Our Board

Laura has been an educator for over 20 years. She has taught both special and general education. Currently she is a 4th grade teacher in Napa. Laura has a passion for teaching and loves to connect with other like-minded educators to bring the best practices back to her students and fellow teachers. Laura has served on the NBCUE board for several years and assumed the position as president 3 years ago.

@LauraZinser

Ali deGuia-Bumgarner was born and raised in Southern California, and moved to Northern California to attend UC Berkeley. This opened up a whole new world where she felt the urge to make a difference. Besides serving as North Bay CUE Board Co-President, Ali wears a few other hats. She is a mom with two beautiful children. She is a district technology coach in Marin County, where she regularly advocates for technology in all classrooms. After receiving her EdTech Masters at Touro University, she now serves as Adjunct faculty for the Masters in Educational Technology Degree Program.

@AlideGuia

Ann-Marie Skaggs: Event Coordinator

Ann-Marie Skaggs is a 2nd grade teacher at the Cove School and is in her thirteenth year working in the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District. Ann-Marie graduated from the University of Arizona with a BA in Communication and a Minor in Media Arts, which was really where her passion lay. She worked for a brief time in television and advertising before realizing that teaching was her calling. She has served as a site rep when the district was opening a new elementary school and worked closely with the architects and district, attended a course at Harvard University on Learning Environments for Today, to make sure that the new site (which is now the Cove School) would best meet the needs of a 21st Century education.

@TeacherSkaggs

Michael Bessonette is a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) specializing in Educational Innovation and Technology Integration in the Kentfield School District. He teaches technology skills and maker projects to student in kindergarten through 8th grade. Prior becoming a TOSA, he taught 4th grade for 9 years in Kentfield and San Anselmo and was awarded a Marin County Golden Bell for Teaching in 2013. When he’s not tinkering with tech or maker projects, Michael enjoys his time hiking the trails of Marin County and spending with his wife and young kids.

@mbessonette

Fran Yang has been a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA) specializing in Math and Science Curriculum and Technology integration in the Kentfield School District since 2015. She mentors teachers as they implement the CCSS and NGSS standards through integrated and differentiated instructional practices. Prior to becoming a TOSA, Fran taught for 22 years in a variety of grades, primarily 1st, 3rd, and 4th grade. She started her teaching career in the Midwest, having taught in Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin before moving to California. Fran is passionate about sparking the excitement in teachers as they see the advantages of integrating technology in math and science instruction. She was awarded a Marin County Golden Bell for Teaching in 2018 and loves being able to collaborate with other educators through NBCUE and her role as a TOSA. Her own three children attended the Kentfield Schools and in her free time, Fran loves to spend time with her family, travel, scrapbook, hike with friends, go to the beach, listen to music, and enjoy the beauty of the North Bay!

@marinmathbridge