2026-2027 Dreamstarter Teachers

Amanda Derby

Covelo, CA

Yolla Bolly Continuation High School

Amanda’s dream is to re-engage alternative education students through the healing integration of native arts, mindfulness, and indigenous ecology. Amanda will implement a year long book study paired with an on-campus garden for medicines and basketry grasses.

Connie Michael

Crow Agency, MT

Crow Agency Public School

Connie’s Dream is to bridge the gap between academic study and community wellness by transforming her classroom into a living laboratory. Students will move from reading, to practical applications of planting, harvesting, preparing and sharing traditional foods.

Donald King

Bowler, WI

Bowler School District

Donald’s dream is to empower his Native Students to reach academic success by integrating culturally relevant readings and projects into curriculum, arranging visits to Native museums, inviting guest speakers into the classroom, and arranging college visits.

DonnaRae James

Sacramento, CA

Tlingit and Haida Community Council

DonnaRae’s dream is to inspire the next generation of culture bearers and strengthen Alaska Native communities for years to come. Through monthly hands-on instruction, students will learn traditional arts, foods, storytelling, language and values while building community.

Faith Kibby

Hoopa, CA

Hoopa Valley Elementary School

Faith’s Dream is to bring comfort, develop cultural identity, and promote positive learning experiences by implementing various culturally rooted art projects, field trips, and alternative hands on ways of learning to her 4th grade class.

Jessica Swann

LaPlata, MD

Piscataway Conoy Tribe

Jessica’s dream is to empower youth to reclaim their roles as food providers, environmental stewards, and culture-bearers with land-based, hands-on teaching using both traditional knowledge and modern agricultural practices to grow, harvest, prepare and share indigenous foods.

Joel Doxtator

Shawano, WI

Shawano Middle School

Joel’s dream is to advance educational outcomes of Native students in the Shawano School District by braiding Indigenous Knowledge into curriculum and connecting students to their culture, through drum and singing groups, beading circles and sewing lessons.

Kayla Moore

Atoka, OK

McCall Middle School

Kayla’s dream is to fosters curiosity, collaboration, and real-world learning by transforming an existing classroom into a fully functional middle school science lab. The purchase of lab essentials and instructional furniture will create a safe, structured, hands-on learning environment.

Ronald Brillantes

Porcupine, SD

Porcupine School

Ronald’s dream is to improve problem-solving, teamwork, creativity, research and digital literacy by integrating Lakota Values, culture and community by providing elementary and middle school students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences in math, science and technology.

Savannah Silva

Sacramento, CA

California State University, Sacramento

Savannah’s dream is to strengthen wellness, cultural connection, and belonging of Indigenous students at Sacramento State through Indigenous Food Sovereignty education that will engage students with traditional food knowledge, cultural teachings, stewardship, and sustainability.

Tara Crenshaw

Atoka, OK

Atoka Elementary

Tara’s dream is to strengthen literacy outcomes, and foster confident lifelong readers by implementing a new Phonics based reading program that not only provides foundational reading skills to students but also comprehensive teacher training to ensure high quality instruction.