Erica Abangan is a 2020-2021 Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellow. Erica currently teaches 8th grade math and social studies at Goethe School in Chicago, where she serves as the athletic liaison, basketball and volleyball coach, and yearbook advisor. Previously, Erica taught middle school math and science, served as an Assistant Principal, and was a member of school improvement teams. Erica has been recognized for her work as an educator through student-nominated recognitions such as the ChiGivesBack #Teach2Give Class of 2019 Honors, the Proviso Township High Schools’ Recognition Award, and the St. Ignatius College Prep Outstanding Teacher Award. Erica graduated from Illinois State University with a BA in Middle Level Education and from Dominican University with an MA in Educational Leadership.

Karen A. Dannenhauer is a 2018-19 Teach Plus Illinois Early Childhood Educator Fellow. Karen teaches Dual Language Preschool for All at Steuben Elementary School in the Kankakee School District. She is the head representative for preschool teachers in the Kankakee Federation of Teachers. Karen was an Early Childhood Adjunct Professor at Kankakee Community College for ten years and was a member of the 2018 Teach Plus Early Childhood Advisory Board. Karen holds a BS in Early Childhood Education and MEd in Educational Psychology from the University of Illinois, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Olivet Nazarene University, and endorsements in Bilingual Education and Technology Specialist.

Shayla Ewing is an educator with a heart for stories, laughter, and teenagers. Currently, Shayla serves as the English Department Chairperson at Pekin Community High School, overseeing a team of 22 exceptional English teacher-leaders. Previously, Shayla has taught English and Drama, also serving as theater director, for seven years in central Illinois and abroad in Burkina Faso.

Shayla is a member of the Illinois P-20 Council for Teacher and Leader Effectiveness, aiding in re-establishing and re-imagining a statewide teacher mentor program. Her state-level work also extends to teacher shortage initiatives. Shayla sits on the Illinois Teacher Pipeline Coalition, where she is leading the development of policy recommendations for strengthening state Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices.

Jay Mehta teaches AP Language and Composition, Advanced Argumentation, and Advanced Communication Studies, at Wheaton North High School in Wheaton, IL. Jay sponsors the Youth and Government and Yearbook. Jay collaborates with his colleagues to revise the 10th grade English curriculum to represent and incorporate under-represented voices. He has led professional development sessions in China to teach English as a second language and sat as a local panelist to advise student teachers entering the teaching profession. Jay leads a research team as a Senior Policy Fellow for Teach Plus. He graduated from Bradley University with a BA in English and Secondary Education, earned his M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University Chicago, and is in the process of earning his doctorate in Education Policy, Organization, and Leadership, with a concentration in Diversity and Equity, from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Jill Miesner is a junior high math teacher at Red Bud Elementary School, in Red Bud, Illinois. Jill was a 2020-2021 Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellow. Jill is currently a junior high math teacher at Red Bud Elementary School, and has been for 15 years. She has served on the school improvement team and held positions on various committees. Jill currently serves as the Red Bud Education Association president. She is a member of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics and has presented at multiple conferences with the ICTM – Southern Section. Jill received a BA in Education from Eastern Illinois University and a Masters of Science in Education Administration from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Maggie Moore is a 2019-20 Teach Plus Illinois ILSTOY Policy Fellow and a 2020 Illinois Teacher of the Year Finalist. Maggie is a secondary biology and anatomy teacher at Hononegah High School in Rockton, Illinois, where she sponsors the environmental club and the senior class. She helps advise on curriculum through the professional learning community guiding coalition and is the content team leader for honors biology. She works with the school administration on social media and represents her fellow teachers on the union board at Hononegah High School. Maggie is a mentor for at-risk youth in the school’s Check and Connect program. She earned her BS In Biology from Rockford University and her MA in Curriculum and Instruction from St. Mary’s University.

Weston Peno is a 2020-2021 Teach Plus Illinois Policy Fellow. Weston teaches Art I and Art II at Effingham High School in Effingham IL, where he also sponsors the Art Club and coaches the varsity soccer team. Weston is currently involved in his district’s Teacher Leadership program. Weston became a teacher after years of convincing from his mother, a veteran teacher of over 30 years. He graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a BFA and received his MAE in Curriculum and Instruction from Greenville University.

Will Reed is a Teach Plus Illinois Teaching Policy Fellow. Will teaches Integrated Math II and Inquiry Science II to sophomores at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep on Chicago’s South Side. He is also the Educator Fellow for the Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST) and an area teacher leader for an Illinois State Board of Education professional development program for K-12 science teachers. Will has taught math, physical sciences, life sciences, and Earth and space sciences at various levels from 5th grade to college. He has acted as an assessment and curriculum developer and professional development leader for Chicago Public School’s Department of Science. He has been a founding coach of Science Olympiad programs, held summer teaching positions at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, and written on topics in science education in an international publication. Will earned a BS in Chemistry and an MAT in Biology Education from the University of Chicago.

Pat Woods retired with over 30 years teaching primarily high school English, but also French, speech, journalism, history, education, computers, and music from pre-K to the graduate level. She has been a National Board Certified Teacher in English Language Arts since 1998, a mentor for new teachers, a proud union member and frequent officer, and has coached or sponsored almost everything except football (though she claims she would have been quite good at that). In addition to working with Illinois Educators for Fair Retirement, she has recently joined the Board of Directors for Secure Illinois Retirements, been a Teach Plus Fellow, a member of the National Humanities Center’s Teacher Advisory Committee, and an Illinois State History Teacher of the Year (as an English Teacher).