2025-2026 Dreamstarter Teachers

Antonio Trujillo

San Fidel, NM

St. Joseph Mission School

As principal at St. Joseph Mission School, Antonio’s Dream is to create meaningful, culturally rooted learning experiences for his Indigenous students. His Dreamstarter Teacher project will implement culturally relevant monthly field trips, giving students hands-on opportunities to explore the world beyond their classroom, connect with the past, and strive for the future.

Arjay De Leon

Waubay, SD

Enemy Swim Day School

Arjay is the K–8 General Music and 7th–8th Grade Beginning Band teacher at Enemy Swim Day School. Arjay’s dream is to strengthen and expand the school’s music program, blending traditional Indigenous knowledge with instrumental instruction to create an inclusive, culturally affirming music experience. With support from the Dreamstarter Teacher Grant, Arjay is providing students with more band instruments, Dakota flutes, recorders, and Dakota language-integrated music resources.

Chelce Finch

Salamanca, NY

Seneca Arts and Learning Center

Chelce’s dream is to empower Native students to be confident, culturally grounded, and scientifically curious, to foster a generation of learners who carry their identity proudly and build skills for success. Chelce is creating an immersive learning experience that strengthens Seneca language acquisition, cultural identity, and STEM education through land-based learning. Her holistic approach connects young learners to both language and environment in meaningful ways.

Ronald Brillantes

Porcupine, SD

St. Paul Public School District

Ronald’s dream is to empower middle school students through hands-on, culturally relevant STEM education. By integrating traditional Lakota knowledge into real-world projects, he helps students build curiosity, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking while connecting lessons to their heritage. Through this project, students gain academic skills, a stronger sense of identity and possibilities for the future.

Donald King

Bowler, WI

Bowler School District

Donald is continuing his dream by Continuing to Nurture Native Voices, at the Bowler School District, providing Native students with culturally enriching opportunities that strengthen their identity and celebrate their heritage. Through engagement with Native Guest Speakers, college and museum visits, culturally relevant reading materials and art projects, students are inspired to connect learning to culture and community while envisioning a bright future.

Keenan Locklear

Pembroke, NC

Communities In Schools Academy

Keenan’s dream is to empower his students to become confident, capable, and creative problem-solvers ready to excel in future careers. Through his Dreamstarter Teacher grant, Keenan is creating the CIS Academy STREAM program, giving students hands-on opportunities to explore engineering, technology, and science through interactive, project-based learning that connects classroom learning to practical applications.

Ileana Miller

Atoka, OK

Cherokee Central Schools

Ileana’s dream is to empower students to reach their full potential, by providing teachers with the tools they need. Her Dreamstarter Teacher project is to implement Mastery Connect, a K–12 digital assessment platform that helps educators track student understanding in real time. Through this project, students receive personalized support to reach their full potential, while teachers gain powerful resources to guide learning and improve outcomes.

Desiree Oliver

Covelo, CA

Round Valley Unified School District

Desiree’s dream is to create a safe and supportive learning environment to unlock her students full potential. She will use her Dreamstarter Teacher grant to create a sensory room, to provide a safe space for elementary and middle school students to promote emotional, and physical regulation in times of stress. This program fosters positive behavior intervention, helping students be resilient, thrive academically, socially, and behaviorally.

Jenna LaViolette

Pawhuska, OK

Schurz Elementary School

Jenna’s dream is to give all students access to dance and the performing arts. She will continue to provide dance classes in Pawhuska Public Schools, a program where students develop math skills, self-discipline, teamwork, and creative self-expression while engaging in physical activity that supports both mind and body. By combining movement, collaboration, and creativity, her program inspires students and enriches their academic, social, and emotional growth.

Alisse Ali-Joseph

Flagstaff, AZ

Northern Arizona University

Alisse’s dream is to empower the next generation of Indigenous leaders. Her Dreamstarter Teacher project is to establish an Indigenous Student Club—a student-led organization that centers Indigenous knowledge, identity, and leadership. By building a stronger Indigenous student cohort at NAU, this project will foster community, increase graduation rates, and prepare students to carry their leadership and vision back into their Nations.

Rachel Davis

Stevens Point, WI

Round Valley Unified School District

Rachel's dream is to expand her past Dreamstarter Teacher project by leading a powerful reciprocal cultural exchange between her Indigenous students and cultural sustainability leaders from the University of Hawai‘i Maui College. During this exchange, her students will share cultural gifts of knowledge rooted in sustainability and reciprocity , such as teachings on deer harvest for use as food and leather. These teachings hold potential to inspire adaptive practices in Hawai‘i, where managing the non-native deer population could support both the environment and Native Hawaiian food sovereignty.