About Us

Alisa has a breadth of teaching experience in adult education including 5 years as an EFL Instructor in South Korea, 23 as an ESL and CTE Instructor at Garden Grove Adult Education, 3 years as a content developer for Sacramento County Office of Education, and some time as a remote ESL instructor for Tamalpais Adult School. Alisa has also worked as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for OTAN since 2017. She provides trainings mostly in the areas of beginning ESL instruction, HyFlex, Bitmoji, EL Civics on Canvas, the Triple-E Framework, and training to support ESL and CTE pathways instruction as well as new adult education teachers. A sample of her certifications include the HyFlex Innovator Digital Badge and the IDEAL 101 and 102 Digital Badges, all from World Ed.

Audrey is a lifelong adult educator with the Sweetwater Union High School District Division of Adult Education. She started as an orientation teacher in 1993 and, since then, she has served in 12+ positions including ESL Teacher, ESL Distance Learning teacher, and Resource Teacher. Because of the pandemic, she began providing professional development for her colleagues which included video conferencing platforms, Google Workspace, Google Classroom, and other Google and non-Google software applications. Then, in 2022, she joined OTAN as a Subject Matter Expert (SME). As a SME, her presentation experience includes Screencastify, Google Calendar with Appointment Scheduling, and Creating with Canva. She is currently taking a deep dive into how AI can help educators with creating presentations, lesson plans, and worksheets.

Barry has been an educator with the Division of Adult and Career Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District since 1987. He was a classroom teacher of ESL, Citizenship Preparation, and VESL topics for most of that time. For the last 8 years, he has been an Instructional Technology Teacher Advisor at North Valley Occupational Center working with teachers who have been learning technology integration skills to benefit their instruction and, by extension, their students’ instructional experience in the classroom. In his role as a Subject Matter Expert for OTAN, he has delivered both face-to-face and online workshops and webinars on a variety of technology-related topics for OTAN and has also presented at numerous regional, state, national and international conferences. In addition to his many years of experience in the classroom, Barry has a master’s degree in Instructional Technology and is a Level 2 Google Certified Educator.

Carlos Hernández is an educator with experience serving youth and adult learners across K-12, special education, adult education, and career technical education settings. He currently works at Folsom State Prison as a Computers and Related Technology Vocational Instructor, where he prepares incarcerated learners with the digital and workforce skills needed for successful reentry and employment opportunities.

As a former Moderate to Severe Special Education teacher, Carlos worked extensively with students with learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism, and physical disabilities, developing inclusive, student-centered approaches that promote access, independence, and success. His experience supporting both children and adults has strengthened his commitment to creating equitable learning opportunities for all learners.

Carlos's areas of expertise include educational technology integration, assistive technology, digital literacy, artificial intelligence in education, Microsoft 365 and accessibility. Through OTAN, he hopes to offer trainings on assistive and accessible technologies, digital productivity tools, workforce technology skills, and strategies for engaging diverse learners. He looks forward to collaborating with colleagues across California to share innovative practices and support inclusive, future-ready adult education programs.

Chris has been an adult ESL educator for more than 10 years. Most of her teaching experience has been with low-literacy to beginning-high English language learners. One of the things she enjoys most about her job is finding ways to integrate digital technologies into her classroom in order to improve her students' learning experience and digital skills. She also enjoys going for long walks and spending time with family and friends.

Christina is the high school program coordinator for Corona-Norco Unified School District, and she has work experience in ESL, CTE, and the diploma track. Her specialty is using educational technology in math instruction, using Canvas for instruction and class management, and the OTAN Lesson Plan Builder. Christina holds the following credentials: Multiple Subject; Singe-Subject Math; Education, Business and Finance, and Marketing, all under the area of CTE; and a Site Supervisor Child Development credential.

With over 20 years of registered nursing experience, this dedicated educator serves as the Program Director of Nursing & Allied Health at Clovis Adult Nursing Education, where she has spent more than 12 years teaching and leading adult learners in CTE.

A proactive champion of educational technology, she successfully transitioned traditional CTE classrooms into paperless, digital learning environments by implementing computer-based assessments and guiding the migration of course content from Moodle to Canvas LMS. These digital initiatives boosted student engagement, streamlined instruction, and enabled a seamless transition to remote learning.

A graduate of OTAN’s Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC, 2023–2025), she is deeply committed to OTAN’s mission of advancing adult education through innovative technology, digital leadership, and equitable access for all adult learners.

Dana brings over a decade of edtech leadership as an instructional design Subject Matter Expert specializing in accessibility, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, and student engagement. An expert Canvas LMS administrator, instructional designer, and instructor, Dana leverages Canvas to build accessible, custom coursework, design robust assessments, and drive learner success. She stays at the forefront of the platform's latest features to empower educators with high-impact, inclusive online learning strategies.

Debbie Jensen worked as an instructor for 33 years at Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education in Southern California focusing on Adults with Disabilities, Adult Basic Education, and assisting teachers with integrating technology in their classrooms. She currently works for OTAN creating online resources, courses, articles, presentations, and workshops. She is a CK-12 Certified Instructor and a Level 1 Google Educator. She has presented at multiple conferences including COABE, CUE, CASAS SI, CCAE, CAEP and OTAN’s TDLS. Her current presentations focus on CK-12, Accessibility, Google, Digital Literacy, the Triple E Framework, and AI in the Classroom. When she is not focused on education, she enjoys family history and time with her grandchildren

Denise Douglas has dedicated more than 30 years to education, with a career rooted in Adult Education, instructional technology, and professional learning. After more than 20 years teaching high school, she also taught in Adult Education and has spent almost a decade training and supporting Adult Education teachers, helping them design equitable, engaging, and technology-rich learning experiences for adult learners.

After serving as an Assistant Director for three years, Denise has chosen to return to the classroom as a TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) at the Porterville Adult School. This role brings her back to her roots as a teacher, a role she has always held at heart. Her work continues to focus on leveraging technology to expand access, foster equity, and support lifelong learning, helping adults achieve their educational goals.

An experienced presenter, Denise has shared her work at CUE/CALIE conferences, TDLS, CCAE, and Google Summits, collaborating with educators across California and beyond. She values the professional learning community she continues to build locally, virtually, and statewide.

Diana Vera-Alba has a Master's degree in Cross-Cultural Teaching and Leadership, a Multiple-Subject BCLAD Credential, an Administrative Services Credential, a TESOL Certificate, and is Canvas Studio and Creative Commons certified. She has taught ESL at San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) since 2018 as a Hybrid, HyFlex, Distance, and Online instructor. She is currently the ESL Assistant Program Chair at the Cesar Chavez campus. Diana has held many leadership rolls at SDCCE including OER and CAEP Coordinator, Academic Senate Vice-President and Secretary, ESL Teachers Using Technology (TUT) Co-Chair, and OER Liaison for the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. She is also a Subject Matter Expert for OTAN, having facilitated training on topics such as Canvas, Open Educational Resources (OER’s), and Teaching with Technology webinars. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, photography, and traveling with her family.

Doreen Bonde is a Wellness Specialist in the Fremont Union High School District. She has a Master’s Degree in Health Education and a California Makerspace Coordinator certificate, is a RYT200 Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher, Meditation and SEL Facilitator, a Makey Makey Certified Educator, and a member of the Silicon Valley CUE Board of Directors.

Elisia currently works for San Diego Community College District/Continuing Education. She has 17 years of experience in Parent Education, teaching classes from infancy to Pre-K, all the while working in Disability Support Programs and Services (DSPS) for the district. She has worked a total of 38 years in the field of Special Education. She has experience working in classroom settings as well as with distance learning. Elisia has presented on behalf of OTAN at annual conferences for CATESOL and CAPED, and at OTAN’s Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC). During her downtime, Elisia enjoys card making, crocheting, hiking and kayaking.

Farzana is an Instructional Technology Teacher Advisor at Evans Community Adult School, part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. She has been with Evans CAS for 29 years, starting as an ESL Level 1 student before taking on different roles from Educational Aide and Teacher Assistant to CTE and Individualized Instruction Lab instructor and Technology Coordinator. Farzana leads two projects at Evans CAS, one involving Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) applications, the other focusing on creating a dedicated space for Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS). Her passion lies in creating engaging and interactive learning opportunities for teachers and adult-ed students. Farzana is also a Subject Matter Expert for OTAN, creating and delivering technology-focused, face-to-face and online workshops, as well as presenting at a variety of conferences.

Francisca began her career as an adult education ESL teacher in 1987. She taught all levels of ESL and was an Instructional Technology Coordinator at Jefferson Adult School for ten years before she became Director of Jefferson Adult School. Her journey in technology in instruction began with the OTAN project called the Instructional Technology Assistance Project (ITAP). She was a participant in the first Technology Integration Mentor Academy (TIMAC) cohort (now known as the Digital Leadership Academy or DLAC), and then became a coach/SME for OTAN. In 2010, she was hired by OTAN to create an Advanced ESL Online course in Moodle. Then in 2012, she created “The Write Stuff” which was also made available to Adult Education agencies in California through OTAN. She has revised both courses in Canvas and provides training on how to use the courses as part of a blended/hybrid or distance learning program. Francisca holds two master's degrees, in German and in Educational Administration as well as multiple certifications including the Leading Edge Digital Educator (LEC) certificate and the Ed Tech Leaders Online Certification.

Francisco has been in Adult Education since 2004. He has worked as an ESL, CTE, Citizenship, and Computer Literacy instructor for Soledad Adult School. In 2018, he became Lead Instructor for Soledad Adult School where he has administrative responsibilities in addition to teaching ESL. Fransisco has also been an OTAN SME since 2012 and enjoys teaching colleagues around the state how to incorporate technology in the Adult Education classroom. Francisco’s trainings typically focus on Canvas in adult education, apps for adult education, and the Digital Learning Guidance.

Jake is an educator with a passion for student success. Jake studied Linguistics at California State University Northridge with a focus on Sociolinguistics and Cognitive Linguistics. This sparked a passion for sociolinguistic justice and led Jake into ESL instruction at Burbank Adult School. In his 3 years there, he has worked to improve the lives of students and educators.

He recently finished the OTAN Digital Leadership Academy, where he spent 2 years developing a brand-new online ESL program at Burbank Adult School, which has continued to grow every semester. Along with ESL, Jake is an IET instructor for the Certified Nursing Assistant and Medical Assistant programs. Together with fellow IET instructor Danielle Cañas, he designed and implemented a summer bridge program from ESL to CTE Healthcare pathways through the creation of the ESL for health careers course, which has helped students go from Burbank’s ESL program to working in healthcare in less than a year. Jake is student centered and his guiding philosophy is that education is a pathway and not a barrier. Jake is an advocate for digital literacy and makes digital literacy part of his ESL instruction. Students in his level 1 ESL class learn English but also come out of the class knowing the basics of how to use a computer, which is a skill that just about every job requires today.

Jake has presented at multiple conferences including TDLS 2025 and 2026, CAEP 2024, and multiple regional conferences for his consortium with topics ranging from digital literacy, ed tech tools, and IET pathways for ESL students. Jake is also an active member of the Burbank Teachers Association, California Teachers Association, and National Education Association, where he fights at the local, state, and national levels to better fund public education and ensure that every student receives a quality education.

Josh Eick, M.A. Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), has been an educator for the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Division of Adult and Career Education (DACE) for over 28 years. During that time, he has taught all levels of ESL, including literacy, as well as computer technology and World History. He was among the first teachers to design and teach an IET course for DACE. He also co-designed a master LMS course for DACE’s upper-level ESL classes. He has designed and/or presented countless PDs and presentations for DACE and various conferences on topics such as project-based learning, creating LMS course content, rubrics, formative and summative feedback, and testing reform. Recently, he participated in OTAN’s Digital Leadership Academy where he co-authored a site plan to create and expand the Adult Education Virtual Academy (AEVA), one of the first fully virtual adult schools in the US. He is a new SME and is excited to share with and learn from others. Given the chance, he’ll talk your ear off about books, music, film, traveling around the US, and all-things kitsch.

Kristi Reyes, M.A., Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), is a tenured faculty member in the Noncredit ESL Program at MiraCosta College, California, with more than two decades of experience teaching adults. Kristi has conducted a number of different tech-integration workshops and webinars for OTAN since 2009 on topics including digital storytelling, web-based tools, teaching vocabulary with technology, online teaching best practices, teaching hybrid courses, project-based learning, and Canvas. She has nearly a decade of experience teaching online, with online teaching credentials from @ONE and TESOL International.

Lynn Bartlett, M.A. Educational Leadership and Policy Studies and Administrative Services Credential, began her career in adult education in the San Juan Unified School District in 1995, first as a teacher, then as project developer, and finally as the adult education principal. She was a key participant in developing policies and practices at the state level through work with the California Distance Learning Program (CDLP) Advisory Committee, and the successor state leadership project, the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN). She has presented at local, state, and national conferences and in webinars on how to develop and implement an effective program using technology in education. As an OTAN Subject Matter Expert, Ms. Bartlett is presently researching, gathering materials, and writing new content to be added to an updated adult education history website and to the official publication, Meeting the Challenge: A History of Adult Education in California (California Department of Education, 2005 edition).

Marian Thacher, M.S, Ed., has worked in the field of Adult Literacy and English as a Second Language (ESL) since 1981, including teaching ESL and GED classes in Chicago and San Diego, and serving for twelve years as Coordinator and later Director of the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN). Ms. Thacher developed and led OTAN’s Technology Integration Mentor Academy which has now become the Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC); she currently works with OTAN to coach and mentor DLAC participants. In her work with the American Institutes for Research, Ms. Thacher currently coordinates professional development for federally-funded adult education agencies in Nevada. She was the Project Director for a contract with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) to provide training on professional learning communities to the education staff from California’s 35 prisons. She contributed to the California Adult Literacy Professional Development Project (CALPRO) by managing the development of practice training materials on a variety of topics. Additionally, she has been a frequent presenter at national, state and local conferences on topics related to professional development and technology in adult education.

When Maricel completed her credential in adult education, it set her career on a teaching trajectory. She has been an English teacher in the high school diploma program since 2014 for the East Side Union High School District in San Jose. With a masters in Instructional Science and Technology, Maricel supports fellow teachers through creative training and educational technology. She incorporates various technologies in the classroom to accommodate her amazing students and has a passion for Andragogy and digital literacy. Maricel thrives being around people and connecting with them to create an enjoyable collaborative environment.

Paul started his career in adult education as an ESL teacher in Los Angeles while still in graduate school at UCLA. When he became the Distance Learning Program Advisor, he led a team to adapt the Putting English to Work (PETW) 1, 2 and 3 series, consisting of 64 half-hour video episodes with student workbooks and unit assessments, to Moodle. He is currently assisting OTAN in migrating the PETW courses to Canvas with full interactivity. Since 2021, Paul has been the EL Civics Advisor at the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Division of Adult and Career Education.

Patricia Gutiérrez is a dedicated educational professional with more than 24 years of service to the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. As an Office Specialist at Monterey Adult School, she supports and coordinates programs serving students, families, staff, and the Community.

Throughout her career, Patricia has contributed to numerous district initiatives, including the MPUSD Classified Academy, childcare center operations, the Family Safety in the Car Violator Program, and parent education classes. A bilingual English and Spanish professional, she also provides interpretation and translation services to help families access educational resources and opportunities.

Known for her dedication, reliability, and collaborative spirit, Patricia is passionate about strengthening connections between schools, families, and the community while helping create opportunities for those she serves. She is excited about the opportunity to be part of the OTAN team and looks forward to sharing her experience, learning from others, and contributing to the team’s continued work in supporting educators and adult learners.

Patricia Hernandez is a Data Entry Clerk who specializes in Orientation and Placement testing students and who also takes care of CASAS data reporting. With 23 years of experience in Adult Education, I am dedicated to helping students take their first successful steps in their educational journeys. As a clerk, my primary focus is welcoming students, coordinating their placement testing and orientation, and ensuring they are accurately placed into the programs that match their goals. I pride myself on being a supportive guide through the enrollment process. Outside the office I love to spend time with my family on walks along the beach.

Apolonio Valdovinos has more than 10 years of experience in adult education, teaching subjects including GED social studies, digital literacy, and technology skills. Before and alongside his work as an educator, he worked as a software developer developing educational technology systems and digital learning tools. He also brings more than two decades of experience developing business software systems and working with technology startups.

He has led technology implementation projects and provided professional development and technology training for educators through the Santa Clara County Office of Education and West Contra Costa County Adult Education. His work focuses on helping teachers effectively integrate technology into instruction and helping adult learners build practical digital skills for education, employment, and everyday life.

Apolonio holds a master’s degree in Education with a focus on instructional design and educational technology. He is committed to expanding access to practical technology education, workforce preparation, and training opportunities for adult learners.

Rosa is a dedicated Adult ESL educator with over 10 years of experience serving diverse language learners in the Fontana Adult School community. Over the years, she is currently integrating technology to enhance language acquisition and student engagement. Skills include the use of Microsoft Teams and OneNote, leveraging these tools to facilitate collaboration, streamline instruction, organize course content, and support both in-person and online learning. The ability to utilize Microsoft 365 applications has enabled creative interactive, student-centered experiences that promote communication, accessibility, and lifelong learning.

Susan Coulter is a seasoned veteran of OTAN with over a decade of dedicated service under her belt in addition to 33 years of experience in adult education. Susan's passion for empowering learners knows no bounds. Susan wears many hats at OTAN, from writing insightful web-based news articles to creating engaging “Teaching with Technology” activities; she has a true love for technology. But that's not all – Susan is a regular fixture at three to four conferences each year, where she generously shares her wealth of knowledge. Additionally, she's a coach for OTAN's Digital Leadership Academy (DLAC). Susan has an impressive array of certifications, including Google Certified Educator 1 and 2, GFE Trainer Skills Assessment, CK-12 Certified Trainer, and Adobe Creative Educator. Susan's recent retirement from Baldwin Park Adult and Community Education marks the end of an incredible career marked by unwavering dedication to adult education and a zest for all things tech. She is thrilled to continue her career with OTAN.

Susan Gaer is a retired professor of ESL at Santa Ana College. She has been a promoter of digital literacy for teachers throughout the world for the last 25 years. She is a past President of CATESOL (California Teachers of English to Other Speakers), a frequent presenter at TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), an English Language Specialist for the State Department and a Subject Matter Expert for the Outreach and Technical Assistance Network (OTAN). She is currently an adjunct instructor in English for the American University of Afghanistan. In addition, she is a Google Innovator, Trainer, and is both experimenting with and providing training on using AI with students.

Yesica has dedicated her career to education, beginning straight out of college as a substitute teacher and after-school coordinator. Before the pandemic, she taught ESL and History at the high school level. The challenges and shifts brought on by the pandemic inspired a transition into adult education, where she has thrived for the past three years. At Merced Adult School, she specializes in teaching ESL to low-literacy to beginning-high students, as well as Citizenship, and ESL Conversation. Her passion and expertise were quickly recognized, driving the transition to her role as ESL Advisor. In her third year, Yesica was honored with the Instructor of the Year Award, highlighting her impact and commitment to adult education.

Yecsenia has over 13 years of adult education experience in various capacities including: Instructional Designer, E-Learning Developer, CTE Program Developer, and Technology Integration Specialist. Over the years, she has focused on understanding technology integration by assessing key aspects of teachers’ technology proficiency and needs. Yecsenia’s research has focused largely on investigating the technology integration barriers that educators face and the training they have received. Her goal is to find possible areas of improvement to advance distance education in adult education settings.