I am a Student Success Coach at Timber Creek Regional  High School and act as the District's Equity Coordinator 

Through reflection on my own personal experiences, I recognize that I have always had a love for education and a passion for learning, but often felt disconnected from the school environment. Once I experienced  the sensation of being heard and feeling represented I established that special connection with school and from there was inspired to become an educator. Through those experiences, I realized the importance of equity work and recognize that equity is the key in working towards fostering a positive and productive educational experience. Equity work matters to me because it connects to my beliefs about teaching from the perspective of growth, empathy, and accountability. I have a strong belief that an equitable educational experience is what every single student deserves.

 I am dedicated to doing my part by continuing to educate myself and share knowledge through workshops and professional development opportunities. My hope is to establish and highlight a level of awareness and begin to have  difficult discussions and conversations amongst educators and future changemakers. I want to challenge people to consider alternate perspectives and think about their impact on the lives of those that they come in contact with.  

Alexa Bastelica is in her 15th year as a teacher of English at Highland. She was born and raised in San Francisco, California, but settled in New Jersey after college. She graduated in 2003 from Villanova University with a B.A. in English, and 2008 from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education with a M.S. in Secondary Education. Mrs. Bastelica has previously served the students of Highland as field hockey coach and club advisor and supported her colleagues as a leader of various professional development workshops. Mrs. Bastelica currently serves as an Association Representative for the Black Horse Pike Education Association and a member of the Teacher Leadership committee at Highland. 

Mrs. Bastelica and her husband Dan have lived in Gloucester Township for 12 years, and have two children, one who currently attends Gloucester Township Public Schools. Mrs. Bastelica is excited to join the Equity Council because she loves the diversity of Gloucester Township, and wants the young people in our community to feel safe in and connected to our schools, and believes our faculty and staff are the key to making that a reality. 

Marcie Geyer has served the District for over 12 years. As Supervisor of English Language Arts, she was involved in researching and presenting workshops on growth mindset, motivation, questioning, and restorative practices. She joined Equity Council at its inception in 2018 and feels honored to be a part of the continual learning process that equity work requires. From hosting book clubs and podcast discussions, to helping to design and implement the series of Voices & Perspectives workshops, Mrs. Geyer has worked to inspire reflection that leads to great growth and positive change.

As the new Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction, Mrs. Geyer is excited to move the district forward in achieving greater equity by extending our conversations to include specific classroom practices and curriculum assignments. She believes that strong communication is the essential foundation for all relationships, and that language is the most powerful tool we can use to promote our goals. She remains dedicated to equity work because she believes it presents an opportunity for us to learn more about ourselves from studying the nuance of humanity, and that it has the powerful potential to promote a “more perfect union” in our school community. 

Jennifer Harley is starting her 12th year as a School Counselor at Timber Creek Regional High School.  Jennifer was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and educated through the Public School System.  After graduating from Ursinus College with a B. S. in Psychology with a minor in Education and then going to West Chester University for her M.Ed. in School Counseling (Certified K-12th grade), she returned to Philadelphia to work in the school system.  Mrs. Harley loved working in Philadelphia, she was a School Counselor for two years and then moved to New Jersey with her husband.  Mrs. Harley has been involved with numerous activities since she joined the Timber Creek family.  Mrs. Harley along with former Counselor Theresa Phillips, created and founded the L.A.D.I.E.S. Club (Leadership, Academics, Dignity,  Integrity, Empowerment, and Self- Worth).

When the conversation about forming an Equity Team began at Timber Creek with Mrs. Giddings, Mrs. Harley was one of the first to join.  She has seen the committee grow over the last few years and the progression of the District.  "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."-Dr. Maya Angelou

Heather Hay is an English Teacher at Timber Creek, and although it is her second year here, it is her 19th year involved in education. In the many roles she’s held, the one constant has been a focus on how to help all students to find self confidence and success in education. 

Her strong belief is that a positive experience in school can help open doors to opportunity that may be shut otherwise. Students need to feel valued and respected; they need to feel that it is their effort and diligence that brings growth, not innate talent or privileges they may or may not possess. They need to know that yes, the bar is high, but the school has supports and scaffolds in place that can help them reach their individual goals.  

When schools are designed in a way that communicates these messages to all students, schools affect students' futures positively by setting them up for the future. That is what equity is about for Heather and why she is so excited to be a part of this group.