Cohort #1 (2021)

Amanda Foti is an Art Educator and Fine Arts Chair at Overlea High School in Baltimore County. She received her BFA in Photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2008 and her Master of Arts in Teaching in 2009. Ms. Foti serves as the Professional Development Schools Coordinator at Overlea and is currently pursuing an MS in Transformational Educational Leadership from Towson University.

Anthony is a 5^th year elementary instrumental music teacher in Harford County. He received his Bachelor’s in Music Education from Towson University in 2016 and his Master’s in Instructional Technology from Towson University in 2020. A Harford County native now residing in Baltimore City, he loves to cook, travel, and spend time with friends/family. He is excited to learn and contribute to this cohort to be able to make effective change in his own schools.

Destiny Brown is a filmmaker, actress, and now teacher, born and raised in Baltimore, MD. As a producer and teaching artist with Wide Angle Youth Media, she has created a national award-winning film, traveled to South Africa to film internationally, and has spoken on numerous panels including Light City and Grantmakers for Education. Destiny is incredibly passionate about teaching and giving back, using the insights she's learned to help the next generation.

Elizabeth Norman is a performer and museum educator from Baltimore. A former art teacher, she uses her experience with art-making, writing, and instruction to inform her work as an Education Associate at the Walters Art Museum. She is passionate about making art and museums accessible to young people and finding new ways to tell the stories that museums hold.

Eva Gonzalez-Dorsey is the Dance Teacher and Arts Integration Committee Chair for Charles Carroll Middle School in New Carrollton, Maryland. She graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with her Master’s in Education and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Dance and Family Science. Gonzalez-Dorsey has performed on the Millenium Stage with Heart Strück Bernie. She has choreographed for Maryland Day (2015, 2016), Charles Carroll Dance Concerts, and Dr. Henry A Wise High School Concert (2018).

Ezra Papincak is a vocal and general music teacher working at Carole Highlands Elementary School in Takoma Park, Maryland. Ezra graduated with a Master of Music Education from University of Nevada- Las Vegas and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from Bloomsburg university. Ezra’s philosophy is to build better humans by helping children experience music, theater and dance from a variety of cultures and backgrounds.

Katrina works every day to be a voice in her school and local community. She wants to be a leader in change. She feels that teaching is the best way to participate in her community and teaching and inspiring is the best place to start making a difference. She is taking her love of art and design and opening her student’s eyes and minds to the transforming power of art.

Katrina Joyner is a graduate of Judson High School in the state of Texas, where she was a three-year member of the Texas Music Educators Association All-State Band. Her education continued at The University of Houston in Texas, where she earned her Bachelors in Music in Education. Her achievements in undergraduate studies include serving as the Drum Major of the University of Houston, Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band, and participating in the Grammy-nominated Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Orchestra. Ms. Joyner started her teaching career in Waller ISD as the Director of Bands at Schultz Middle School in 2009, where she established a new program. In 2012 she returned home to Judson ISD to teach at Woodlake Hills Middle School, where she served as the Assistant Band Director and Woodwind Specialist. In 2018 Ms. Joyner continued and expanded her teaching experience at Canyon Middle School, where she served as both the Assistant Band Director and the Choir Director. Now Katrina resides in the beautiful state of Maryland, where she is currently pursuing her Masters in Music Education from Kent State University in Ohio. She has also grown to fulfill her position as the Director of Instrumental Music at High Point High School, teaching band, orchestra, steel pan ensemble, as well as marching band. Ms. Joyner's professional affiliations include the Texas Music Educators Association, Maryland Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, National Education Association, the Minority Band Directors National Association, and is also a participant in the MSEA Minority Affairs Committee Cohort and MSEA Trauma-Informed Educator Cohort.

Kristine Aono is a Lead Teaching Artist at Arts on the Block in Silver Spring, Maryland. Through the creation of public art mosaics and other art forms, Kristine coaches high school and young adults in art, life and job training skills. Kristine’s artwork centers on racial justice and Japanese American history, often employing communities and interaction. She is a MacDowell Fellow and has exhibited widely (National Museum of Women in the Arts, National Academy of Design, Japanese American National Museum, etc.).

LaRon Martin is a seasoned, enthusiastic, and passionate educator and community-builder that is dedicated to advancing student educational outcomes by creating equitable and inclusive environments. Martin is becoming a sought-after speaker as he has presented at the local, and national levels, as well served as a keynote speaker. He is the Co-Founder of the Virtual Village Learning Center. Martin provides community support through professional development sessions utilizing trauma-informed strategies, art integration, and restorative practices.

Born in Puerto Rico and raised near Baltimore, Paula Liz attended the Maryland Institute of Art where she received her BFA in Painting and MAT in Art Education. She believes in the power of student voice and community artivism. Paula Liz has over 10 years of teaching experience at public, private, and charter schools in New York City, Austin, and DC. Paula Liz currently teaches Elementary art at a two-way immersion school in MCPS.

With a central purpose to educate and expose the next generation to the arts, Rolanda Williams serves as the Pre-K through 8th-grade dance instructor at Tunbridge Public Charter School in Baltimore, Maryland. Having been exposed to the arts at an early age, she believes every child should have access to an equitable, high-quality arts education. Rolanda obtained her BFA in Theater Arts from Howard University and her MFA in Arts Administration from Drexel University.

Tiffany Jones is a photography-based artist whose artworks address topics of identity, community, and culture. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She has been a featured artist in various local online and print publications, and her involvement with multiple community based projects has been integral in her professional experience of utilizing art to challenge stigmas, address trauma, and educate her community. For Access Art, Ms. Jones manages day to day operations for all Access Art programs, oversees curriculum and evaluation across program sites, leads leadership initiatives, spearheads work around inclusion and equity issues, and assists the Director with implementing long-range plans, goals, and objectives for each core program that aligns with the agency’s mission and vision.

Traci Matsunaka is a 2D art teacher in MCPS at Watkins Mill HS where she supports a diverse international student community in an IB setting. She started working as an elementary school teacher in California in 2003 and discovered the joy of teaching art in Colorado in 2007. She has always worked in underrepresented communities and views art as the path in which students can find representation and create new versions of a world they want to see.