Elinor Alexander, M.A. Education, 2011

Elinor Alexander, M.A. Education, ’11, was asked by World Vision International to go to Haiti following the devastating earthquake to strategize and help implement an alternative educational system that would work in countries in a state of emergency and would assist in their overall development efforts. She now works with World Vision as Capacity Building Advisor. Her job is to operationalize a powerful alternative education system provided by the Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL), making it available to the thousands of community volunteers who make change happen in their communities every day. Below are her thoughts about why she chose Antioch University Seattle and her career path.

Eric Warn
Editor

“I came to Antioch with some educational background and experience working with underserved students in under-resourced schools in the UK, and in the US. Many of these students also live in high risk environments which clouded their ability to see their potential. To address the need, EducateSuccess (www.educatesuccess.com) was co-created to bring holistic educational solutions and frameworks to serve students, teachers, families and the communities in which they lived. However, I wanted to dig deeper into evidence-based best practices for the undeserved and the poor. Doing so through a master’s degree seemed logical. Antioch provided a rich reflective platform to do this.

“In March 2010, I was asked by World Vision International to go to Haiti, shortly after the devastating earthquake to strategize and help implement an alternative educational system that would work in countries in a state of emergency and would assist in their overall development efforts. Seeing the carnage left by the earthquake and the abject poverty endured by the people of Haiti, my work and research project shifted to facilitating and supporting the aspirations of the poorest through culturally contextualized, low or no cost, educational solutions.

“World Vision is based in almost 100 countries in some of the poorest communities in the world. They partnered with The Global University of Life-Long Learning (GULL) to professionalize and validate the professional and personal development of community volunteers, who are not paid but do the courageous work of community development and social change.

“Many of World Vision’s volunteers barely live above subsistence level, yet they are motivated to improve the lives of those in their communities with limited resources. They may never be able to afford traditional education and it is arguable whether traditional learning is the best way to learn. GULL professionalizes who learn and develop by doing (action-learning) and who determine their own curriculum by what they want to achieve.

“As there is none of the usual costly overheads of a traditional university, certificates and degree awards can be achieved at low or no cost. This is great news to community change agents in educationally deprived communities. Many of the volunteers are being certified for the first time in their lives, so they are driven (self-directed) to learn and do more as they are recognized and celebrated in the process. I now work with World Vision as a Capacity Building Advisor and my job is to operationalize personal and organizational effectiveness through self-directed action learning, making it available to the thousands of community volunteers who make change happen in their communities every day.

“I come to the end of my journey with Antioch grateful for the guidance and support over the last 3 years. Antioch University Seattle professors Dr. Ed Mikel and Dr. Wendy Rosen (School of Education), Barbara Spraker (Center for Creative Change) and others have cheered me on and nurtured the vision to fruition. Together, we have all played a part in empowering social change through education around the world.”

Susan Warner, M.A. Education, 1999

Reprinted from the artdaily.org:

Tacoma’s Museum of Glass recently announced the appointment of Susan Warner as Deputy Director/Curator.

Warner joined Museum of Glass as the Director of Education in February 2001, prior to the Museum’s official opening in 2002. In 2006, she was appointed Director of Public Programs, overseeing the curatorial, education and Hot Shop departments, and in 2009 appointed Deputy Director.

“After reviewing a number of highly qualified external candidates for this position, it made sense to look within MOG’s own talent pool, and Susan Warner was an obvious selection,” noted Museum of Glass director Timothy Close. “She brings over 30 years of museum, curatorial and educational experience to the position and possesses a solid background in the medium of glass. We are very pleased she has accepted this new role in her career at MOG.”

As Deputy Director/Curator, Warner will be responsible for developing the Museum’s multi-year exhibition schedule and developing exhibition content that is both scholarly and accessible for the Museum’s dynamic traveling exhibition program. Warner will work with the Museum’s curatorial, Hot Shop and education departments, as well as with artists, collectors, educators and museums, in researching and developing narrative materials for all exhibitions.

Warner will also be responsible for the Visiting Artist Residency Program in consultation with the Museum’s Lead Hot Shop Gaffer, Benjamin Cobb. She will work jointly with Museum of Glass Director/CEO Tim Close as the staff liaison to the Museum’s Collections Committee, chaired by Trustee George H. Weyerhaeuser, Jr.

Warner’s education work has been honored by the City of Tacoma, with an Art at Work award (2003), and Antioch University Seattle ’s Horace Mann Award (2007, alumni category). Prior to joining Museum of Glass , Warner was Director of Education at the Seattle Children’s Museum. She also served as Curator of Education at the State Capital Museum in Olympia and as Assistant Curator, Curator of Decorative Arts at the Dayton Art Institute. Her early career included extensive curatorial work in collection management and exhibition development. In the early 1990s, Warner made the transition to museum education.

In 1997, she received Washington State ’s Gold Apple Award for Excellence in Education and, in 1998, she accepted a Coming Up Taller award for her program, The Experimental Gallery. Born in Geita , Tanzania , Warner also has a Bachelor of Arts in History degree from Southampton University in England.

Tracy Rector, Former M.A. Education Student

Tracy Rector (Seminole, Mississippi Choctaw) was selected by the Sundance Institute as a 2011 Native Lab Fellow for her film Clearwater about the health of Puget Sound and the relationship of the indigenous people to the water. Keri Putnam, Executive Director for Sundance Institute notes: “What resonates for us at Sundance Institute is that these stories are authentic and personal, and that the filmmakers are not afraid to take risks.”

Sean Megy, M.S. Management ‘01

Teacher and cyclist Sean Megy, M.S. Management ‘01, is mentioned in an article that recently appeared in the Kitsap Sun newspaper. Here is the link to story: http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/may/20/hundreds-pedal-in-for-bainbridges-bike-to-school/

Tracy Rector, M.A. Education Former Student

Tracy Rector (Seminole) is the executive director and co-founder (with Annie Silverstein) of Longhouse Media and its youth media project, Native Lens, a partnership with the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. Longhouse Media won the National Association for Media Literacy Education Award in 2009, and in 2008 Rector received Antioch University’s Horace Mann Award for her work in empowering Native youth. She and Silverstein collaborated with young filmmakers to create Longhouse Media’s feature-length production, March Point (2008). This environmental documentary received an All Roads Film Project Seed Grant and was recognized by UNESCO as an example of indigenous grassroots mobilization in response to climate change.

She is a Native education specialist, serving as education consultant for the Seattle Art Museum, to assist with planning for the museum’s expanded Native American wing and for a new international exhibition on Coast Salish art. She developed curriculum materials for the exhibition Song Story Speech: Oral Traditions of Puget Sound’s First People (2005) for the museum, as well as humanities and science curricula for Muckleshoot Tribal College. Rector is also a Native Naturalist for the Olympic Sculpture Park and curriculum developer for IslandWood, an environmental education center. The curriculum Rector created for the film Teachings of the Tree People: The Work of Bruce Miller (2006), for which she was co-producer, has been recognized as a Gold Standard Model by the Northwest Folklife Council.

Rector has served as a juror for the Northwest Indigenous Film Festival, the Seattle Arts Commission, and the Seattle International Film Festival. She is also involved in numerous community organizations in Seattle, including the Mayor’s Task Force Against Youth Violence. She received an MA from the First Peoples’ Education program, a partnership between Antioch University Seattle and Muckleshoot Tribal College. Her BA in Native American Studies and Communications is from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington.

She lives in Seattle, Washington, her hometown.

Jennifer Santamaria, M.A. Education 1998

Here is a reprint of an article from the Woodinville (WA) Weekly, written by Leanne Christensen:

Fifth grade teacher Jennifer Santamaria has taught at Stillwater Elementary School since 1999. This is her 12th year there. She has taught kindergarten, 2nd grade, 3rd grade and 5th grade. Prior to becoming a teacher, Jennifer held a number of jobs; she was a hospital secretary, waitress, fundraiser and taxi driver. She graduated from Bastyr University with a degree in Natural Health Sciences and then earned a MA in Education from Antioch University Seattle.

When asked about her favorite aspect of teaching she replied, “The laughter … there is room for a smile in every subject we teach.”

She continued, “I love being a parent, teacher and neighbor in the Riverview School District. This is a great community! My perfect day is jogging with my dog on the Snoqualmie Valley trail, working with the great kids at Stillwater Elementary, watching my sons participate in local sports, and eating some Go-Go bread at Lazy K’s with my family in Carnation.”

Jennifer’s husband is also a teacher, and her two sons attend Tolt Middle School.

Jennifer has a passion for technology, and attempts to incorporate technology into all subjects. This year her class made a movie about the scientific method, and are now working with partners to make book trailers (like a movie preview) to share about a favorite novel. She also loves the field of science, and has a goal to bring more science into all classrooms. She is currently working with the PTSA to create a science resource center and bring in science docents for all students.

Over the years Jennifer has gathered many favorite memories while working in the classroom with children. Her most favorite is when former students visit her and say, “Remember when…” and they share a laugh about a fun classroom experience they had together.

She especially appreciates living in a small community, which gives her the opportunity to follow her elementary kids as they grow through middle and high school.

Prior to living in the Northwest, Jennifer lived in Utah and Massachusetts. She shares with pride one of her greatest personal accomplishments, which was riding her bike from Seattle to Boston.

John Dubois, B.A. 2007, M.A. 2009

Alumnus and current AUS adjunct faculty member John Dubois will be reading from his book, The Authentic Self in Educational Leadership on Wednesday, November 10, from 4-7pm in Room 203. He also will be signing and selling copies of his book. Light refreshments will be served at the event, which is being sponsored by the AUS Library.

Secret Charles, M.A. Education 2007

Charles, who works as the coordinator for the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice’s Toxic Beauty Campaign, is being recognized by the Rainier Beach Coalition as one of several 2009 “unsung neighborhood heroes.” For more information go to:
http://www.rbcoalition.org/rainier-beach-coalition-recognizes-unsung-heroes/

Larry Paul, M.A. Education 2006

“Still working as a substitute teacher in Tacoma.”

Jeffrey Treistman, M.A. Education 2004

This is my sixth year teaching, the first year as the school librarian and my best year yet. I love being the library teacher and can’t imagine a better place for me in education.

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