Teacher Advisory Council

2019-2021 Teacher Advisory Council members tour the Dino Lab at the Natural History Museum

The Museum's Teacher Advisory Council is a collaborative effort between the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County and local classroom educators and administrators.

Each Teacher Advisory Council (TAC) cohort works with the School & Teacher Programs division over two years to advise the museums on education initiatives, including evaluating existing assets, identifying potential opportunities, providing feedback to museum staff and stakeholders, and creating and piloting new educational resources with their student, teacher, and school community in mind.

Interested in applying for our next cohort? Applications open on a two-year cycle. Check back on this page for updated information!

APPLICANTS MUST:

  • Currently be school staff (classroom teacher, TA, or administrator) at an accredited school in L.A. County
  • Commit to two years of participation, estimated at 40 hours total active time (20 hours per year)
  • Prioritize IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) initiatives and align practice and purpose with our strategic goal to be a museum “of, for, and with Los Angeles”
  • Be interested and excited about collaboration and dialogue with a diverse group of educators
  • Be creative, flexible, and reflective

Applicants may teach any grade level or subject area. No prior experience with the Natural History Family of Museums is necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Attend 5 advisory council meetings online or onsite per year (3 hours every other month)
  • Contribute an additional 5 hours per year in the form of emails, small group, or 1:1 meetings with museum staff to provide feedback on proposals, brainstorms, learning resources, exhibitions, and programs
  • Act as a teacher advisor on at least 1 NHMLAC Educator Workshop
  • Participate in at least 1 NHMLAC School & Teacher Program each school year while on the council, which can include bringing your students on a field trip, attending a free professional learning workshop onsite, or participating in one of our virtual teacher trainings online
  • Generate one new learning resource to be shared with the broader educator community by the end of cohort tenure
  • Advocate for the Natural History Family of Museums by sharing museum offerings and resources with colleagues, administrators, and/or district staff

BENEFITS:

  • Provide feedback, be heard, and help shape the development of offerings for all teachers and students
  • Network, reflect on best practices, and build connections with a community of diverse practitioners
  • Earn a $1,250 stipend per year ($2,500 total; split into payments of $250 dispersed following attendance at each meeting)
  • Experience behind-the-scenes tours and dialogue with museum staff in various departments, including Exhibitions, Research & Collections, Education, Programs, Interpretation, and more
  • Have access to materials, resources, and support from the museum’s Education Department
  • Receive complimentary bus funding sponsored by the museum for one field trip during tenure (up to $700)
  • Acknowledgement of participation in the Teacher Advisory Council on the Natural History Museum website

2021-2023 Teacher Advisory Council

headshot of TAC member akiko arevalo

Akiko Arevalo
Science Specialist, Marquez Charter School
Pacific Palisades, CA

TAC member Cinthia Lazo

Cinthia Lazo
Academic Coordinator, Sycamore Junior High School
Anaheim, CA

TAC member Denise Benjamin

Denise Benjamin
3rd and 4th Grade Teacher, Open Magnet Charter School
Westwood, CA

TAC member Dominic Black

E. Dominic Black
Art Teacher, San Dimas High School
San Dimas, CA

Image of the Nature Gardens

Gloria Amador
Pre-K and Kindergarten Teacher, Mayberry Street Elementary
Los Angeles, CA

TAC member Jennifer Zapata

Jennifer Zapata
Kindergarten Teacher, El Rincon Elementary School
Culver City, CA

TAC member Leah Millman

Leah Millman
Community School Coordinator, Logan Academy of Global Ecology
Echo Park, CA

Headshot of TAC Member Teodora Lopez-Valles

Teodora Lopez-Valles
2nd Grade Teacher, Vermont Avenue Elementary
Los Angeles, CA

1 of 1

Akiko Arevalo
Science Specialist, Marquez Charter School
Pacific Palisades, CA

Cinthia Lazo
Academic Coordinator, Sycamore Junior High School
Anaheim, CA

Denise Benjamin
3rd and 4th Grade Teacher, Open Magnet Charter School
Westwood, CA

E. Dominic Black
Art Teacher, San Dimas High School
San Dimas, CA

Gloria Amador
Pre-K and Kindergarten Teacher, Mayberry Street Elementary
Los Angeles, CA

Jennifer Zapata
Kindergarten Teacher, El Rincon Elementary School
Culver City, CA

Leah Millman
Community School Coordinator, Logan Academy of Global Ecology
Echo Park, CA

Teodora Lopez-Valles
2nd Grade Teacher, Vermont Avenue Elementary
Los Angeles, CA

2019-2021 Teacher Advisory Council

2019-2021 TAC Member Dominic Black

E. Dominic Black

Art Teacher, San Dimas High School

San Dimas, CA

2019-2021 TAC Member Josephine Yadegar

Josephine Yadegar

3rd Grade Teacher, San Pascual STEAM Elementary School

Highland Park, CA

2019-2021 TAC Member Karen Lukesh

Karen Lukesh

Art Teacher, Bell Senior High School

Bell, CA

2019-2021 TAC Member Katie Frank

Katie Frank

English & Cinematic Storytelling Teacher, Lawndale High School

Lawndale, CA

2019-2021 TAC Member Laura Griffith

Laura Griffith

7th & 8th Grade Science Teacher, Arroyo Seco Museum Science Magnet School

Highland Park, CA

2019-2021 TAC Member Maria Martin

Maria Martin

Early Childhood Education, Sinai Akiba Academy

West Los Angeles, CA

2019-2021 TAC Member Roxane Buetens

Roxane Rogers Buetens

Science, Health, and Art Teacher, Tri-C Continuation School

Los Angeles, CA

2019-2021 TAC Member Sharon Nakata

Sharon Nakata

Resource Specialist Teacher, San Pascual STEAM Magnet Elementary School

Highland Park, CA

2019-2021 TAC Member Steven Saunders

Steven Saunders

TOSA/8th Grade Teacher, Bridges Preparatory Academy

Compton, CA

1 of 1

E. Dominic Black

Art Teacher, San Dimas High School

San Dimas, CA

Josephine Yadegar

3rd Grade Teacher, San Pascual STEAM Elementary School

Highland Park, CA

Karen Lukesh

Art Teacher, Bell Senior High School

Bell, CA

Katie Frank

English & Cinematic Storytelling Teacher, Lawndale High School

Lawndale, CA

Laura Griffith

7th & 8th Grade Science Teacher, Arroyo Seco Museum Science Magnet School

Highland Park, CA

Maria Martin

Early Childhood Education, Sinai Akiba Academy

West Los Angeles, CA

Roxane Rogers Buetens

Science, Health, and Art Teacher, Tri-C Continuation School

Los Angeles, CA

Sharon Nakata

Resource Specialist Teacher, San Pascual STEAM Magnet Elementary School

Highland Park, CA

Steven Saunders

TOSA/8th Grade Teacher, Bridges Preparatory Academy

Compton, CA