2019 Aspiring Educator Candidates
NEA Board of Directors - 2 Year Term
John Brasfield
My name is John Brasfield and I’m a graduate student at USC. Currently, working towards earning my degree in Counseling. I work as a Special Education Instructional Assistant in Los Angeles while I work towards my credential. I’ve been an active member of SCTA since 2017, served on the board in 2018-2019 as the Ethic Minority Representative statewide and was a part of the recognize service center for the Human and Civil Right Awards from CTA in 2019. Serving as the Ethnic Minority Representative I was selected to be a part of the Good Teaching Planning Committee. My hobbies include that I’m a license Professional Boxer, Certified Youth Coach in multiple sports and College Football Coach; Received recognition from the City of Los Angeles for the service I do in the community in 2018, and coach of the year honors from NFL Play 60 Los Angeles in 2017. In addition, I’ve earned my undergraduate degree in Business Administration, work for a fortune 500 company while earning employee of the month. Also, as a youth I was voted “Most Remarkable Kid” by the Los Angeles Time for my commitment to excellence.
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Elizabeth Conner
Elizabeth Conner is a sophomore at the University of Central Oklahoma, majoring in elementary education. With a passion for learning and for helping others, she regularly attends professional development opportunities in her area, such as Future Horizon’s conference with Dr. Temple Grandin. She was selected to attend the NEA Leadership Summit in Denver in March, where she was able to learn many valuable things and network with individuals from across the United States. Elizabeth has helped connect her local Association of Classroom Teachers to her campus’ Aspiring Education chapter. This provided education students access to professional development and job opportunities. Recently she won reelection in her state to serve as the student legislative representative for another year. Elizabeth has shown immense dedication and motivation in her first year with the union. She is looking forward to further chances to grow and to help others. When she is not at school or work, Elizabeth enjoys painting, playing video games, and gardening. She lives with her fiancé and their cat. She plans to teach elementary students and run an after school program for high school students. She eventually wants to open up her own school to help all individuals within her community.
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Brittany Perreault
My name is Brittany Perreault and I am running for the NEA Board of Directors 2 year term. I am a sophomore at Michigan State University studying special education with a concentration in learning disabilities, a teaching major in social studies, a minor in educational studies, a focus in global education, and I am a student in the honors college. In the future I hope to earn a masters degree in K-12 Administration and a doctoral degree in Education Policy. I am the President of my local chapter, Aspiring Educators of Michigan State, as well as being the Vice President for our state chapter, Aspiring Educators of Michigan Education Association. Outside of the union I am a part of the International Honor Society for Education, Kappa Delta Pi, the Global Educators Cohort Program, and the Michigan State College of Education Leadership Council. Furthermore, I am running for this position because I want to share my love for the union with other aspiring educators from around the country. One of the main issues I hope to work on during my term is recruitment and retention. Together, we will shape the face of education, one student at a time.
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Alexandria Toay
Alexandria Toay is an Illinois rising junior at Elmhurst College studying Special Education (K-12) with an ESL approval. She first learned about the Student Education Association while she was a student at College of DuPage. There, she served on their officer team, holding the positions of Secretary/Web Designer before becoming President in her last semester. Alex currently serves on the Student Illinois Education Association board as Secretary/Treasurer, and she has truly enjoyed the opportunities of leadership and experience from her work as a state officer. As a transfer student herself, Alex understands some of the non-conventional needs that an aspiring educator member may have. Alex is especially a strong advocate for people with disabilities—her current work in therapeutic recreation with youth, teens, and adults with autism spectrum disorder, various intellectual and physical disabilities sparked her interest in SPED. Alex also attended the Minority & Women's Leadership Training Seminar in San Diego and was a student delegate in this year’s IEA Representative Assembly. She would be honored to continue her service, using her current and future experiences as guides, to rightfully represent the NEA Board of Directors and all NEA Aspiring Educators.
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NEA Board of Directors - 1 year Term
Morgan Brown
Morgan is a graduate student at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA. She has been an active member of the SVEA, VEA, and NEA for four years. During those four years, she has held a number of leadership positions in the union on the local, state, and national level. Through her experience as a union member and leader, she has had the opportunity to meet a number of new people from across the country, which gave her the opportunity to have open conversations concerning the future of education and our program. In the classroom, Morgan plans to become an elementary teacher in a school where she can be a role model for all students. In the union, Morgan hopes to continue the fight of making sure all voices are represented and heard. Morgan will make sure that the voices of the Aspiring Educators are represented well and our voice resonates loud and clear!
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Arianna Herrington
I am Arianna Herrington, a native of Detroit, MI and a student currently attending Tennessee State University studying English Education and Political Science with a concentration in Secondary Education. I am the proud daughter of Trevis and Ebony Herrington, and the best big sister to two of the world’s greatest little brothers – Tyler and Tanner. As a ‘teacher’s kid’, my mother instilled in me the importance of education and how precious it is. However, coming from a family full of educators, I was a part of the conversation surrounding the daily struggles of education, and knew I wanted to make a difference early on. As a member of the Student Tennessee Education Association, I humbly serve as the State Secretary (incoming Middle Vice President) and the Vice President (incoming President) of my Local Chapter. I have wanted to teach for as long as I can remember and have always had a passion for helping others and being a part of the daily growth and development of not only students, but teachers as well. Following the mission of the Tennessee Education Association, I find it only befitting that I leave a legacy for others to carry out. I believe in making safe spaces uncomfortable – then and only then do we begin to understand one another and feel more unified than ever.
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Amber Ingram
Amber M. Ingram is an Elementary/ESL teaching candidate from Seton Hall University, graduating in 2020. Amber became a member of NJEA in 2017 after attending the annual convention, but since then she has grown in the union. She was first appointed to the role of ambassador for NJEA Preservice in 2018. Then she was elected for the role of NJEA Preservice State Vice President. On her campus, she has been a force within the College of Education and Human Services, garnering the respect of her professors, dean and other administrators. Further, she is currently doing research with faculty and peers about teacher preparation inequity and also working with her peers to create an inaugural culturally responsive teaching conference. With NJSEA Seton Hall, she is continually pushing the importance and benefits of the union in order to increase interest and membership. Outside of the union, Amber continues to display her leadership qualities through her work with the Black Student Union and the Student Government Association, giving students at Seton Hall that are outside of education a look into how they can help improve the system. The common vein in all of these roles is that Amber is constantly learning, growing, and asking questions of her fellow members. She is willing to do the work and is excited for her future.
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Cameo Kendrick
My name is Cameo Kendrick. I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Kentucky, where I now attend the University of Kentucky in pursuit of a degree in middle school education with a focus in English and History. I am a non-traditional student as well as a mother of two beautiful girls. I strive each day to be the best possible woman I can be and to be their hero. I am blessed to of been elected as the 2019-2020 president of the Kentucky Aspiring Educators Program as well as one of three aspiring educators on the NEA Resolutions Committee. I have a passion for being a vessel through which those with smaller voices can speak up and stand out. I have a daily mission to empower and strengthen all fellow educators around me, and help to change and improve this wonderful profession. All of this is made possible through this association and the family of inspired educators that is created within it.
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Nancy Melendez
As a mathematics education major in her senior year at Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Nancy has been a member for multiple years now. On campus she has held leadership positions on and off through her time there but nonetheless, she has remained an active and engaged member. Her involvement in the union pushed her to grow herself into a well-rounded leader and aspiring educator. She has been actively involved in her campus Student Government Association and Hispanic American Leadership Organization. This involvement has been fundamental in her role as president of the Aspiring Educator program in the state of Oklahoma where she will serve a second term. Nancy aspires to work at an Alternative school where she can work with students and help them find themselves and reach their full potential. On the other hand, outside of the classroom she wants to fight the statistics and create change. Change for all, especially under-served students and educators while promoting for racial and social justice in our education system.
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Tori Mitchell
I am a dedicated Aspiring Educator attending Kansas State University. I will teach high school American history. All students have the right to the highest quality of education, and that begins right now with us. We are the present and future of not only education, but of our union. As I enter my fourth year as an Aspiring Educator, I have gained the experience necessary to effectively serve as your NEA Director. In chapter and state leadership positions, I have organized statewide conferences and chapter meetings centering around social justice, community engagement, and professional development. I have facilitated communication between chapters. As an NEA Director, I listen to your needs and advocate for you. I have proudly represented Aspiring Educators on the local, state, and national level. I hope to continue representing you by serving as your NEA Director. I will serve our program by collecting your input and working together to make it the best that it can be. If re-elected I will represent YOUR voice in our association. I believe in advocacy, unity, and organizing in order to grow our program and better education.
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Arianna Nelson
Arianna is studying Early Childhood/ Special Education, Elementary Education, and Psychology. Arianna currently serves the South Dakota Education Association in several ways, as both her local and states incoming President. She heard about the NEA her sophomore year, she was active right away, attending her state conference two weeks later. Arianna decided to attend the NEA SLC in Boston, Massachusetts. Little less than a year later, she was prepared and ran for President-Elect, Arianna has proudly served in this position the last year, representing South Dakota in Minneapolis, Minnesota at our NEA SLC as a non-delegate. Arianna has served her local chapter as Vice-President and Treasurer. Outside of the NEA/SDEA, Arianna is a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Beta Nu, serving locally as Secretary, Social Media Coordinator, and Treasurer. Arianna is determined to represent you as a local, state, and national leader serving on NEA’s Board of Directors. As always, thank you for your consideration.
Read Arianna's Candidate Flyer
Resolutions
Brandy Alley
Hello fellow Aspiring Educators! The way you can tell I’m from the rainy state of Washington is that I never use umbrellas – only tourists do that! My name is Brandy, after the song “Brandy You’re a Fine Girl”, if you haven’t heard it find me at AEC! Western Washington University has been my home for the past three years. After finishing my bachelors in history there, I was accepted into their Masters in Teaching Program. I knew I wanted to be an educator in elementary school; I would come home and play school with my little sister so I could teacher her what I was learning. Becoming the best educator and leader I can be is the goal that has driven me since high school. I have been in the Student Washington Education Association (SWEA) for three years now and am currently in my first year as SWEA President. Union work is my life and passion, the people I have met are my family and I am driven to stand up for my Aspiring Educator Family. My ability and passion to work with, learn from and listen to others experiences is why I am running for the Resolutions Committee.
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Kathrine Grant
Kathrine is currently a student at the University of Connecticut's Neag School of Education in the Integrated Bachelor's/Master's Program for Secondary English Education. She will be continuing in the School of Education in the 2019-2020 school year as a graduate student. She is currently completing her student teaching and will work as a high school interventionist during her clinical placement next year. Her purpose for teaching is fulfilling the call to “be the change you wish to see.” She actualizes this through incorporating social-justice and anti-racist curriculum whenever possible, pushing back against canonical texts to include diverse voices in the curriculum, honoring and incorporating students’ funds of knowledge in her classroom, and actively tasking each of her students with taking change over their own learning and their passions. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in the development and application of critical thinking as a means for supporting self-actualization, advocacy, and change. At UConn, Kathrine worked throughout her four years on different research projects, focusing on public perception of school choice options as well as the use and impact of peer tutoring for students learning English as an additional language.
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Spencer Tenney
Hello! My name is Spencer Tenney and I am a senior at Ferris State University, majoring in Secondary Education Biology. I was born and raised in Ludington, Michigan until I moved to Big Rapids four years ago for school. I started my journey as a Pre-Pharmacy major and quickly realized that while I loved science, my heart was in education. The summer after my freshman year I changed my major, and I’ve never looked back since! I joined our local chapter of the Student Michigan Education Association and completely fell in love with the Union. In the past 2 ½ years I’ve ran for and carried leadership positions at my local and my state. I attended the 2018 NEA Leadership Summit, the 2018 NEA SLC and RA, and the 2018 Minorities and Women’s Leadership Training in San Diego. Through all of this, I have continued to become more and more passionate about the growing voice of the Aspiring Educators, and the great impact that we get to have!
