, my name is Nicole Caracciolo, and for the past 14 years I have taught Fine Art and Art History at Abington Senior High School, a suburb outside of Philadelphia. I graduated from Tyler School of Art, Temple University with my BFA and completed my Masters Degree at NYU. I have traveled extensively to various countries, my favorites being Italy, Morocco, India, and Japan. When traveling, I seek out all the art that a culture has to offer, whether it be hanging on the walls of a museum or lining the roadside at a local market. I also enjoy delving into the music and dance indicative of those people since I strongly believe that art comes in all shapes and sizes. Because our world is shrinking at warp speed, I think it is important for students to have a global understanding. I use the arts as a medium to teach my students to respect and become familiar with other cultures. My spare time is spent going to see live music, watching films, reading, visiting various types of museums, volunteering at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, exploring nature (land and ocean), and creating art. Some of my travel photography is on Facebook if anyone would like to check it out. I look forward to meeting everyone this summer in Oaxaca!
Scott Eberhardt
My name is Scott Eberhardt, and I teach English Literature and Media Arts (Film/Video) at the Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in San Francisco, California. I began teaching in 2001, shortly after moving to San Francisco, after a brief stint in advertisement design. I am originally from the east coast, having divided my youth between New Jersey and Maine (thus my penchants for Dunkin’ Donuts, cold-water surfing, and the New York Yankees). After high school I oved west, to pursue higher education (and elevation) in Colorado. I attended the University of Colorado at Boulder, where I received Bachelors degrees in Art History and English Literature, and, most recently, the University of San Francisco, where I received my Masters degree from its School of Education. As a film aficionado and video-production teacher I am committed to cultivating student interest in the medium and helping youth tell their own stories (and perhaps even discover future career paths). On a personal note, I play drums in two Bay-Area bands and occasionally write rather turgid verse. Apart from the arts, my passions include traveling, cycling, hiking, and reveling in nature.
Emily Ekstrand-Nieves
I teach Spanish for Heritage Learners and Latin American
History at Glenbrook South High School in the suburbs of Chicago. I studied in Morelia, Michoacán twice
during college (1999 and 2001) so I’m looking forward to getting back into the
rhythm of Mexican student life. My
husband, a sculptor and art teacher, will be splitting his time between his
parents’ house in Querétaro and my departamento
at Villas del Campo during the seminar.
Travel in Latin America is my thing so I’m looking forward to getting
out of Oaxaca city every weekend to have some adventures… anybody want to join?
Zak Foster
Zak
Foster hails from the birthplace of Krispy Kreme and Pepsi Cola...
North Carolina! He has been teaching high school Spanish for seven
years and currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he has been
teaching since 2008. Other than teaching and traveling, he also enjoys
swimming, biking, baking bread, as well as film, art, and design. He
studied in Queretaro in 2001, and looks forward to the chance to spend
more time in Mexico.
Christy Gill
My name is Christy Gill. I am an elementary art teacher in rural
West Virginia. I am excited to say that I was recently National Board
Certified! I have a passion for travel and have been watching the NEH
website for just the right institute at just the right time! I am
happy to say that this is my year. My ten year association with People
to People Student Ambassador Programs has taken me on numerous three
week educational programs on five different continents. This is one of
the few times I will be traveling without students! Last year our
program took us to Peru and Chile - What a facinating area of the
world! I look forward to meeting everyone and enjoying our time
together in Mexico!
Dennise Geer Greetings, my name is Dennise Geer and I live, work and play with my husband, David, in beautiful Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. We settled here mainly because I got the chance to work at the Coeur D’Alene Charter Academy that was rated as the 88 the Best High School in the U.S. last year. I teach Spanish I, II, III, IV and AP. My husband is a retired architect. I lived in Mexico City for 3 years after graduating from the University of Washington, and studied at La Universidad de las Americas where I got a 2nd degree in Spanish Literature. My years in Mexico were a defining time for me, and since them I have been connected to Spanish in jobs, interests and in my heart. I began my Spanish teaching career after retiring from a long career as a TWA Flight Attendant where I worked as a language of destination flight attendant and developed Spanish curriculum. I have a Master’s in both Art History (American Colonial and Northwest Indian Art) and Administration. My husband and I have 4 sons who all graduated from college and are married. I have one grandson. My husband and I love to travel, to walk museums, watch movies, collect indigenous art, and to spend time with family. David does competitive shooting. We have two adorable dogs. Returning to Mexico is a dream come true for me. I cannot wait to go to the Juarez Market! Both of us are looking forward to getting to know all of you and listening to you. I am traveling with Kaye Kamp, a fellow teacher formerly from Charter who will also be attending the Institute. This will be an incredible summer. How exciting that we will be together!
Debbie Genovese My name is Debbie Genovese and I teach 9-12 Basic Art in St. Louis, Missouri at Webster Groves High School. I live with my husband, George and our "princess" tea cup poodle Boo. Our two grown children are both teachers; Jason lives in Topeka, Kansas and Gina in Washington D.C. I own and operate T's 4 U, a silk screen printing company. My interests include cloth doll making and litergical banners. I am thrilled to be a participant in the NEH trip to Oaxaca and anxiously await meeting everyone.
