The Two Rivers Learning Institute is proud to introduce our first faculty! The faculty is comprised of current Two Rivers Public Charter School staff members dedicated to deepening their work through sharing. We are thrilled to have faculty that represent a diversity of positions across our network that can leverage the collective wisdom of our experience in public education.  

Director of the Two Rivers Learning Institute
Jeff Heyck-Williams is the director of the Two Rivers Learning Institute and a founder of Two Rivers Public Charter School. He has led work around creating school-wide cultures of mathematics, developing assessments of critical thinking and problem-solving, and supporting project-based learning.

Two Rivers Learning Institute Faculty Members

Stephanie Cade is a special education teacher in the early grades at Two Rivers and has worked to promote access to engaging opportunities for students with disabilities and their families. She is passionate about providing teachers with information on the best practices of teaching so they have the tools to elevate their work with students.
Nicole Clark is a veteran educator with fifteen years in the classroom. Currently she is a middle school social studies teacher at Two Rivers Public Charter School and a faculty member of theTwo Rivers Learning Institute focusing on race and equity. In addition to her role as a teacher, Nicole has been an instructional coach, department chair, and grade level lead.
Molly France is an instructional guide at Two Rivers, where she coaches and supports teachers in their work with students. Having begun her career as an early childhood educator, Molly has spent years working with students and their teachers on ensuring students learn the social emotional and cognitive skills they need to be successful in school and life.
Helen Gasperetti is a preschool teacher at Two Rivers Public Charter School.  In addition to teaching, some of her work at Two Rivers has also involved researching and creating developmentally appropriate tasks to help facilitate critical thinking and problem-solving for children in early childhood.
Elaine Hou is a founding teacher at Two Rivers and has served in the roles of teacher,  principal, and currently as an instructional guide. She is passionate about coaching and empowering teachers to lead and teach deeply and equitably. As a member of the TR Learning Institute faculty, Elaine is excited to collaborate with educators across the district to make learning joyful and rigorous for every student.
Dr. Kristina Kyles-Smith serves as Executive Director of Two Rivers. She has a wealth of leadership experience in public education. Kristina recently completed her doctorate in educational leadership. As a member of the TR Learning Institute faculty, Kristina leads our work in supporting schools and districts with implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies and strategic planning.
Rossana Mahvi  is the director of specialized instruction at Two Rivers. She works on improving teacher practices to enhance instruction and access for all students. She is passionate about students developing advocacy skills through student ownership of learning. 
Katie Mancino is a fourth and fifth grade lead teacher at Two Rivers Public Charter School. She has spent ten years in the classroom and is passionate about building strong communities, thinking routines, and teaching history.
Rachel Owens was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area but relocated to DC in 2014 to pursue a Master's in Elementary Education and a Master's in Special Education from Lesley University. Over the last 6 years she has taught grades pre-k through 2nd and currently teaches in the 2G - 3G loop at Two Rivers. One thing she looks forward to every school year is helping students discover their own voices and independence. When Rachel's not teaching she likes to play board games, read, do puzzles, or try a new recipe!
Carolina Riveros-Ruenes is a middle school English teacher at Two Rivers. She has been an educator for 20 years and has worked to advance project-based learning at Two Rivers for 16 years. She is passionate about teaching and works hard to nurture a love of reading, discussing, and writing with her middle school students and teammates. 
Antoinette Smith Guyton is an upper elementary lead teacher at Two Rivers Public Charter School. She is passionate about providing opportunities for students to take ownership of themselves, their education, and their communities. In addition to her work as a teacher, Antoinette mentors novice and developing teachers to maximize their impact through the use of classroom management and relationship building. Antoinette’s students, present and former, would describe her as helpful, caring, strict, fun and as “a jazzy teacher but with high standards”.
Ayawnie Wingate has been an assistant teacher at Two Rivers for 5 years and is a member of the Two Rivers Learning Institute faculty. She has experience in a range of grades from Early Childhood to Upper Elementary. She feels most passionate about helping students feel good about themselves to be great learners.

Two Rivers Learning Institute Faculty Consultants

MyShia Cheatham is a floating assistant teacher at Two Rivers Public Charter School and a consultant with the Two Rivers Learning Institute. She has worked with K-5th grade at the Young campus.
Elizabeth Dilone is the elementary school Spanish teacher for Two Rivers at Young. She has worked at Two Rivers for 12 years and has helped develop the Spanish curriculum for Two Rivers.
Cody Encarnacion is the elementary school Spanish teacher for the Two Rivers 4th St Campus.  He has worked at Two Rivers for 13 years and has helped develop the Spanish curriculum for Two Rivers.
Francine Perry is a faculty consultant of the Two Rivers Learning Institute and a Special Educator at Two Rivers Public Charter School. She has supported teachers with inclusion, differentiated instruction and supported expeditionary learning for students.
Monica Powell is a middle school English teacher and proud member of the Two Rivers crew. A theatre educator prior to her time in the classroom, Monica quickly discovered that the best kind of learning happens when students are on their feet immersed in an experience. Monica is passionate about exploring ways that crew can strengthen a community, and finding and teaching literature that reflects the rich lives and experiences of her students.
Ama Teasdel is the 8th Grade ELA teacher at Two Rivers Public Charter Middle School. She has 17 years of teaching experience, 9 of which have been with Two Rivers. Ama has served as a Teacher Leader, and has led work around effective use of thinking routines in the classroom, building relationships with students via collaborative problem solving, and the use of critique and text coding protocols to build student writing capacity.
Tonia Vines has served as the arts coordinator and lead drama teacher at Two Rivers for fourteen years. She is excited to join the inaugural staff of the TR Learning Institute, where she hopes to inspire others by sharing tips, tools, and strategies to engage students using drama education.