Each teacher reader for our Teacher Read Aloud Series shares a passion for education, literacy, and devotion to helping students of all ages succeed in life.
Read about each individual here as they share a story which reflects the importance of teaching social justice themes to children of all ages.
Meet Our Teacher Reader - Felisa Patino-Longoria! "I have been in education for 27 years. I have taught Spanish language at the high school level and currently I am an Academy Specialist for the Extended Learning Program (after school). I create lessons focused on the arts for 1st-8th grades. My passion is teaching language. culture, and dance through folklórico education. Also, I am in year 2 of the CSUB doctoral program."
Meet our Teacher Reader: Maria Pilar Avelar was born in Guanajuato, Mexico and is a sister to four wonderful sisters. She currently resides in Bakersfield, California since the age of ten. Avelar grew up in Kern County as a migrant student. She is a CSUB alumni earning a BA in Liberal Studies with a minor in Art and multiple subject credentials including a BCLAD. Pilar also earned an MA degree from CSUB in Bilingual Multicultural Education. Later in life, she also obtained an administrative credential from the University of LaVerne. Avelar has also taught in elementary schools for seventeen years as a bilingual teacher, intervention teacher, Literacy teacher and regular teacher. Her area of expertise is teaching ELL students and intervention. Literacy is one of her passions! Currently, she works as a CSUB CA Mini Corps Coordinator and coordinates one of CSUBs Mini Corps programs, which prepares multilingual tutors to become multilingual educators and bilingual teachers. Avelar also enjoys cooking, gardening, dancing and reading!
Meet our Teacher Reader: Dr. Chai Phannaphob - My diasporic life experience began as a toddling refugee from a war-torn country of Dondok, Laos (1981) to walking across the stage as the first Lao-American doctoral graduate from CSU, Fresno, California (2018). I have lived all my life in the blind spots of intersectionality and I will bring this perspective to advocate for all of our students.
Meet Our Teacher Reader: Dr. Barnell is currently a lecturer and Supervisor at California State University, Bakersfield. Nicole also works at an Educational Consultant specializing in early literacy. Married and a mother of 2, Nicole resides in Merced, California. Nicole has a passion for agriculture and believes every day is earth day because we have no planet B.
Meet our Teacher Reader: My name is Carolyn M. Lane. I am a biracial- Black and White woman. I have been a Muslim for over 32 years. I am married and a mother of seven children, one daughter- in -law and the grandmother of three. My husband is from Yemen and our children are multiracial Arab Americans.
For the past six years, I have been a lecturer in the Department of Child, Adolescent, and Family Studies (CAFS) for California State University, Bakersfield (CSUB). I am also a student, EdD candidate in CSUB’s Doctoral Program of Educational Leadership (DPEL).
Meet our Teacher Reader: Dr. Adriana Cervantes-González is a full-time Lecturer with the Department of Teacher Education in the School of Social Sciences and Education, where she serves as the lead Faculty for the Teacher Residency for Rural Education (TRRE) Project.
She comes to our campus with 22+ years as an educator serving faculty, students, families, and communities in the Central Valley in K-12 and higher education settings. She is a proud first-generation graduate and is passionate about all things social justice! She has had many stewards in her own educational journey & strives to do the same for others in her primary role of supporting pre-service & graduate teacher leaders! She is also a proud mother of 4 teenagers, which by far are her and her husband’s (also an educator) greatest achievements in life!
Meet Our Teacher Reader: Dominique Lane - I was born in Lynwood, CA. My family moved to Bakersfield in 1998. I attended Casa Loma Elementary School, Curran Middle School, and South High School; class of 2010. I graduated from CSUB in 2015 with a B.A in Psychology and a minor in studio art. I am a proud first-generation college graduate and athlete. I began running track in elementary school and ran my way through college; I was a sprinter on the women's track and field team at CSUB. I am currently obtaining my teaching credential through the Black Educator Teacher Residency program here at CSUB. I have an amazing husband and three beautiful children that bring me so much joy.
Meet our Reader: Alan Salazar - Alan Salazar has been a traditional storyteller, an indigenous educator, and a juvenile institute office, where he counseled at risk youth. Salazar is a founding member of the Kern County Native American Heritage Preservation Council and the Chumash Maritime Association. He has been a Spiritual Advisor within the Chumash and Tataviam community, and does ceremony and lead prayer circles during traditional Native American gatherings.
Vanessa Zepeda is in her third year of teaching and currently at Standard Middle School in the Oildale community in Bakersfield, Ca where she also coaches basketball. Vanessa earned her B.A. in Liberal Studies in Special Education from CSU, Bakersfield and has obtained a preliminary credential for Moderate/Severe disabilities for Special Education. Vanessa is currently working towards her Master’s Degree in Special Education and preliminary in Mild/Moderate disabilities for Special Education.
Ana Cornejo is a first-generation immigrant from Mexico. At Bakersfield College, she earned an A.A. in Human Services and Liberal Studies. She holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies from CSU, Northridge, and obtained her teaching credential and an M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from CSU Bakersfield. Currently, she is a student in the Doctoral Program in Educational Leadership at CSU Bakersfield. She has served our community for the past six years as a public school educator. Ana is passionate about education and believes that every child should have access to an education that is enriching and empowering.
Our Teacher Reader: Thianchayphet "Chair" Phannaphob, Ed.D. My diasporic life experience began as a toddling refugee from a war-torn country of Dondok, Laos (1981) to walking across the stage as the first Lao-American doctoral graduate from CSU, Fresno, California (2018). I have lived all my life in the blind spots of intersectionality and I will bring this perspective to advocate for all of our students.
In Fall 2020, I was welcomed to the Teacher Residency for Rural Education (TRRE) Program at CSUB as a University Supervisor and Adjunct-Lecturer. For our Central Valley community, I have promoted and continue to advocate for diversity, inclusion and social justice via my active support for the Center for Leadership and Equity and Research (CLEAR) organization, the United Southeast Asian-American Students (USEEA) at Fresno City College, as an active member to support the Annual Lao-American Educational Conference, as a community volunteer with Beautify Fresno and at The Fresno Center. As a former Latin teacher, I can attest that equity and access to justice begins with communication that is empowered by a deep understanding for the mechanics and command of languages and literacy.
Driven by kindness and a passion for equity in education: Sarah Shannon (she/her/hers) is an experienced educator and advocate who has been working in Kern County schools for over ten years. She has an MA in Education - Curriculum & Instruction and is finishing an MS in Educational Leadership. Driven by kindness and a passion for equity in education, she takes pride in providing curriculum, instruction, and professional development that is designed to cultivate supportive and inclusive class and school climates for all. As a member of the LGBT+ teacher community, her goals include supporting her students, building positive professional relationships, and trying not to work quite so much...starting next semester (as always).
Teach with a passion to change lives: Mr. DeMarcus Clear grew up in San Bernardino, Ca. He attended Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mt. and graduated with a degree in Education in 1998. He also received his Masters Degree in Administration in 2003. Mr. Clear has been in Education for 21 years. He enjoys coaching football, spending time with his family and seeing his former students succeed in life.