Kristina Ishmael is an educator, learner, advocate, and agent of change. She is the Deputy Director of the Office of Ed Tech leading the office in its vision and execution of priorities focused on improving teaching and learning.

Ishmael most recently worked as an educational consultant where she supported educators, schools, and nonprofits as they navigated new learning environments and worked towards equitable access and opportunities for every learner. Additionally, she was the Sr. Research Fellow on New America’s Teaching, Learning, & Tech team where she advised on the inclusive technology portfolio at the intersection of open education, digital equity, and culturally responsive and sustaining education.

She previously served in the Office of Ed Tech as the K-12 Open Education Fellow leading the #GoOpen initiative. Prior to that role, Ishmael was the Nebraska Department of Education’s Digital Learning Specialist where she supported policy development, led professional learning and advocated for school librarians. This experience granted her a unique perspective on leveraging educational technology in urban, suburban, and rural school systems. Kristina started as an early childhood and elementary teacher of emerging bilingual students in Omaha, Nebraska.

Aaron Yazzie (He/Him/His) is a Mechanical Engineer at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California where he designs mechanical systems for NASA’s robotic space research missions. His most extensive contributions have been for missions to the planet Mars, which included roles on the Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity Rover, the InSight Mars Lander, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover, and currently the Mars Sample Return Campaign. 

Yazzie is Diné (Navajo), of the Salt Clan and born for the Bitter Water Clan. He was born in Tuba City, Arizona on the Navajo Nation, and was raised in Holbrook, Arizona, where he completed his K-12 education. He attended Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2008.

Yazzie is passionate about STEM outreach, and works to increase and improve the representation of Indigenous Peoples in the STEM fields. In 2016 Yazzie was honored by the Navajo Nation Council for “serving as an inspiration to Diné youth and citizens”, and in 2019 received the NASA JPL Bruce Murray Award “for outstanding and consistent dedication in promoting inclusion and excitement in science and education, especially among Indigenous Communities.” Yazzie received the 2021 Technical Excellence Award from the American Indian Science and Engineering Society for his contributions to the development of the Perseverance Rover’s rock sample collection system.

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Dr. Kathryn Kennedy

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Alejandra Ramos Gomez

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Antonia Small

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Margo Rosingana