Meet the Team Behind
Our Courses
Our courses are written and evaluated by teachers, for teachers. Teaching Channel’s Curriculum & Instruction team is comprised of former educators with a deep expertise in their fields. Our team meticulously develops courses, drawing from seminal texts and resources to ensure the highest quality and most applicable learning for teachers.
Dr. Wendy Amato
Chief Academic Officer
Dr. Wendy Amato earned her Master’s and PhD in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Virginia. She holds an MBA from James Madison University in Strategies for Competitive Advantages in Complex Industries.
Wendy began teaching in 1991 at Universite Blaise Pascale in Clermont Ferrand, France. She has served as a classroom teacher and Middle School Administrator, and still teaches at UVA’s School of Education.
Since 2020, Wendy has been the Chief Academic Officer of K12 Coalition, parent company of Teaching Channel. She support teachers and teacher educators across the country and around the world.
Her publications, presentations, and research interests center around culturally sustaining pedagogies, literacy, and teacher formation. She was named EdTech Digest’s Top 100 Influencers in the State of EdTech for 2026-2027.
Marcee Harris
Vice President of Academics
Marcee Harris holds a B.A. in Elementary Education and Sociology, as well as an M.A. Ed. in Education. As VP, Marcee oversees the Curriculum and Instruction team, guiding the development of high-quality professional learning experiences for educators. She works to ensure that content and products align with both the evolving needs of teachers and broader organizational goals. With over 25 years in education, Marcee brings a deep understanding of classroom practice and a strong commitment to empowering educators through meaningful, relevant professional development.
Fun Fact: Marcee once hiked the Napali Coast on the north shore of Kauai, Hawaii.
Sarah Murphy
Director, Curriculum & Instruction
Sarah Murphy holds a B.A. in History and a Master’s in Education. Grounded in years of elementary classroom experience, Sarah brings a practical educator lens to Teaching Channel’s professional learning. As Director of Curriculum & Instruction, she guides the development and refinement of graduate-level continuing education courses, helping ensure they are engaging, relevant, and rooted in strong instructional practice. Sarah works closely with the Curriculum & Instruction and Instructor teams to support meaningful feedback for educators, thoughtful course design, and effective online learning experiences in Canvas. Sarah is also a coursewriter and content creator, specializing in edtech, educator wellness, and content area teaching.
Fun Fact: Sarah enjoys training and competing with the Mill City Running Race Team in distances from 1 mile to the marathon.
Betsy Butler
Professional Learning Specialist
Betsy Butler holds a B.A. in English, a Master’s in Education, and has been a professional development specialist with Teaching Channel for 16 years. Betsy uses her three decades of teaching experience in her role, to write graduate-level continuing education courses that help educators retain their licensure, and to move up salary steps and lanes. Her specialty areas include ELA, special education topics, behavior management, and mental health.
Fun Fact: Betsy’s daily conquest is solving the New York Times crossword puzzle!
Samantha Lundberg
Associate Director of Content Development
Samantha Lundberg holds a B.S. in School Health Education and an M.A. in Special Education with an emphasis in Applied Behavior Analysis. She draws on her extensive knowledge to develop and refine engaging, research-based courses. Her work centers on helping educators create inclusive, supportive learning environments where social-emotional growth is prioritized and both students and teachers feel seen, supported, and mentally well.
Fun fact: Samantha has been to all of the U.S. Disney parks, as well as 3 of the international parks! She hopes to visit all of the parks someday.
Amy Szczepanski
Professional Learning Specialist
Amy Szczepanski is a Professional Learning Specialist at Teaching Channel since 2024. She holds a B.S. in both Biology and Environmental Science, a Master’s in Teaching, and has been teaching since 2014. Amy uses her experience to create highly engaging and effective content for both teachers and students. She loves all things STEM and is passionate about teacher advocacy.
Fun Fact: Amy’s favorite hobby is taking long walks through New York City searching for delicious treats.
Rebecca Kay-Lewis
Instructional Support Specialist
Rebecca Kay-Lewis holds a B.A. in Business Administration and a Masters in Education. She is a Canvas Certified Educator. In her role, she specializes in customer support and efficient course administration, ensuring a seamless experience for our users.
Fun Fact: Rebecca has run 23 marathons!
Jessica Price
Sr LMS Specialist
Jessica Price holds a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies, with a minor in Health and Fitness. As Senior LMS Specialist and our Certified Canvas Expert, Jessica oversees the technical lifecycle of product launches and manages the integrity of our Canvas environment. She bridges academic requirements and digital execution by coordinating university approvals and ensuring all course content meets rigorous standards. By optimizing “behind-the-scenes” workflows, Jessica streamlines the path from enrollment to instruction, empowering educators with a seamless and reliable learning experience.
Fun Fact: Jess loves to go on winter hikes with her trusty canine companion, Blue!
Jennifer DeLucia
Manager, Continuing Education Instructors
Jennifer DeLucia holds a B.A.S. in History and Secondary Education and a Master of Arts in Teaching. Before starting with Teaching Channel in 2024, she spent nearly a decade in the classroom, both in public and private school settings. Jennifer currently works closely with Course Evaluators and the Curriculum & Instruction Team to ensure our customers get the most out of their Teaching Channel experience.
Fun Fact: Jennifer once played Frenchy in high school in a production of Grease!
Meet Our Course Instructors
Our Course Instructor team includes over 100 educators hailing from 19 states across the country. Each course instructor has 5+ years of Pre-K-12 school experience that aligns with course content, bringing relevant experiences from their roles as classroom teachers, specialists, instructional coaches, administrators, and more. Course instructor provide specific feedback on each course module participants complete, solidifying our commitment as your Education Ally.
Instructor Leads
Rachel Steil
Instructor Lead
Rachel is a 28+ veteran English teacher at Stillwater Area High School. She has been with Teaching Channel since 2018. She holds a Masters in Education and K-12 Public Administration and has a Master Journalism Educator certification. She has taught a variety of English courses, including Enriched 10, English 11, and the award-winning Newspaper Journalism class. Rachel has been named Minnesota Teacher of the Year in 2015 and 2020 and Minnesota Journalism Advisor of the Year in 2018.
Dr. Laura Thorvilson
Instructor Lead
Laura holds a BA in Elementary Education, MA in Curriculum and Instruction, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and has been with Teaching Channel since 2016. In her leadership role, she collaborates with a dedicated team of Instructors, providing guidance and support as needed. She values her work as a Continuing Education Instructor, where she reviews educators’ coursework submissions and gain insight into the impactful ways teachers support children, families, and communities across the nation.
Kayla Hasvold
Instructor
Kayla holds a BA in Elementary Education and a Master of Arts in TESOL and currently serves as an ML Coordinator and K–12 teacher. Since 2016, she has served at Teaching Channel and is currently an Instructor Lead, collaborating with instructors to create meaningful learning experiences for educators while also supporting a course focused on multilingual learners.
Ally Beggs
Instructor Lead
Ally earned her undergraduate degree in social studies education from MSU Mankato and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from St. Catherine University. Ally is passionate about supporting educators in their professional growth. She also completed her student teaching in Australia!
Jamie Fredericksen
Instructor Lead
Jamie holds a Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Specific Learning Disabilities, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing Management. Jamie has been with The Teaching Channel since 2019. She cherishes the opportunity to continually grow alongside a network of talented and passionate educators, a reminder that the best teachers never stop learning themselves.
Continuing Education Instructors
Anwar Mustafa
Instructor
With over 10 years of teaching experience, Anwar holds a Bachelor's degree in Special Education and a Master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, currently serving as a 1st and 2nd grade special education teacher and member of the school's intervention (MTSS) team. Anwar's background in special education and MTSS allows for sharing real-world strategies for supporting diverse learners, addressing behavior challenges, and creating inclusive learning environments in the role of instructor at Teaching Channel, a position held since 2023.
Angela Salinas-Oviedo
Instructor
Angela holds a Master's Degree in Education with certifications in Secondary English, English as a Second Language, Library Science, and Reading, and has 30 years of experience in education. She has been an instructor since 2023. She enjoys being part of a community committed to helping educators thrive and seek transformational outcomes.
Beth Halbach
Instructor
Beth holds a master's degree in education and graduate certificates in Online Teaching and Learning, with over two decades of educational experience as a middle school science teacher, technology integration specialist, and instructional specialist. She is a certified Google Trainer and Coach with expertise in staying at the forefront of educational advancements and supporting educator growth at every career stage. Since 2018, she has served as a instructor at Teaching Channel, providing individualized feedback and guidance that helps K-12 teachers implement new strategies in their classrooms.
Dr. Mark Melka
Instructor
Dr. Mark holds an Ed.D., M.S.Ed., and M.S., with over a decade of experience as a School Library Media Specialist in educational technology, digital literacy, STEAM education, and instructional leadership. In his role, he works to empower students and teachers through information literacy, technology integration, and engaging learning opportunities that foster meaningful, lifelong learning.
Kristin Dirksen
Instructor
Kristin holds a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Secondary Teaching, Life Science, and a Master's in Teaching, with 27 years of experience as a middle school science teacher. She is a believer in student-driven learning and real-world application at all levels, including for professional educators. For seven years, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, supporting other teachers in their professional development and continuing education.
Felicia Fischer
Instructor
Felicia holds a B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education K-6 and Special Education, and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, with 18 years in education, including 12 years as an elementary special education teacher and 6 years as a K-6 Math Coach. For 3 years, she has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel, enjoying the opportunity to get to know each learner through their coursework and watch their growth as they progress through each module.
Jenna Hanson
Instructor
Jenna holds a BA and a Master's in Education, along with a K-12 MN Reading Endorsement, with experience as an elementary teacher since 1999 and full-time K-5 online teaching since 2013. Since 2016, she has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel, finding great enjoyment in learning from teachers all over the country through their professional development.
Dr. Diane Coffman
Instructor
Dr. Diane holds a Doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction, along with Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Elementary Education with middle level specialties in science and social studies, and certifications in elementary education, middle level science and social studies, and gifted & talented elementary and middle level. She was privileged to teach in five states around the country, finding more similarities than differences among students and schools. Since 2023, she has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel.
Allison Thoen
Instructor
Allison holds an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree and is licensed to teach K–8. Currently a first-grade teacher, she has taught nearly every grade level within her licensure. Since 2025, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, where she supports, encourages, and inspires educators throughout their learning journeys.
Emily Maker
Instructor
Emily holds a BS in Elementary Education and an MEd in Educational Leadership. Since 2023, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, providing personalized, professional feedback that helps educators reflect on their practice, pursue their passions, and set new goals.
Holly Bella
Instructor
Holly holds a master’s degree in Reading K–12 and is a certified Reading Specialist. Currently an Instructional Coach, she has worked as an instructor since 2016 and has served at Teaching Channel since 2023, where she supports educators in implementing instructional best practices to meet the needs of all students.
Dr. Jaquana Johnson
Instructor
Dr. Jaquana holds a BA in Education, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction, and a PhD in Leadership and Educational Administration, with Georgia certifications across multiple subject areas, Gifted Certification, and an Academic Coaching Endorsement. Since 2026, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, providing meaningful feedback and encouraging reflective practice to support educators’ professional growth.
Julia Castillo
Instructor
Julia holds a K–6 Elementary Education degree, a K–12 ESL license, and an MA in ESL and has worked as a multilingual instructor since 1999. Since 2019, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, where she supports teacher-driven learning, shares her expertise with educators, and helps promote positive student outcomes.
Kamela Dauntain
Instructor
Kamela holds a Master’s in Instructional Design and Learning Technology and a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and has worked in K–12 education since 2000. As an instructor at Teaching Channel, she collaborates with educators to enhance instructional quality and create meaningful learning experiences.
Ryan MacIntyre
Instructor
Ryan holds a Master of Education in Reading Intervention, a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, an Endorsement in Special Education, and an Associate Level Certification in Orton-Gillingham. Since 2025, he has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel, supporting adult learners as they advance their education and professional goals through feedback and guidance in their coursework. His work furthers Teaching Channel's mission of promoting lifelong learning and developing skilled educators.
Shawn McCoy
Instructor
Shawn holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Education in School Improvement Leadership and is currently an Ed.D. candidate in Special Education Leadership. His background spans music education, special education, and general education classrooms. Since 2023, he has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, drawing on his experience as an Assistant Principal to bring a data-informed, solution-focused approach to coursework feedback that supports Teaching Channel's mission of educator growth.
Jennifer Marcotte
Instructor
Jennifer holds a Bachelor's in Early Childhood Education and a Master's in Educational Leadership, with over 25 years of experience in education, including classroom teaching and serving as a district literacy coordinator. She is deeply committed to supporting educators and strengthening literacy instruction. As an instructor, she facilitates meaningful professional learning experiences and provides thoughtful feedback that helps teachers connect research-based practices to their classrooms.
Ally Reeser
Instructor
Ally holds a Bachelor's in Elementary and Special Education, a Master's in Instructional Technology, endorsements in English as a Second Language and Library Information Specialist, and a STEM certification, along with Google Certified Educator (Levels 1 and 2) and ISTE Certified Educator credentials. Since 2025, she has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel. By reviewing assignments and encouraging reflection, she helps educators apply new learning to their classroom practice.
Alyssa Besonen
Instructor
Alyssa holds a Master of Science in Education, with licensure in 7-12 Business Education and Elementary Education, training in LETRS and the Science of Reading, and WISE certification in Personal Finance. For 8 years, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, valuing the mission of providing opportunities to teachers as lifelong learners.
Jake Matheson
Instructor
Jake holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, with 11 years of experience in education, including teaching music to students from kindergarten through adulthood. Since 2023, he has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel, bringing his passion for helping educators apply research-based strategies in meaningful ways to support their professional growth.
Abbie Pannell
Instructor
Abbie holds a Master's degree in Leadership Studies with a focus on Administration, Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation, along with an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education K-8, and is a Certified Evaluator of Teachers, Principals, and School Counselors. For 3 years, she has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel, where she encourages educators to achieve their learning goals.
Ellen King
Instructor
Ellen holds a B.A. in English and B.S. in Secondary Education, along with two Master's degrees in Education—Curriculum and Instruction with a Technology Concentration, and Education Technology and Instructional Design (K-12)—plus a Sixth Year Degree and 092 certification, with 15 years of experience as a high school English teacher. As an instructor, she brings current, classroom-based experience to every courseproviding thoughtful, individualized feedback.
Nicole Dockham
Instructor
Nicole holds a Master's Degree in K-12 School Counseling, with over 20 years of experience in education, currently serving as a School Counselor and 504 Coordinator at a K-12 charter school in Minnesota. For 3 years, she has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel, supporting and learning alongside educators as they study topics including mental health, SEL, ethics, and equity.
David Higley
Instructor
David holds a BS in Elementary Education and a Master's in Educational Leadership. For 12 years, he has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel, valuing the opportunity to learn alongside teachers across the US and world—work that makes him happy to be in education and proud of the children of tomorrow.
Heidi Torphy
Instructor
Heidi holds a BSN in Music Education and an M.Ed. in Integrated Arts. Since 2026, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, evaluating music courses and enjoying the opportunity to read about what educators are doing in their classrooms around the world.
Dr. Brandi Gill
Instructor
Dr. Brandi holds an Ed.D. and has been an Instructor at Teaching Channel since 2024. She enjoys being able to provide constructive and valuable feedback on coursework to help educators enhance their instructional practices and connect content to their daily work, supporting professional growth, teaching effectiveness, and student success nationwide.
Kim Moore
Instructor
Since 2019, Kim has served as an Instructor at Teaching Channel, holding a Master's in education and a critical literacy certificate, with over 25 years of experience teaching first grade. Reading the work of many professionals inspires new ideas and strategies she implements with her own students—reflecting the organization's core values of lifelong learning and integrity-driven leadership.
Josefine Henderson
Instructor
Since 2023, Josefine has been an instructor at Teaching Channel, holding an M.Ed. and a B.S. in Kinesiology. Helping maintain high teaching standards through feedback that improves the overall learning experience, she enjoys reviewing course content to ensure it supports learner growth and professional development.
Sue Seip
Instructor
Susan holds credentials as a Public Health Nurse with a background in maternal/child health, with 27+ years of experience as a school nurse and past roles in public health nursing, long-term care administration, and nursing faculty at a technical college. Since 2022, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, valuing the opportunity to share experiences and learn from fellow educators.
Tami Limberg
Instructor
Tami holds a master’s degree in Environmental Education and a Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Geology. Since 2022, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, where she supports educators in strengthening their practice and better supporting students throughout childhood and adolescence.
Karen Miele
Instructor
Karen holds an MA, a BA, and a Certificate of Teaching Writing. Since 2020, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, where she supports educators by reviewing their coursework and seeing how they apply their learning to transform students’ classroom experiences.
Laura Soule
Instructor
Laura holds a Master of Science in Educational Technology with an emphasis in Distance Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies. An experienced elementary educator and educational leader, she specializes in literacy and math intervention, instructional technology, online curriculum development, teacher coaching, professional development, and training for virtual educators.
Stefanie Thurmes
Instructor
Stefanie holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is currently pursuing a PhD in Educational Administration. She has taught fifth grade since approximately 2001 and has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel since 2016, where she supports educators by reviewing their work and learning from their classroom experiences.
Sara Hallermann
Instructor
Sara holds a Bachelor of Science in Communication Sciences and Disorders and a Master of Science in Deaf Education. As a Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing in Minnesota, she supports students from birth through age 21 in mainstream and special education settings, collaborating with educators to ensure equitable access for students with hearing loss.
Laurie Lofgren
Instructor
Laurie holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Education and currently teaches at a dual immersion school. Since 2025, she has served as an instructor at Teaching Channel, helping educators strengthen their practice and develop strategies to better serve their students.
