AALL Board of Directors 2008/9

Connie Armstrong has a Bachelor’s in Human Resource Development – Training and Development and a Master’s in Human Resources – Organizational Change Management.  For the last 19 years Connie has worked in Adult Basic Education, first as an instructor and later as a program coordinator. Connie has presented at local, regional and national conferences covering topics on special needs populations, lesson plans, curriculum development, distance learning, and adult education standards.  

 Ann Beck: is a long-time Flagstaff resident. She earned a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Northern Arizona University in 1994; an MA in TESL from UCLA in 1983 and a BA in Anthropology in 1975. Over the years she has taught for the English Department at NAU, organized classes and programs on the Navajo Nation and Hopi reservation for NAU's off campus programs, and assisted in a Montessori classroom. She began her tenure as Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Coconino County in November 1999. Ann gives her reasons for seeking election, “ I represent a small, private non-profit organization. In recent years, I have observed the demise of the independent literacy organization as more and more programs statewide and across the nation come under the umbrella of federal/state dollars. I believe that adults who want to re-enter the education system need as many options as possible to accommodate their family, employment and educational requirements.  I also believe that independent programs must hold themselves to the highest standards possible for the delivery of services as we do not generally rely on standardized test scores to prove we are making a difference in our adult learners' lives.” 

Garry L.  Cox   I began my teaching career in 1967 as a high school teacher in a consolidated district in rural Iowa.  After three years teaching English, Speech and Drama (producing school and community theater) I relocated to St. Louis, MO where I became a State Probation and Parole Officer.  It was in that capacity that I first became involved in adult education, primarily GED.  Having become dissatisfied with the educational referral system, I decided that, as a certified teacher, I could develop a GED site within the confines of my neighborhood based probation office.  I staffed the site with volunteer teachers (fellow probation officers) and made all subsequent referrals to our own program.
 In 1974 I left St. Louis for a position as Community development specialist in Detroit, MI.  This led to an 18 year stint with the Detroit Board of Education during which I taught GED, Developed Adult Ed. Sites, and supervised teachers.  During the summers I directed drama activities for the city's Summer Youth Employment Program.  Also during this period, I served as Artistic Director for two regional theater groups and hosted a life cable TV show featuring inner-city youth. 
In the summer of 1997 I joined Rio Salado Adult Ed. teach as an instructor at the MSC Learning Center.  I have since served as Lead Teacher at Lewis Prison, earned my Masters Degree in Educational Leadership, and assumed the role of ABE Coordinator for the MSC Learning Center. 

Myna Frestedt: has been teaching adults in various educational settings for more than 25 years. She enjoys working with learners who prefer multiple learning formats and who have learning styles different from her own. After beginning her teaching in higher education and working there for several years, she changed to working in a community social service program. Her work in the social services introduced her to adult students who struggled to attain life skills, basic reading, and basic math.  She taught ESL on several levels and GED or other test preparation for individuals, private companies, and Rio Salado College alongside teaching humanities based classes at the college level. Most recently she accepted a position at Central Arizona College as a GED Preceptor. She is the outgoing president of the Mountain Plains Adult Education Association and has been an Arizona Association for Lifelong Learning board member in the past.  One of her reasons for seeking election to the AALL Board is, “I wish to help and mentor those new to the field of adult education. I believe in the autonomy of a professional association like AALL and its power to support its members in their endeavors.”

   T.J. DeLuca Born in New York City , at the age of five I moved to Phoenix with my family.  After graduating from South Mountain High, I spent four years in the Air Force, including a vacation in Viet Nam .  While continuing my education and training, I worked as an electronics engineer for the government in Sacramento at first, then for 25 years in upstate New York .  My job took me all over the world from Alaska to Florida , from Thailand to Saudi Arabia . Offered early retirement when the military base on which I was located was scheduled to close in 1994, I moved to Phoenix to start an emu ranch with Claire who continued as an adult education instructor.  When Claire’s aide left mid-semester, I volunteered to take his place.  Now I work at Ann Ott ALC where I have my own desk!  The highlight of my career as an adult educator has been serving as president of AALL (2005-2006).

Sandra Edwards Sandra holds a B.S. degree in secondary education from the University of Minnesota and has worked in the adult education field since the early 70’s. While in Minnesota she taught GED and ABE and was a part of the creation of two successful adult education lifelong learning centers for St. Paul Public Schools. For many years she served on the board of that region’s association, The Missouri Valley Adult Education Association.   In Arizona since 1997, she has served on the State of Arizona Adult Education GED Taskforce and has worked on the adult standards committee. She is currently serving on the ‘07 Adult Education State Conference Steering Committee. She will receive a master’s in educational leadership in May, 2007 from NAU.   
 I welcome the opportunity to assist the AALL board in any needed capacity. I feel it is important to give back to the field that has given me so much. As an AALL board member I will be able to make more contacts and champion the attributes of the field to more people, be they legislators or merely the adults in need of an education.   

  Luisa Hernandez has her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education from the InterAmerican University in Puerto Rico and a Master degree in Public Administration from Troy State University, European Campus.  She has been an educator for almost 24 years.  She has been working in the field of adult education since 1983.  Luisa has taught GED and ESOL for many of those years.  She taught and managed adult education programs in Germany for the U.S. Army from 1983-1992. Luisa is currently working for Pima College Adult Education as a teacher and the Manager of the El Pueblo Liberty Adult Learning Center serving approximately 4,000 students.  She was on the original Standards Design Team, and participated in the writing of the GED Writing Standard.  This year, she has served on the State’s ESOL Standards’ Committee.  

Maureen Hoyt  Maureen has been an Adult Educator for 25 years. She has taught ABE/GED, ESOL, and Family Literacy. Maureen is past President (2002/3) of the Arizona Association for Lifelong Learning (AALL), the Adult Education professional organization. She has also served on the Board as Advocacy chairperson for the past three years. She maintains the AALL website www.az-aall.org and has produced a number of Internet based lessons which are aligned to Arizona Adult Education Standards. At Arizona CALL-A-TEEN Youth Resources, Inc, she coordinates the Youthbuild and Workforce Investment Act basic education programs and is the webmaster for the ACYR internet and intranet site. www.azcallateen.k12.az.us . Maureen was an Arizona Resource Teacher and has served in various capacities on the Standard’s project.

Julie Jorgensen I graduated from ASU 1986 with a B.A. in Elementary Ed. (Summa Cum Laude) then I took a short break and raised my 4 daughters (2 who are now married) After that I started working for Mesa Public schools. I’ve taught everything from Pre-School to tutoring High School students.  About 9 years ago I stumbled upon Adult Education and I have loved it ever since. I’ve taught every level of ELAA as well as GED classes> this has given me a broad base of teaching experience goals for the future include working towards my Master and improving my ability to incorporate technology in my teaching. I also have recently completed my ESL endorsement. 

It’s has been great to be a part of AALL for many years attending conference has always been a high point of my teaching experience. I would like to play a more active role in this fantastic cross road concerning our ability to teach ELAA students in our community. I would like to see AALL use its great resources and knowledge in collaboration with various community organizations to continue to provide these great services to our community. The need will not go away and it is time to find out new avenues for all ELAA students.  
 I believe the AALL organization can help lead the way and provide a ray of hope for both ELAA instructors as well as students. I would also like to see better collaboration and interaction amen the adult Ed program throughout the state. We could use internet sites such as www.nicenet.org to share resources, discuss challenges, give support, etc. We have wonderful programs, teachers and administrators in the state of Arizona who have great passion for Adult Education. My desire is to tap into that passion and give encouragement to fellow educators. AALL is just the organization to make it happen.

   Rickey Jackson My desire to make sure all people had equitable access to education drove me to pursue education as my professional. Early on in my education career I discovered that the one size fits all approach to education did not work for everyone. I directed my attention to alternative programs, teaching in Jr. High in Apache Junction and Gilbert. It soon became apparent that the change I wanted to take place could only happen if I took leadership roles in organization. I served as an assistant principal at a high school for three years before turning to adult education. I have been working in adult education for the last three years and have discovered that if we are to improve literacy we first must change the culture in the homes and this can only be done through education the people that have the most influence.  
I realize that Arizona Association for Lifelong Learning can be the driving force for change in Adult education in Arizona and I want to be a part of this change. For too long non educators have made decision about student learning in our state and nation. AALL can be the catalyst for change in our state, bring educators with various backgrounds together to improve student learning. My experience working with local and state governmental agencies and political groups places me in a position to publicize the needs of adult learners and educators. Most importantly the leadership role I play in my local institution with professional, curriculum, and instructional development will make me a vital asset to the AALL team.

Laurie Kierstead-Joseph has a BA in Linguistics from the University of Arizona and has taken graduate coursework in adult education and leadership at Pima College and the UofA. She has been teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) with Pima College Adult Education since 1999. She has been a part of Arizona Department of Education committees on ESOL Standards Revision and English Language Acquisition for Adults (ELAA) Assessment. She has presented at regional and state conference on ESOL teaching techniques and ELAA standards

Verity Lerman  I have worked as an adult ESL instructor for Family Tree for eight years. Before this I was a high school Spanish teacher for a couple of years. My love for ESL started while I was teaching English in Seville, Spain. I have a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications, another in Spanish and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction.  Mesa, Arizona is where I work as well as being my home town.
I have a Master’s Degree from the University of Toronto. I have taught English and English as a second a Language to adults for over twenty years.  I instructed students in a special writing program at the University of Guelph in Canada and coached students seeking retaining at a community college in the same town.  When I came to  New York City, I taught through a continuing education program at New York University. I also taught English to recent immigrants from the Soviet Union through a private school in Brooklyn. Before coming to Ann Ott, I worked in the ESL program through Lutheran Social Ministries in Phoenix.
I don’t believe that the decisions we make at eighteen are the same as the decisions we make at thirty, and so on, so lifelong education makes sense simply because we are all continually evolving. I would be pleased to be active in an organization that supports this.  

Robert Ojeda: was born and raised in Peru and moved to the US in 1989.  He has worked for Pima College Adult Education since 1993, serving as manager and Civics Resource instructor most recently, and ESOL, Spanish language, and Civics and Citizenship instructor previously.  He is currently finishing his doctoral studies in Adult and Extension Education from Cornell University .  Robert describes one of his reasons for seeking election, “I have a deep and broad understanding and appreciation of the culture and community of adult learning.  I believe that organizations like AALL play a crucial role in having a community of well-trained practitioners who understand the need of individual learners and are simultaneously attuned to the larger changes taking place in the field of adult education.  

Marina Sires holds a Bachelor’s degree in Teaching English and German from Barnaul State Pedagogical University , Russia , and a Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Second Language from Northern Arizona University , Flagstaff , AZ. She has been teaching ELAA in the Rio Salado ABE Program since November of 2003. She is currently the Learning Center Director for the Rio Salado College/Ann Ott Adult Learning Center. She was recognized as the AALL Rookie of the Year for 2004. Marina says, “I would bring to the board experience, communication skills and organizational skills that have all been developed through my work in the adult education field.”

 Betty Stauffer has worked in non-profits, focused on assisting adults to improve their lives by growing into their potential, for 19 years. She has been the Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Tucson since 2002. Since that time, LVT has tripled in students served, staff, and budget size. LVT focuses on low-level, hard to serve students that don’t fit the current state model. Before moving to AZ, she was the Executive Director of a transitional housing program for homeless families for 10 years. She had the honor of helping start this organization and enjoyed building it from the ground up. Her degree is in social work. Betty considers herself a professional fundraiser which she has learned on the job.  Betty describes her vision for AALL, “My vision is for AALL to become a strong coalition of all adult education providers in the state that would provide advocacy leadership and continuing education opportunities. I would hope AALL could provide leadership within the field that would be inclusive of all learners and all program types.”

 Kate Tsepilova is a passionate adult educator. Her teaching career started 11 years ago when she worked as an EFL instructor at the Karaganda University of Business, Management and Law where she taught for 2 years and grew as a person and as a professional. She started teaching at the ABE program at Rio Salado College over six years ago as a part-time instructor and, immediately, was very happy with her choice. Her education and love for the profession allows her to help others improve their lives and have more choices and opportunities in the future. Kate wants to use every opportunity to advocate for Adult Education and to help improve and strengthen the field.  Kate states one of her reasons for seeking election, “I believe in lifelong learning with all my heart and think that AALL, being an established and reputable organization, has a powerful say in the field of Adult Education , can influence and cause positive changes in the area as well as provide great opportunities for educators to share their expertise and learn from each other.”

Adele Youmans I have an MA in ESOL from the University of Arizona. I have taught ESOL at PCAE for 19 years. I have also taught EFL in Mexico, China and Guatemala.
I am passionate about lifelong learning which I believe strengthens both individuals and the societies in which they live. I have worked in adult education for 19 years and have seen the positive effect a commitment to learning can have on more than one generation of students. I am especially interested in studying effective learning strategies of ESOL students. I would like to both share and increase my knowledge and experience by seeking election to the AALL Board. 

 Michele Zerr  I have been active in education at many levels including secondary, community college, university and adult education for more than 35 years. I served as director of adult education at Native Americans for Community Action in Flagstaff for four years. I have worked as a teacher and as an administrator. My educational background includes undergrad in secondary education, masters in counseling and testing, and doctorate in curriculum and instruction. I have served and continue to serve as a mentor for numerous “new” adult educators. I put together the committee to review workshop proposals for the ’02 MPAEA/AALL conference to be held in Phoenix.   I have served on the AALL board for eight years, serving on numerous committees and one term as treasurer.