Contact: ddetample@nj-heart.org

Darrell DeTample is a high school social studies teacher with 19 years of experience and a part-time lecturer at the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University. He received his EDd from Rutgers University in 2016 with a research focus on Anti-Racism Education (ARE). He also has an MA in Social Studies Supervision from Rider University and an MA in American History from Rutgers-Camden. Darrell has been working to incorporate ARE strategies in his own high school and college classrooms for nearly a decade. He is committed to improving his own ARE practice through research and experience, as well as providing support and encouragement for other educators to do the same. He is married with twin daughters.

Amaly ElMenshawy is a social studies teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School since 2020. She received her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and History from The College of New Jersey in 2020 and is currently working on Ed.M in Curriculum and Teaching from Teachers College - Columbia University. As an educator, She is committed to creating sustainable changes to create long-lasting systemic change to reduce harm to all of our students but especially students of marginalized identities. Her work primarily centers around accessibility, intersectional identity frameworks, and creating curricular supports to achieve these goals including the Identity Wheel. When she is not teaching, she is passionate about the arts, helping direct shows at Hunterdon Central and supporting students by advising the HCRHS Black Student Union.

Emily Ford is a media specialist at Hunterdon Central Regional High School with 14 years of experience in education. She received her Master's degree in Library and Information Science from Rutgers University in 2007 and is currently working on an MS in Educational Technology with a focus on Educational Leadership. Emily is dedicated to empowering students with a disposition to embrace diverse perspectives, evaluate bias, and promote racial literacy.

Deb Frank is an ESL teacher at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. She teaches multilingual learners that have recently arrived as well as those ready to exit the MLL program. Deb graduated from Providence College with a BA and TCNJ with a MA in TESOL. Deb taught social studies at international schools in Europe and South America from 1986 to 2003. Deb has served on a local board of education, the Tri-County CMO, and is currently on the Hunterdon County United Way Latino Coalition.

Tamar LaSure-Owens is a retired Army National Guard veteran, an elementary teacher and AMHOTINO (Amistad, Holocaust and Latino History) Coordinator for Pleasantville Public Schools. She received her BA in Criminal Justice and a Minor in African American Studies from Stockton University in 1995 and her MSA from Central Michigan University in 2007. She is the First Vice-President of the Mainland/Pleasantville NAACP, NJEA Amistad Stakeholder Group member, NJEA Instruction Committee member, NJEA Patriots Alliance (for veterans) and member of the Hispanic Association of Atlantic County (HAAC). AMHOTINO curriculum resources for grades Kindergarten to fifth grade, is a “state model” for Amistad implementation and is fully supported by Dr. Stephanie James-Harris (NJDOE Amistad Executive Director), Brenda Brathwaite (NJEA Amistad Stakeholder Group Chairperson), Gary Melton (NJEA Manager of Human and Civil Rights, Equity and Governance) and the HAAC organization. Tamar has presented AMHOTINO workshops at the NJEA Equity Alliance Conference for the past two years, NJEA TEACH Conference for 2021 and has been featured in numerous articles promoting AMHOTINO curriculum initiatives at Leeds Avenue Elementary School. Tamar is the recipient of the 2015 Governor’s Award for Arts Advocacy, 2019 New Jersey Senate Commendation for Amistad Implementation, 2019 Atlantic County Commissioners Citation for Amistad Implementation, 2020 Leeds Avenue School’s Teacher of the Year and 2021 New Jersey General Assembly Citation for Community Leadership.

Michele is a Library/ Media Specialist with 16 years teaching experience. She has an MS in Library and Information Science from Pennsylvania Western University, formerly Clarion University, and a BA in English and Secondary Education from TCNJ. After living in and student teaching in Johannesburg, South Africa, Michele committed herself to living a life of diverse experience to inform her teaching practice. She is a volunteer and committee member for Haddon Township Equity Initiative's annual PRIDE Parade and Events and an active member in her hometown PTA and Little League. Michele believes every student deserves free and unfettered access to reading in any format that inspires them, challenges them, reflects their lived experiences, and opens windows to new understanding. As a neurodivergent educator, she is interested in the intersection of students' learning needs with their social emotional wellness, especially among LGBTQIA+ and students of color. When she is not teaching or volunteering, Michele is at the softball field with her husband cheering on her two daughters or at home listening to true crime podcasts while snuggling up with her dog and three cats.

Contact: tmchale@nj-heart.org

Tom McHale has taught English and journalism at a large public high school in New Jersey for over 20 years. He is a graduate of Temple University and holds a Master's degree in English Ed from Arcadia University and a Masters in Journalism Education from Kent State University. Tom is the president of the Garden State Scholastic Press Association and has worked to pass student journalists' rights legislation through that organization. Tom focuses on how to empower every student to use their voice to advocate for themselves and others, and his work on student rights, student voice, and antiracist education are an integral part of that. He hosts the podcast Helping Empower Antiracism Teachers podcast for NJHEART. (please email him ideas and suggestions for future episodes) When not teaching in New Jersey, Tom is in Pennsylvania where he lives with his wife.

M (Marcy) Miller is an Educational and Program Development Consultant in Seattle, WA. She is an alumna of Boston University and received her teaching certificate and master’s degree in Educational Psychology from the University of Washington. M began her journey in Anti-Racist Education (ARE) as faculty at an independent middle school in Seattle that has an explicit focus on anti-bias education. M feels fortunate to have robust experience in education from direct teaching and training both children and adults, to working in educational research, to serving as a senior policy associate for an educational advocacy organization in Washington DC. Her experience in program innovation extends to the classroom in thinking about students,’ teachers’, administration and community learning as part of the greater system. M has a strong passion to continuously further her own anti-racist journey as well as support and create bridges for others doing the same--both in and outside the classroom. M really enjoys her work and also enjoys biking, electric or otherwise, with her husband and two young sons.

Contact: jmoss@nj-heart.org

Justin Moss is an System Engineer for Hunterdon Healthcare. Previously, he worked at Hunterdon Central Regional High School for 11 years followed by a national corporation specializing in managed IT services. He has a Bachelors Degree in Management from Southern New Hampshire University and is currently pursing his Master's in Information Technology - User Experience Design from Rutgers University. Justin has been working to enhance the web presence and technology of NJ HEART as well as find new ways to advocate for all students by promoting the importance anti-racism training among staff, support staff in particular. In his free time Justin enjoys working on his home cooking and spending time with his dog.

Contact: nseitz@nj-heart.org

Nicole Seitz is a Paraeducator at Hunterdon Central Regional High School. She has been in education for 9 years and is currently working on a Masters of Social Work from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Nicole's undergrad degree is in History and Education with a focus on Special Education. She is the chair of the Anti-racism committee for her local association and has been very involved in equity work through the NJEA. Nicole is also involved in Unified sports at her school where students of all abilities come together for a competitive but fun athletic environment. She is dedicated to advocacy for those that learn differently, marginalized groups, and those struggling with mental health. In her free time Nicole enjoys run with her dog and watching all things Star Wars with her partner.

Melissa Tomlinson is a special education teacher in the Buena Regional School District. Having received a Masters degree from Stockton University as well as administrator certificates from the NJ Excel Program, she has been in education for over 20 years. Melissa is also the Executive Director of Badass Teachers Association, a public education advocacy organization that fights for anti-racist equitable spaces for all students.

Contact: lwarren@nj-heart.org

Lindsay Warren is an adjunct instructor at The College of New Jersey who teaches courses for Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Holocaust & Genocide Studies, and the History department. Additionally, she is a high school social studies teacher at a public high school in New Jersey. She is a graduate of The College of New Jersey (‘07) and received her master’s and doctorate from Drew University’s Arts & Letters program. Her high school and college course offerings span her professional interests relating to gender and sexuality through historical and contemporary lenses as well as her graduate work that focused on genocide and trauma. When she is not teaching, Lindsay enjoys spending time with her wife and four pets.