MER Spring Newsletter

Hello! I am Alejandra Nava, Program Manager, Career Pathways and Partnerships at MESD. In my role I get to offer direct navigation and tuition assistance to our rising educators at Multnomah Educators Rising! I also get to dream up and collaborate to develop as many supports as I can to incorporate into our program so that our participants have the most sustainable pathways possible towards their dreams of becoming educators. On the weekends I have an active social life with friends and family! I try to keep it balanced between work and life, but it just so happens that education, leadership, and equity are my passions, so I am truly grateful to be able to say that I love what I do!

Hello everyone! My name is Uma and I am excited to be joining the MER team as the Program Manager, Career Pathways and Supports. I have been working in education as a social studies and ethnic studies teacher, teacher mentor and advocate for students. I also enjoy curriculum design, specifically in building a culturally responsive, arts, and youth-centered curriculum for students and teachers. I love sharing space and community with MER students at Portland Community College where I also teach Multicultural Education. I am honored to be working on this team in order to further support educators of color in cultivating spaces of love, community, healing and joy. In my free time, I enjoy reading and attending book clubs, cooking, trying all the local restaurants, traveling and being outdoors!

Hi everyone, I’m Nate and I serve as Senior Administrator, Career Pathways & Partnerships here at MESD. My job is to support the incredible MER team and the strategic direction and growth of the program. Four years ago, MER was just a dream. I’m grateful and inspired by all the hands, hearts, and minds that have come together to make us what we are today: a thriving, loving, and joyful community of educators, learners, leaders, mentors, and friends. On any given day you might find me facilitating a team meeting, writing a grant, gathering data, testifying to the legislature, or building partnerships with community-based organizations. Outside of work I love hanging out with my family (one wonderful spouse, three beautiful kiddos, and one shaggy dog), going for long bike rides, coaching basketball, or climbing Cascade peaks.

Hi everyone, I’m Tai Said-Hall and I currently am a Design and Implementation coach with Multnomah Clackamas Regional Educator Network (MCREN). I am so privileged to be partnering with MER in prototyping the idea of “Journey Coaching”. My hope is that through this project I will be able to support participants in a unique way. Through one-on-one coaching that is customized to participants' individual needs. I hope to create space for relationships, connection, joy and problem solving. Outside of work I love spending time with my family (3 beautiful daughters, my big sister and my loving mom!). I also enjoy swimming, baking and reading, especially young adult fiction.

Hola, mi nombre es Pedro Villagomez; my pronouns are He/Him/El. I have been part of this program since February in my role as the Student Navigator with Multnomah Educators Rising at Portland Community College. During my free time, my family and I enjoy doing outdoor activities and engaging our five daughters in community and cultural events. You can find us exploring downtown Portland, or creating memories in the other parts of the United States. Professionally, something you did not know about me was the passion I have for teaching and learning. On any given workday, you can find me connecting with our scholars, and talking about short- and long-term academic goals. Connecting with our educators in training is one of my favorite activities in this role because I get to witness their own professional development and see them thrive.

Hello! I’m Tanya Mead and I am the faculty chair of the education program at PCC and serve as point person for the Multnomah Educators Rising at PCC. I have had the wonderful good fortune to collaborate with my colleagues at PCC, MESD, school district and community partners on creating a culturally-responsive pathway for our aspiring BIPOC educators in Multnomah County which includes relevant curriculum, faculty, coursework, advising and transfer agreements with our university partners.This initiative has changed the way we approach the recruitment, support and training of all educators and allowed our very organizations and programs to change as well, all of which has enriched the work we do on a daily basis. Otherwise, I am hosting exchange students and loving my own teenagers! I keep relatively sane with good friends, yummy cooking, good music, strong coffee, hot yoga and daily walks in the woods with my 4-legged friend!

Hello, everyone! I'm Ceci de Valdenebro, and it's a genuine honor to be a faculty member in the Education Department at PCC. I have the privilege of working with Multnomah Educators Rising, where my role is to ignite a profound passion for teaching and learning in our future educators. In that role, I work with a remarkable cohort of aspiring educators, and a diverse and fully BIPOC cohort, who are already contributing to our educational system and working towards obtaining their teaching licenses. My approach to teaching is about recognizing the unique strengths and untapped potential within each and every one of our students. I firmly believe in moving from a power-centered approach to one that honors the incredible capabilities and contributions of our diverse student body. Together, we are working on building an inclusive and empowering educational experience for all, as I am a learner as well! Outside of my work, one of my favorite pastimes is taking long walks with my husband and our two dogs in the embrace of Mother Nature. The beauty that surrounds us always brings me a sense of peace and wonder.