People

Associate Professor in Journalism, Boaz Dvir served as operations manager at the University of Florida’s Lastinger Center for Learning, which provides professional development to educators in several states. An award-winning filmmaker, Boaz tells the stories of ordinary people who transform into trailblazers. They include a teacher in a high-needs elementary school who emerges as a disruptive innovator and a national model (“A Class of Her Own”); a World War II flight engineer who transforms into the leader of a secret operation to prevent a second Holocaust (“A Wing and a Prayer”); a truck driver who becomes an effective child-protection activist (“Jessie’s Dad”); and a Holocaust survivor who sets out to kill his father’s Nazi executioner (“To Kill a Nazi”).

Assistant Research Professor Danielle Butville is a teacher educator whose research and practice explores practitioner inquiry as a form of professional learning and inquiry-based learning for PreK-12 students. As a former classroom teacher, she contributes expertise in the integration of school curricula with students’ curiosities to foster inquiry communities in PreK-12 classrooms. In recognition of her student-centered scholarship, Danielle won a grant from the Conference on English Educators (CEE) and the James Moffett Memorial Award by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).

Mallory Herd is a former elementary education teacher, educational consultant, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Herd earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from Penn State University in 2011 and her M.Ed. in Special Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2014. With a background in curriculum design and instructional technology, she is dedicated to creating innovative and impactful learning experiences. Her areas of educational interest are supporting teachers in creating an inquiry-based environment which engages all students in critical thinking and reflection. She is skilled in designing tailored professional learning workshops, fostering collaboration, and leveraging emerging technologies to enhance teaching and learning.

Elizabeth Hinchcliff is a doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction at Penn Stat's College of Education. Her research interests lie in the intersection between teacher beliefs, identities, and learning across the career span. She previously taught 6th grade math for five years. Elizabeth facilitates the Pre-K programs and the pre-service student teacher programs.

Ryan Lewis is a classroom teacher, with experience working in the special education sector of K-12 public schools. During his professional career, in education, he has worked in settings which range from elementary learning support to life skills support, at the secondary level. Lewis completed his doctoral degree in educational leadership (2020) with a focus on examining the well-being and self-efficacy of special education practitioners. He is an advocate of providing scaffolded support for individuals and groups who may be otherwise marginalized. Lewis brings continuous in-service classroom experience, with a background in academia, to the Initiative. He leads with a collaborative approach to identify areas of needed development, while incorporating strength based analytical approaches, to facilitate progress.

Karen Scher is a thought leader in the field of education, with a particular focus on English Language Arts (ELA) and social studies education. Scher earned her Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University and Masters in Urban Secondary English Education from the University of California, Berkeley. Scher worked for ten years as an English, History, and Humanities teacher at several public high schools, infusing inquiry and student-centered learning into her practice. Scher went on to work at the educational nonprofit Facing History & Ourselves for ten years, training thousands of teachers and school leaders to humanize their classrooms and navigate critical conversations to foster civic discourse in school communities. She is a skilled facilitator who has also led teams to design and lead webinars, workshops, and in-depth professional learning engagements across a range of educational topics.

Kayleen Sidisky is a former middle and high school social studies teacher. Sidisky earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Studies education from Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania in 2008 and a Master of Arts in History from Slippery Rocky University of Pennsylvania in 2016. During her time in the classroom, she infused inquiry and multicultural education into her practice. She wrote courses and curriculum that encouraged students to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for different cultures, perspectives, and ways of thinking. She currently leads the team’s communications efforts and facilitates professional learning programs nationwide. She is deeply committed to partnering with teachers to reenergize their practice and support the development of student agency.

Sara Strouse is a Social Studies teacher at Keystone Central School District in Pennsylvania. Strouse earned her Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education from Lock Haven University in 2005 and Masters of Education in Educational Leadership from Edinboro University in 2011. She has dedicated her career to creating engaging, inquiry-driven learning experiences for middle school students. She designs units and classroom activities that center student voice, real-world connections, and flexible learning pathways. Throughout her teaching, Strouse prioritizes helping students develop critical thinking skills, explore diverse perspectives, and understand the complexity of the human story. She is passionate about fostering curiosity and empowering all learners to see themselves as capable historians.

Rachel Wolkenhauer is a community-engaged scholar who studies and teaches practitioner research as a form of professional learning for preservice teachers, in-service teachers, and teacher educators in school-university partnerships, including the nationally recognized Penn State-State College Area School District Professional Development School.

Yun-chen Yen is a teacher educator who studies and teaches practitioner inquiry as a form of professional learning for educators across the career span. Yen received her B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literature from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and her M.Ed. and doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from Penn State. Prior to her doctoral studies, Yen was a teacher of English as a Foreign Language in academic and vocational high schools in Taiwan. In her recent studies, she examines the development of collective teacher efficacy through inquiry engagement, especially through the lens of emotions and social networks.

Allison Brooks Shimon earned a graduate degree in International Affairs from the University of Miami before choosing to pursue a career in education rather than law. She has over 20 years of experience as both a teacher and administrator in the United States and South America and is fluent in Spanish.

Melissa Bryan has been a NJ ELA educator for nearly twenty years. Currently, she is the Supervisor of English and Library Media in Millburn, NJ.

Molly Dallmeyer is a 25+ year High School Social Studies Teacher in the Dallastown Area School District, located in Dallastown, PA (York County) and a graduate of Penn State University. Dallmeyer is an educator who has focused primarily on the Holocaust, and has participated in numerous professional development opportunities and programs that support that content.

Alyssa Hockensmith is a high school social studies teacher in Jensen Beach, Florida. She is passionate about engaging students in critical conversations and facilitating learning through collaboration and inquiry.

Sherry Kendra is beginning her 12th year in the Reading School District and her 8th year in English as a Second Language (ESL). She is currently completing the final year of her K–12 principal certification program and will complete her administrative internship from January through May. Sherry is committed to continued professional growth and aims to advance her career into supervisory leadership in ESL and/or equity-focused roles.

Teaching is Jennifer’s second career, which she began six years ago. Through her classroom experience and continued coursework, she has developed a strong passion for empathy and trauma-informed practices. Jennifer believes that students must feel a sense of belonging—welcomed, heard, and safe—in order for meaningful learning to take place.

Melissa Kreider is an 8th grade English Language Arts teacher in the Hempfield School District in Lancaster, PA. She is currently in her 9th year in education. In addition to ethical Holocaust education, Melissa is passionate about educational technology and inquiry-based learning.

Towanda Lemon-Mckie is a sixth-grade writing and science teacher in a York County elementary school. She has been teaching full time since 2017 and entered the profession as a second career. Towanda works with 11- and 12-year-old students navigating academic learning without traditional point-based grading while also managing the social pressures of adolescence and the growing influence of technology.

Emily Mazur is in her third year teaching in the Reading School District, where she teaches 6th grade English Language Arts and Social Studies. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English as a Second Language through Penn State and UAGM.

Judith McDevitt is in her sixth year as an educator and her fifth year as the ELA learning support teacher at Tinicum School. She teaches fully pushed-in classes with student groups ranging from 23 to 29, supporting literacy development and individualized learning within inclusive classroom settings.

Jenn Todd is beginning her 11th year teaching at Bald Eagle Area School District. She teaches 6th–12th grade Family & Consumer Science, a Nutrition dual enrollment class, and, this year, a section of 8th grade Introduction to Physical Science. Teaching is her third career, following experience in retail and coaching college soccer. In 2012, she returned to school to complete a second Bachelor of Science in Education, Health, and Physical Education, and subsequently earned certification in both Family & Consumer Science and 7–12 General Science to continue her career in Centre County.

Elana Weinstein is a school psychologist with 17 years of experience in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. She has taught at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and supervised future school psychologists. In addition, she contributed to the development of curriculum for Act 48 trauma-informed training.