Email: kimberly.matier@ode.oregon.gov

Dr. Kimberly Matier is a 24-year veteran of education. As a teacher, teacher leader, and administrator, she has experience with eliminating disparities in outcomes. Dr. Matier entered administration to focus on school improvement and scaling student successes. During her career, she has served as the director of instruction, curriculum and assessment for Portland Public Schools, and later as the deputy chief academic officer for Minneapolis Public Schools. Before returning to PPS to serve as the Sr. Director of Professional Learning and Leadership Development, she worked as a regional superintendent working to address statewide achievement disparities. In her leadership roles, she has facilitated the development of district equity frameworks in addition to creating a continuum of professional learning services to meet diverse district and educator needs.

Email: angela.bluhm@ode.oregon.gov

Angela Bluhm is a data equity advocate and an Analyst for the Educator Advancement Council in the Oregon Department of Education. Angela previously served as Research, Data, and Communications Coordinator for the Oregon Longitudinal Data Collaborative in the Chief Education Office and later in the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) where she built and analyzed data policies around the ethical use of data in longitudinal and integrated data systems, focusing on the Statewide Longitudinal Data System. Angela served on the Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy’s national workgroup for Centering Racial Equity in Government Data Processes and currently serves on the Data Justice Networking Group hosted by the State of Oregon’s Chief Data Officer. In her free time Angela enjoys gardening and beekeeping.

Email: lynne.gardner@ode.oregon.gov

Dr. Lynne Gardner has over 24 years of experience in education. Prior to joining the EAC, Lynne served as a classroom language arts and social studies teacher for Portland Public Schools and instructor at the University of Oregon. As a teacher, Lynne focused on redesigning and rethinking curriculum and instruction to better support students’ learning experiences. She earned a Ph.D. in Critical and Socio-cultural Studies in Education and her research explored the tensions between educators and youth leadership in racial equity work at a predominantly white school. Lynne grew up in Florida and before becoming a teacher, was an archaeologist in the Four Corners region. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time playing music, paddling, hiking and traveling with her dog.

Email: emily.mccaffrey@ode.oregon.gov

Emily McCaffrey has over a decade of experience as an educator, program leader, and researcher in K-12 and higher education organizations. Prior to joining the EAC team, she worked with national and regional education organizations to conduct equity-focused evaluation projects on adult learning, school improvement, and personalized learning initiatives in California, Nevada, and Washington. She also serves as an advisor to the youth-led Central Valley Scholars, a community-based organization providing resources, guidance, and support to first generation college-going students. Emily grew up in rural, upstate New York and now lives in Central Oregon, where she enjoys getting outdoors with her family and her dog.

Email: renae.guenther@ode.oregon.gov

Renae Guenther is a citizen of the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians. She graduated from Southern Oregon University with her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2018. Prior to her joining the EAC, Renae served the South Umpqua School District as a Tribal Advocate on the Tribal Attendance Promising Practices program, in collaboration with her Native tribe, for six years. Being a Native American student herself, who experienced a public education that lacked positive representations, contemporary strengths and struggles of Native communities and true perspectives of Indigenous peoples, Renae aspires to contribute to implanting Indigenous educators and values within all areas of Oregon public schools. Renae enjoys gardening, cozy campfires and being a mom to two rambunctious and curious boys!

Email: griffin.reichmuth@ode.oregon.gov

Griffin Baca Reichmuth graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Science in Economics. After graduation, he worked as a 9th grade English Language Arts teacher in the Mexicantown neighborhood of Southwest Detroit, MI. Griffin hopes to leverage his experience in the classroom in supporting Oregon’s educators through the EAC’s various initiatives. In his free time, he enjoys gardening and cooking.

Email: aimee.havens@ode.oregon.gov

Aimee Havens has 23 years of experience working in Oregon schools with 21 years of teaching experience in grades 1st-8th and two years as a Teacher on Special Assignment (TOSA).  Aimee started her teaching career in Tigard-Tualatin School District before moving to Portland Public Schools in 2014.  Aimee accredits her students and caregivers for making her the teacher she is today. In addition to her work in schools, Aimee has constructed and facilitated Racial Equity learning for nonprofit organizations.  Aimee enjoys listening to podcasts, playing with her rescued golden retriever, and sharing belly laughs with friends and family.

Email: elizabeth.castillo-lopez@ode.oregon.gov

Elizabeth Castillo-Lopez is the Executive Assistant to the Educator Advancement Council Executive Director. Prior to her role with the Educator Advancement Council, Elizabeth was an Administrative support Specialist with the SIS team in the Office of Teaching, Learning and Assessment. She brings with her prior administrative experience as she worked at the Woodburn School District Office as an Assistant secretary. Elizabeth is a Salem resident, pursuing her Bachelor degree in Human Resource Management at Portland State University. Elizabeth is a former Oregon School system graduate and has always strived to help her team ensure all Oregon students receive a high quality education and work to create awareness of all the barriers that she went through to ensure that future students do not have to.

Email: mercedes.jones@ode.oregon.gov

Mercedes Jones is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde and is the Director of Professional Learning for the Educator Advancement Council (EAC). Prior to her role at the EAC, Mercedes served as the Curriculum Specialist for seven years for her Tribe developing tribe-specific curriculum and professional development that was historically accurate and culturally relevant. Mercedes has served on several boards and committees including the Oregon American Indian/Alaska Native Advisory Group, the University of Oregon Sapasikwala Advisory Council, and others that strive to improve learning conditions for Native students in Oregon. Having a young child herself, Mercedes is glad to be part of a team that prioritizes high-quality teaching and learning that is equitable for every student.

Email: horalia.rangel@hecc.oregon.gov

Horalia Rangel has been the Program Coordinator for the Oregon Teacher Scholars Program since it launched in 2018. In this position she has learned how to develop the program from the ground up and has adapted the direction of the program to better meet the needs of its students. Being a Diversity Scholarship recipient from Western Oregon University, she firsthand understands the importance of scholarship programs such as the OTSP and the powerful impact they play in reducing the financial barrier for students. Prior to this position she worked in various education-related positions such as a migrant program specialist at the Oregon Childcare Development Coalition, admissions office specialist at Western Oregon University and assistant to the coordinator of the Bilingual Teacher Scholars Program, to name a few. Horalia enjoys skiing in the winters and spending time with her family. 

Email: april.negrette@ode.oregon.gov

April Negrette is a member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada. For the past three years she has been a middle school science and high school math teacher on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation and prior to that she graduated from the University of Oregon’s UO Teach and Sapsik’ʷałá programs, earning her Masters in Education and teaching credential. She has a passion for environmental and community work and has held various positions over the years working for her tribe, nonprofit organizations, universities and the federal government. April enjoys traveling and water days with her son.

Email: shveta.miller@ode.oregon.gov

Prior to joining EAC, Shveta Miller led professional development for teachers and helped decrease disparities in Talented and Gifted services at Tigard-Tualatin School District. She has over a decade of experience as a teacher-trainer, coach, and instructional designer. She created and facilitated job-embedded professional development for 25 districts that dramatically improved students’ reading confidence. She is VP of the Oregon State Literacy Association, Director of Curriculum for the national non-profit Reading With Pictures, and the author of Hacking Graphic Novels: 8 Ways to Teach Higher-Level Thinking with Comics and Visual Storytelling. As a former high school English teacher, Shveta is happiest when she’s partnering with teachers to improve student learning.

Email: brittany.kasim@ode.oregon.gov

Brittany Kasim Carew is the Grants Analyst at the Educator Advancement Council. With a background in Political Science from WOU, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her role. Prior to joining the EAC, Brittany worked as a Contracts and Compliance Administrator, where she gained valuable skills in ensuring regulatory compliance, contract management, and financial reporting.

In her current role, Brittany is responsible for managing and administering grants, ensuring compliance with grant requirements, and monitoring grant-funded programs. She is passionate about providing support to organizations that are working to make a difference in their communities. Brittany's strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and ability to work under pressure make her an asset to the EAC team.

Email: bree.bender@ode.oregon.gov

Bree Bender comes to the EAC with over a decade of experience working in public education. Bree holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Writing from Marylhurst University along with a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts. In addition to her work at the EAC, Bree is a freelance writer, editor, and graphic designer. She enjoys getting lost in a good book, writing, and teaching creative writing to middle and high school students.