Lead Teachers
Robin Hawks-Alexander
Robin Hawks-Alexander
Robin Hawks-Alexander has been with the Writing Camps since its inception in 2005, first as a teacher participant leading to becoming a Teacher Consultant Leader in 2006, and is now the Administrator of Student Services for the 2018 program. Before retiring from teaching in May 2015, Robin taught grades K – 6th regular education and Special Education grades K-3. Robin was able to implement strategies from the Teacher Trainings from the Great Valley Writing Camps during the regular school year to greatly enhance her students’ abilities to enjoy and improve their own writing experiences. When not teaching, Robin is very involved in all facets of scrapbooking and reading, along with working on the autobiographical novel “Holding Onto Clouds” she hopes to publish in 2020.
Robin Hawks-Alexander has been with the Writing Camps since its inception in 2005, first as a teacher participant leading to becoming a Teacher Consultant Leader in 2006, and is now the Administrator of Student Services for the 2018 program. Before retiring from teaching in May 2015, Robin taught grades K – 6th regular education and Special Education grades K-3. Robin was able to implement strategies from the Teacher Trainings from the Great Valley Writing Camps during the regular school year to greatly enhance her students’ abilities to enjoy and improve their own writing experiences. When not teaching, Robin is very involved in all facets of scrapbooking and reading, along with working on the autobiographical novel “Holding Onto Clouds” she hopes to publish in 2020.
Rebecca Benko
Rebecca Benko
Rebecca Benko is an Assistant Coordinator for the Publications Lab for the Great Valley Writing Camp 2018 Ripon writing camp. She oversees the Team Supervisors and Social Media Intern teams. Rebecca started out as a teacher participant in 2006 and became a teacher consultant in 2014. Rebecca has been a teacher of grades Kindergarten-6th grade in Manteca for 14 years. She has also taught intersession, and the Kindergarten Bridge Program. She is currently teaching 6th grade at Walter Woodward Elementary School. In her free time, she is a DIYer and enjoys renovating her home. She also enjoys camping, hiking, and going on adventures with her two children and dogs.
Rebecca Benko is an Assistant Coordinator for the Publications Lab for the Great Valley Writing Camp 2018 Ripon writing camp. She oversees the Team Supervisors and Social Media Intern teams. Rebecca started out as a teacher participant in 2006 and became a teacher consultant in 2014. Rebecca has been a teacher of grades Kindergarten-6th grade in Manteca for 14 years. She has also taught intersession, and the Kindergarten Bridge Program. She is currently teaching 6th grade at Walter Woodward Elementary School. In her free time, she is a DIYer and enjoys renovating her home. She also enjoys camping, hiking, and going on adventures with her two children and dogs.
Brittany Martens
Brittany Martens
Brittany started with the Great Valley Writing Project in 2006 as a student. She was a student intern from 2007-2009 where she was responsible for photography for the website. Brittany is now a part of the photography team, as well as with the after-camp care for the participating teachers’ wonderful children. During the school year, Brittany works at Lathrop High as a Special Education Paraprofessional. Brittany also enjoys traveling the world especially Europe and watching sports.
Brittany started with the Great Valley Writing Project in 2006 as a student. She was a student intern from 2007-2009 where she was responsible for photography for the website. Brittany is now a part of the photography team, as well as with the after-camp care for the participating teachers’ wonderful children. During the school year, Brittany works at Lathrop High as a Special Education Paraprofessional. Brittany also enjoys traveling the world especially Europe and watching sports.
Laura Ochoa
Laura Ochoa
Laura Ochoa is Assistant Coordinator for the Publications Lab at the GVWP 2018 Ripon campus. She works closely with the Web Design and Social Media Student Intern teams. This is her first year involved with the GVWP. Laura has been teaching for seven years and currently teaches at Ripon High School as an English and Yearbook Publications teacher. She hopes to recruit students to her program through the Ripon GVWP and hopes to expand her pedagogy for teaching a publications course. In her free time, Laura enjoys reading, listening to music, traveling, and watching her children do what they love.
Laura Ochoa is Assistant Coordinator for the Publications Lab at the GVWP 2018 Ripon campus. She works closely with the Web Design and Social Media Student Intern teams. This is her first year involved with the GVWP. Laura has been teaching for seven years and currently teaches at Ripon High School as an English and Yearbook Publications teacher. She hopes to recruit students to her program through the Ripon GVWP and hopes to expand her pedagogy for teaching a publications course. In her free time, Laura enjoys reading, listening to music, traveling, and watching her children do what they love.
Tonya Shuford
Tonya Shuford
Tonya Shuford is an administrator of the teacher teams at the GVWP 2018 Ripon writing camp. She is a teacher consultant with the Great Valley Writing Project since 2015. Tonya has been a teacher participant and leader with the summer writing camps since 2014. Tonya was a teacher in grades 1-5 for 23 years and an instructional coach for three years. She is transitioning into a new role as an assistant principal in Ceres USD next school year. In her free time, Tonya enjoys spending time with her two teenage daughters and husband. She also loves to read, dance, and write.
Tonya Shuford is an administrator of the teacher teams at the GVWP 2018 Ripon writing camp. She is a teacher consultant with the Great Valley Writing Project since 2015. Tonya has been a teacher participant and leader with the summer writing camps since 2014. Tonya was a teacher in grades 1-5 for 23 years and an instructional coach for three years. She is transitioning into a new role as an assistant principal in Ceres USD next school year. In her free time, Tonya enjoys spending time with her two teenage daughters and husband. She also loves to read, dance, and write.
Melissa King
Melissa King
Melissa King is a dedicated literacy advocate who has spent more than 30 years serving public education. Since her retirement, Melissa has devoted much of her time to providing students and teachers with the same opportunities that helped her develop her own career skills.
Melissa King is a dedicated literacy advocate who has spent more than 30 years serving public education. Since her retirement, Melissa has devoted much of her time to providing students and teachers with the same opportunities that helped her develop her own career skills.
For the past 25 years, she has been a Teacher Consultant for Great Valley Writing Project at CSU Stanislaus, helping hundreds of teachers deepen their grasp of literacy development and find practical ways to support young writers. By coordinating professional development courses and creating long-term support networks for educators, she helps teachers become masters of their craft who share their expertise with others.
For the past 25 years, she has been a Teacher Consultant for Great Valley Writing Project at CSU Stanislaus, helping hundreds of teachers deepen their grasp of literacy development and find practical ways to support young writers. By coordinating professional development courses and creating long-term support networks for educators, she helps teachers become masters of their craft who share their expertise with others.
Since 2005, she has organized learning opportunities for children and young adults through the GVWP Implementation Labs and the Great Valley Writing Camps. In addition to her role as an instructor, she manages many of the administrative tasks that have allowed these annual programs to expand into multiple communities.
Since 2005, she has organized learning opportunities for children and young adults through the GVWP Implementation Labs and the Great Valley Writing Camps. In addition to her role as an instructor, she manages many of the administrative tasks that have allowed these annual programs to expand into multiple communities.
Melissa is also involved in other community programs that support education. In 2012, she helped to launch the Great Valley Bookfest, and she continues to serve on the marketing committee and the board of directors for that annual event. In 2014, she launched the Literacy Hero Awards to honor individuals who go above and beyond in their efforts to support literacy in San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties.
Melissa is also involved in other community programs that support education. In 2012, she helped to launch the Great Valley Bookfest, and she continues to serve on the marketing committee and the board of directors for that annual event. In 2014, she launched the Literacy Hero Awards to honor individuals who go above and beyond in their efforts to support literacy in San Joaquin & Stanislaus counties.
Melissa dreams of a future where all learners – from preschoolers to adults – are encouraged to become independent readers, writers, and thinkers.
Melissa dreams of a future where all learners – from preschoolers to adults – are encouraged to become independent readers, writers, and thinkers.