Brett Ballard

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Lesson Plans

Year Two

Lesson: The Lines That Change Our Maps

Lesson:  Push and Pull Factors for the Great Migration

Robert Bayliss

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

As a US History and APUSH teacher at Osceola High School, my goal as an educator is to inspire students to see the connections between yesterday and today to understand the present and how the future might look. I graduated from the University of Central Florida with an interdisciplinary studies degree. I hope to share those ideas of creative and independent thinking with my students, encouraging critical thinking and creativity in their pursuit of knowledge. The LEAD grant has been an amazing opportunity to deepen content knowledge and foster growth as an educator.  Outside of the classroom, I try to be as much of an infovore as possible with a passion for music, food, podcasts, and literature. Most importantly, I am husband to my amazing wife and father to the most adorable child on planet earth.

Emily Benedix

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Emily Gilfillan Benedix is a civics teacher at Parkway Middle School in Kissimmee, FL. In addition to her teaching duties, she is the coach for Parkway’s Odyssey of the Mind team. She believes that learning history allows for students to become better citizens. Emily holds a BA in American Studies from the College of William & Mary in Virginia and a M.Ed. from Northeastern University in Massachusetts.

Gary Benedix

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Gary Benedix teaches AP Human Geography and AP World History at Celebration High School. In addition to his 8 years teaching at Celebration High, Gary is the Interact Club sponsor, serves as an AP Reader for the AP Human Geography exam, worked part-time for Osceola Virtual School, and has a MEd in Social Studies Education from the University of Florida.  

Ted Bogar

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

My name is Ted Bogar and I've been at Poinciana High School teaching US history for 3 years. I originally moved down from Ohio (go Buckeyes!) where I taught middle school World History and early US history. I've been in Florida for 5 years, having taught Civics and early US history in Polk Country. I enjoy traveling, reading, tennis, the outdoors, and of course, digging deeper into history!

Kelly Cotton

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Lesson Plans

Year Two

Lesson: The Great Migration Through the Art of Jacob Lawrence

Lesson: U.S. Imperialism, 1890-1945

Andrea Darsch

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

I have been an educator for over 20 years - all in Osceola County. I am grateful to have been part of a former Teaching American History Grant which dramatically changed my focus and knowledge of History and introduced me to some of the greatest academic influences of my career. I currently teach US History and have previously taught high school courses of Economics, Government, World History, Business, and middle school courses of US History, Earth Space Science and Health. US History is my favorite. I love to travel and see new places. I am also obsessed with food, but I do not eat beef or pork and am trying to go Vegan. I love to sleep in and be on the beach. Sleeping on the beach is one of my favorites.  My husband and I both graduated from Gateway High School in 1993 and currently have a daughter who is a senior at PATHS.

Alyssa De Jesus

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

My name is Alyssa De Jesus. I am a secondary education instructor at Poinciana High School in Osceola County Florida. I have been instructing social studies for high school students for going on 6 years now at my current location as a second career.  I graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL with a BA in Psychology. I currently teach 12^th grade Economics and Advanced Placement Psychology. I have previously instructed United States History, World History, and World Religions. I completed my teaching certification through an Educator’s program at Valencia College in Orlando FL, and I have been pursuing a second degree in Criminology at the University of South Florida. My plan is to one day utilize my education to instruct Social Sciences at the collegiate level. I am actively involved in programs on my campus including athletics, mentoring, and clubs. I was recently asked to fill the role of mentor teacher on campus for incoming/newly hired Social Studies teachers. Outside of my career I am a mother to two wonderful children who I devote all of my free time to whenever possible!

Christine Endicott

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Hello! My name is Christine Endicott and I am a US History teacher at St. Cloud High School. I have lived most of my life in Florida, originally from Long Island, NY and graduated from Osceola High School in Osceola County. I graduated from UCF with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and have worked in the Osceola County School District for the last 10 years. I am passionate about bringing history alive for my students and making it fun and engaging. I am the Student Government sponsor and the Class of 2024 sponsor, and I love being involved with students inside and outside of the classroom. 

Richard Gillette

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Originally from Binghamton New York, Richard moved to Kissimmee Florida in 2010. Richard is entering his first full year of teaching; before becoming a teacher, he worked in Restaurant Management for 10 years and archaeology for 5 years. He received his ME in Secondary Education from Grand Canyon University (2020) and his MA in Anthropology from the University at Buffalo (2010). 

Despite having Dyslexia & ADHD, He has never stopped trying to be the best teacher he can be. In high school, Richard was the quiet student with a learning disability; but his teachers never stopped believing in him, and because of their belief, he was able to break through those barriers. Richard’s passion is (and will always be) to help his students break through their own barriers.

Jacqueline Hunter

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Greetings! My name is Jacqueline Hunter and I am an AP Human Geography and US History teacher at Liberty High School.  A native of New Jersey, I have called Florida home for more than 20 years.  For the past five years I lived in the Midwest, specifically Iowa and Wisconsin before returning to Florida to care for my mother.  I am a US Army Veteran, who served during war time in Saudi Arabia and Iraq.  I am a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Florida and Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  I am passionate about my students and their understanding of history.  I have a particular interest in the Black American experience and presidential history.  An avid outdoors person, when not working, I love visiting historical places and primitive camping. I am excited to be part of the LEAD Program.  It has been my best professional development experience to date.

Jennifer Guenther

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

My name is Jennifer Guenther, I teach world history at the Professional and Technical High School in Kissimmee, Florida. I am entering into my 6^th year of teaching overall, though this is only my second year in Florida. Before I taught in Illinois at both the middle and high school level. I spent my college years traveling the world to see all the places I would one day teaching about, including a one semester stay in Oxford, England to finish up my history degree. 

Debra LaFountaine

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Debra LaFountaine has been teaching in Osceola County for 25 years.  She has taught Social Sciences 6-12, Gifted K-12, and served as a District Resource Teacher in Social Studies.  She is also an Instructional Mentor, working with new teachers at Celebration High School.  She grew up primarily in Florida but went to Boston University for her undergraduate degree before returning to Florida to teach and earning a master's degree at UCF.  She loves to spend her summers traveling. 

Ryan LaHayne

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

My name is Ryan LaHayne, and I am an AP Human Geography teacher at Tohopekaliga High School in Kissimmee, Florida. I graduated from Indiana University in 2007, and I moved to the state of Florida where I started my teaching career. I have enjoyed fourteen successful years progressing my craft as a teacher. I am so grateful to be a part of the NCHE LEAD Grant for the past three years. I have learned new, critical ways of teaching and presenting history from amazing professionals across the country. This experience has taken history beyond the classroom and invited us to take an in depth look at a variety of historical perspectives and outcomes throughout the comprehensive history of America.

Gisela Martinez

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

My name is Gisela Martinez. I was born in Manhattan, NY, however, I moved to Kissimmee when I was 8 years old and have been here over 30 years now. I am of Puerto Rican, Colombian and Ecuadorian descent. I earned an Associates of Applied Science degree in Business Administration from Valencia College. I graduated from UCF with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. 

This is my 5th year teaching. I started teaching Marine Science at Gateway High School, which was quite interesting since I was out-of-field and I graduated from there in 2000. I currently teach at Tohopekaliga High School in Osceola County. I am teaching AP Psychology, Government, and Economics. I have been at TKHS since the start, having also taught US History and World History. 

I am the club sponsor for FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) and the Green Team, which is an energy conservation club at TKHS. I also have three kids, if that wasn’t enough to keep me busy. I love learning and teaching. I am very excited to be a part of the LEAD program.

Bruce Mulford

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

I have 30 years experience teaching youth at various organizations.  For the past 18 years, I have had the privilege of teaching social studies in Osceola County, Florida.  I have a passion for bringing history alive in the classroom and making learning fun – even for those that may not like the course.  I was a participant in the NCHE Teaching American History grant program and now participating in the LEAD grant with NCHE.  These experiences have been great, and I love to bring the knowledge I have gained back to the classroom.  I currently teach at Liberty High School.

Samina Rahman

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Samina Rahman earned her B.S. in Social Science Education and her M.ED in Secondary Social Science Education from the University of Central Florida. Since beginning her career at Osceola High School in 2018, Samina has taught both World History and American History courses. She is passionate about history and the role it plays in cultivating critical analysis skills in young minds. Samina is an advocate of hands-on inquiry-based learning, which encourages students to become contributing members of society through community service. Her hope is to inspire the next generation to become individuals who work toward resolving societal conflicts and improving inequalities while prioritizing excellent character. 

In her spare time, Samina is a novice seamstress, board-game enthusiast, and passionate volunteer. She currently serves as the Executive Director of The Legacy Center-a nonprofit community center serving the Muslim community in Central Florida.  

Carlos Remolina

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

My name is Carlos E Remolina and I was born and raised in Colombia, South America in the Andes Mountains, I completed my Social Studies Education degree at the University of Central Florida (UCF) and I have been teaching for 9 years. I enjoyed helping the kids develop a global perspective on historical events rather than just presenting one perspective on them. I am married and have two daughters.  I specialize in AP World History and AP Human Geography. I have been working as a reader of AP Exams for the last years as well.

Oniel Rodriguez

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

My name is Oniel Rodriguez and I am a Social Studies Teacher at Osceola High School in Osceola County, Florida. I was born and raised in Hialeah, Florida with a Dominican, Cuban, and Puerto-Rican background; surrounded with bold personalities, amazing food, and a rich cultural heritage. I received my associate degree in general studies from Valencia College, my bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of Central Florida, and my master's degree in family & marriage counseling from Palm Beach University's Orlando Campus. Life and its many twists and turns led me to teaching, and while the profession was never in my plans, it helped feed into my love for learning (especially history). I also enjoy making learning relatable and accessible and making a positive impact in my student's lives; aspects of teaching that keep me marching through the tough days. Other than teaching and education, My wife and I are proud parents to a beautiful one year old daughter, I LOVE art and design, documentaries, NASA, The Office, The Crown (on Netflix), Harry Potter, Pixar & the Disney classics. I'm a big fan of Miami sports teams (prerequisite of being born in Hialeah), I am a co-owner of a jewelry business with my wife and enjoy traveling along with getting to know and appreciate new cultures. 

Rachelle Strang

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Rachelle Strang completed her master’s degree in history from the University of Edinburgh in 2017. Prior to graduate school, Rachelle graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in history and in music in 2016. Her fields of interest include transnational and East Asian history with a focus on culture and music. Currently, Rachelle teaches Advanced Placement World History at NeoCity Academy in Kissimmee, Florida. Her latest professional development includes EduCon 2020, Dr. Norman M. Wall Teachers’ Institute on Holocaust Education 2020 and National History Day: Inspiring Student Research Series in addition to the NCHE L.E.A.D Grant. Most recently, Rachelle was a contest winner for the World History Digital Education Spring 2020 Lesson Plan Contest. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys traveling, attending the latest musical, and playing the violin.    

Apryl Taylor

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Apryl Taylor teaches social studies courses at the high school level. She currently teaches Advanced Placement United States History, Economics with Financial Literacy, and Debate. Ms. Taylor is seeking opportunities to expand her content knowledge, learn strategies promoting engagement, and promote inclusive history in the classroom.

Lesson Plans

Year One

Lesson:  Connecting Westward Expansion to American Imperialism

Resource:  Excerpt from Frederick Jackson Turner, " The Significance of the Frontier in American History," 1893

Lesson:  Criticizing the Statue of Liberty in the Late-19th Century

Sandra Thompson

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Hello, I am Sandra Thompson. I have 25 years teaching experience in Osceola County. I studied Political Science at Florida State University earning my BS is Social Sciences. I am a graduate of the Justice Teaching Program through the Florida Supreme Court, along with sitting on many committees within my subject area at both the school and district levels. 

I have been a part of the L.E.A.D. Grant from the beginning as well as a member of the National Council for History Education (NCHE).

Matthew Veach

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

I served over 20 years in the college admissions office prior to becoming a High School Social Science teacher. In my six years of teaching I have taught AP Psychology General Psychology, Economics, US Government, College and Career research and decision classes and currently teach AP Psychology and I am the AVID Coordinator at Liberty High School. Additionally, I am a Digital and Associate Professor and Valencia College in Orlando Florida.

Tina Wybiral

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

I have been teaching history for 21 years.  I have a bachelors degree in Political Science and a Masters in Business Administration.  I currently teach Civics, U.S. history and High school credit World History.  I am passionate about history education and inspiring students' love of history.  

Lesson Plans

Year Two

Lesson:  Kristallnacht (The Night of Broken Glass)

Lesson:  Ending WWII and Japan’s Surrender

Lisa Yann

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

My name is Lisa Yann and I teach AP United States History at Celebration High School. I am a graduate of Indiana University with degrees in secondary education and history. I am very excited to be part of the LEAD grant, as it has been by far the best professional development I have ever experienced. I was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but have called Florida home for the past 15 years. I enjoy politics, traveling, yoga, and my two Dachshund fur babies, Ella and Winston.

Chris Zurewich

LEAD 9-12 Cohort

Christopher Zurewich has 23 years of experience in education. He studied history at California State University Sacramento and then earned a Master's in Educational Leadership at National University.  He has presented on local and national levels in Florida and in California.

He was a lead teacher for Osceola County’s Teaching American History Grant and has been a member of the National Council for History Education(NCHE) for many years.