Our Team
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THE ARTISTGideon Egbuchulam is a Nigerian visual artist and educator based in California whose practices include sequential arts, character design, and animation. Now freshly mentored by Nickelodeon VP of Current Animation: Conrad Montgomery, Gideon works with several nonprofit organizations such as KALA and The BAYlies as an active creative in the Bay Area. Gideon will be guiding our youth in the creation of their own comic/graphic novel or storyboard through beautifully thought out character construction and story arc.
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THE CHEFAdam Manasra is a Palestinian born and raised in the Village of Wadi Foquin. Adam graduated from engineering school in 2020 as a civil engineer from Palestine Polytechnic University. Adam came to the US last year through Friends Of Wadi Fouqin to do a speaking tour in the US. Adam has been doing many cultural events with many supporting organizations including how to share out about Palestinian culture through cooking. We are so grateful to be in partnership with Adam who will bring SWANA [ South West Asian/North African] meals to our table. We look forward to working with a plethora of chefs who bring the alignment of culture and cuisine to our programs.
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THE MYCOLOGIST“Fungal Biology is the core interest of my lab, and in a world where organismal-based science and “ologies” have fallen out of favor I make no apologies for my focus on Mycology. Within this broad area my primary focus has been fungal ecology, and most of my work in this area has been at the community ecology or autecology levels. This is an important area of work because fungi play pivotal roles in all terrestrial ecosystems, and they are grossly understudied relative to their importance.” Thomas Bruns has been awarded Outstanding Teacher at the College of Natural Resources by a grateful student body and academic peers who are in awe of an outstanding professor who makes fungi exciting and interesting. [Yes, after our respectful forage, we will be cooking the mushrooms in a prepared meal together! ]
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THE TEACHER GUIDEBorn and raised in the Bay Area, living in the heart of Albany, I began my journey of working with children during my junior year of high school, working in the library of Vista Elementary school reading stories to the students. From there I realized I had a gift and started working for the Albany/Berkeley YMCA afterschool programs and summer camp at La Conte, Malcom X, Thousand Oaks and Washington Schools. I decided to move away from the YMCA and landed a job at Berkwood Hedge School, meeting Hanan and guiding children to travel in their imaginations and dreams. Eventually, I decided to leave the Bay and head to New York City where I worked preschool and summer camp at the 92nd Street YMCA for a couple years. In 2010, I moved back to the Bay and got a job for Albany Unified School District as a Special Education teacher. To this day I’m still working my magic with children.
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THE MOVERS & SHAKERSBeing from Hawaiʻi, I was extremely enveloped in Hawaiian culture. One of my biggest passions was dancing hula, and it helped me participate in cultural activities. The beauty of dance — with its storytelling and poetic reverence for the land — have always captivated me. It has helped me become a more thoughtful, and open minded person. I hope that by passing down what I’ve been taught, I will be able to inspire youth to care about their culture, others, and the earth. A big part of being in a hula group was showing up to teach and assist the younger children so they can use the same practice when they’re grown as well. It’s all about the passing down of knowledge.
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THE MOVERS & SHAKERSJimmy Powers has been practicing yoga for over 19 years and offers an approach to teaching which infuses poetry, play, precision, kindness, and curiosity, suitable for both beginning and advanced practitioners of all body types. Jimmy has been a steadfast teacher for High Road Scholars since 2023
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THE MOVERS & SHAKERSMy name is Waleska Herrera, I was born in Venezuela, and came to USA 25 years ago. I have been a Zumba instructor for 6 years, and it has changed my life. I have always had a passion for dance, and since I was a child I remember dancing with my family at every family reunion. Sharing my passion with you makes me really happy. I want YOU to share with me this amazing adventure, music and how dance can change our lives completely. I can’t wait to dance with you!” Waleska has been one of most favorite and formidable teachers for High Road Scholars.
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THE MOVERS & SHAKERSLee Miltier has been another beloved teacher at High Road Scholars, guiding our youth towards the creation of drinking glasses, delicate vases, and trinket holders. This season, he teams ups with us to support in the creation of votive candle holders. In tandem, in true High Road Scholars fashion, we will be making our own votive [ scented or unscented] candles as well. “When people get a hold of these glasses…they love holding them. You think, how different could it be? But the difference is huge. It’s about being human, in so many ways. And that’s good. They just fit in your hand, your mouth, perfectly. And liquid feels just more…liquid. Whether the shape is organic or more architectural, it’s got that warmth; its got humanity.”
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THE MOVERS & SHAKERSLisa, she/her/siya, was born and raised on Ramaytush and Xučyun (Huichin) territory, the unceded lands of the Ohlone people. Her family comes from the land of salt and rice fields, Pangasinan and Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Lisa is a cultural worker, organizer, and artist. Much of her cultural work and art focuses on reclaiming what has been erased and forgotten through colonization. She was a co-founding member of Sama Sama Cooperative, a Filipinx outdoor summer camp for youth, and a current advisory board member for Filipino American Coalition for Environmental Solidarity whose current campaign is Protect Verde Island Passage, a biodiverse marine corridor facing destruction in the Philippines. Lisa returns to High Road Scholars with an exciting opportunity for them to customize and screen shirts with their own original art!