Meet Our Team

 

CANDICE BATAILLE

Founder and Executive Director

Extremely well-versed on issues and programming for minorities’, children’s, and women's development across sectors, Candice is an international nonprofit executive with a passion for education, mindfulness, inclusivity, and human advancement. She founded Glowmundo in response to the need of underserved children in America to strengthen their resilience capacity and not fall through the cracks in our systems.

SCOTT VANLOO

Director of Equity, Leadership and Training

Scott is the owner and principal consultant with Culturas Consulting Group, Inc, a company Scott created to provide dynamically designed professional development experiences focused on whole-system change, Equity initiatives, leadership, change management, data storytelling and engagement strategies. Scott worked as a lead facilitator and faculty member for the PassageWorks Institute and co-led many professional development sessions with the authors of the 5 Dimensions of Engaged Teaching book and method.

For more than 20 years, Scott has led and facilitated professional development experiences across the United States and at Hispanic Learning Institutions, public and private colleges and universities, k-12 education systems, and private corporations. As a career educator and facilitator, Scott has previously worked as a special education teacher and administrator in public schools from the mountains of Colorado to the island of Guam. His work in schools has been primarily focused on engaging populations from marginalized identities.

He has previously worked in higher education and in student affairs, as the Director of the César Chávez Cultural Center at the University of Northern Colorado and was recently the Director of the Learning Effectiveness Program at the University of Denver. Scott is passionate about working with groups of people and creating transformational change experiences. He enjoys playing music and being active in Colorado natural environments.

LAUREL HAUK

Faculty Lead

Laurel is a former public school teacher having worked in elementary, middle, and high schools teaching English, writing, AVID, leadership, trust, and social justice. After completing her Master's Degree in Cultural Diversity and Education Equity from the University of Colorado, she recommitted her goal to learn Spanish and transitioned into coaching and leadership. Working with young people taught Laurel about joy and authenticity: two values she brings to whomever she works with. Laurel understands how important structures and systems are in creating valuable and sustainable change in the individual and team experience. She believes transformation can only occur when people feel heard and respected.

ALICIA LECLAIR

Curriculum Lead and Faculty

Alicia is an experienced school teacher, curriculum designer, teacher trainer, and mindfulness practitioner. Alicia has spent the last 12 years in schools and her expertise lies in improving classroom environments and reducing teacher burnout through the introduction of differentiated, play-based, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed resilience practices for both teachers and students. She holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Denver with an emphasis on culturally and linguistically diverse learners and has spent 20+ years studying and practicing mindfulness and meditation.

JASMIN VELASCO

Parent and Youth Programs Lead

Jasmin is a first-generation Mexican American young leader born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and raised in the Denver Metro area. She has served multiple nonprofits that provide mental health, education, and economic resources to migrant and lower income communities, and holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, criminal justice, and sociology from the University of Northern Colorado. As a thriving younger mother herself and a daughter of teen parents, Jasmin is uniquely positioned to understand, form relationships with, and support teen parents. Outside of work, Jasmin enjoys being outdoors, traveling, and spending as much time as possible with her son.

LYNNE SEKOU

Parent Educator

A values-driven educator and mother, Lynne has worked in Jefferson County Schools for 15 years as a reading tutor, ELL tutor, and librarian. She believes in a holistic approach to children’s education that supports the child socially, emotionally, and academically, and knows the importance of parents actively engaging in their child’s development. Bringing her children up in a Montessori environment brought Lynne to the realization that it truly does take a village supporting a child for him/her to flourish. She is passionate about empowering parents with the confidence and tools they need to raise strong, and compassionate children for a better world. 

YELITZA ANZOLA

Parent Educator

A passionate mother and community organizer, Yelitza moved to the United States from Venezuela in 2019. Previously, Yelitza earned her degree in Industrial Administration and spent 15 years working in the field. Yelitza is a Parent Educator with 4 years of experience at Glowmundo. Yelitza stands out for her experience in facilitating various SEL topics and her outstanding charisma. She has collaborated with educational and community institutions to create effective, evidence-based approaches that support families in parenting and holistic well-being.

ANISSA BUTLER

Faculty

Anissa values the opportunity to help teachers learn how they can incorporate social justice into their classrooms on a daily basis.  As a 27-year veteran teacher, who has worked at schools in Denver, Aurora and Boulder, Colorado, she currently mentors new teachers in the profession.

BARBARA CATBAGAN

Faculty

Barbara is a retired Associate Professor of Education with experience bringing transformative and culturally responsive teaching to organizations throughout the U.S.  Formerly, she was the Chair of the Contemplative Education Department at Naropa University. Her commitment to transformational leadership is grounded in her K-12 teaching background and association with the National Coalition for Equity in Education through which she works with higher ed institutions on equity, social justice, and personal & professional development initiatives. She holds a B.A. in English and an M.Ed. from CSU.

ANDRA BRILL

Faculty

Andra Brill has over 20 years of experience as a professional educator, classroom teacher and coach. She has supervised mentor teachers, consulted with school principals, and advised district administrators. For more than a decade, she has worked with novice teachers enrolled in graduate education programs at both the University of Denver and the University of Colorado. Inspired by her many years of meditation, Andra brings a passion for supporting compassionate, holistic school communities to her work. She holds a Masters degree in Language, Learning and Culture and a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Innovation from the University of Colorado at Denver. She conducts research and writes about culturally responsive pedagogy, theories of change, and how to create more compassionate, reflective classrooms.

DR. VIVIAN ELLIOTT

Faculty

Vivian Elliott is a Senior Consultant with Learning Forward and with Elliott Service Systems, Inc. She provides professional development and leadership coaching to teachers, school administrators, and managers in organizations throughout the United States.

RONA WILENSKY

Faculty

Rona Wilensky was principal and founder of New Vista High School in Boulder, Colorado from 1992-2009. Previously, she worked as an education policy analyst for the Governor of Colorado, the Education Commission of the States, and various education reform initiatives in Colorado.

IVETTE VISBAL

Faculty

Ivette has 35 years of educational experience as a teacher, Assistant Principal, and Dean of Students in both traditional and non-traditional settings. Ivette immigrated from Columbia to the US where she earned a Master’s in Social, Multicultural & Bilingual Foundations of Education. She became an affiliate faculty member at UC Denver and Regis University, teaching English linguistics, 2nd Language Acquisition Theory, and more. She then attained her Principal licensure and was instrumental in implementing restorative justice work in her school, going on to form the only student-led restorative justice team in Boulder Valley School District. She has led system-wide integrations of Equity & Restorative Practices, allowing educators to fully embrace a restorative and equitable culture, supporting the social-emotional needs of all students.

MARK WILDING

Faculty

Mark Wilding is the former Executive Director of PassageWorks Institute and a member of the core faculty at the Institute. In addition to his duties as a director, Mark teaches courses and workshops, facilitates conferences and dialogues, and presents keynotes and lectures.

SUSANA MOENING

Faculty

Susana has worked in education for 30 years teaching culturally diverse elementary children in the Denver Public Schools and in Mexico. Her foundation as an educator is in creating vibrant, joyful classroom communities where both the hearts and minds of students are nurtured. Susana has partnered with Glowmundo for the past 10 years to bring social emotional skills to students and lead teacher training and coaching.

 

Board of Directors

  • Ardy Molina is an entrepreneur with an Administration degree specializing in Accounting & Finance from Colegio Monseñor de Talavera in Caracas, Venezuela. She also attended and received training at the Air Force Academy in Venezuela. Ardy has been volunteering with Glowmundo since January 2011. She was a key contributor to the implementation of pilot program for students when the organization began. Ardy has an extensive background working with parent groups and providing training. Her bilingual abilities, natural optimism, and enthusiasm allow for deeper and more effective connections with the families Glowmundo serves. Ardy is a business owner and a mother of a determined daughter.

  • Izabela (Iza) has a passion for building up and contributing to her community both professionally and personally. She worked in D.C. for 9 years in various educational programs specializing in Special Education curriculum and development. She also worked with previous D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and Michelle Obama's Foundation to revitalize underserved communities and D.C. schools. She currently works for the City of Arvada as an economic development specialist assisting businesses with their needs and volunteers with Jefferson County Public Schools on Community Outreach initiatives and events.

  • Martha is guided by the belief in making the world a better place by harnessing the power of philanthropy to drive financial and social mobility on behalf of historically underrepresented communities. By leveraging social impact investments, government grants, corporate contributions and employee engagement, she has been able to raise over $50M to catapult non-profits and higher education institutions to new heights. Martha recently served as Managing Director of Development at the National Skills Coalition (NSC) overseeing all grants management and donor engagement efforts. Prior to joining NSC, Martha was Executive Director of Development for Foundation Relations, at the University of Denver. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Rutgers University, followed by a Master’s degree in Latin American and Caribbean Studies and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Non-Profit Management from New York University.

  • Jesús is passionate about community engagement, education and the arts. His broad professional experience has allowed him to genuinely and effectively engage with diverse communities throughout the state of Colorado by providing equitable services to vulnerable and underserved communities. He has been fortunate to work in support of students with disabilities, English language learners, migrant farmworkers, immigrant communities, refugees, at-risk youth, and his community at large. Jesús’ volunteer experiences both, locally and internationally, have shaped him to be a global critical thinker who looks at the world from a wide-angle perspective and with an open heart and open mind. Jesús currently serves as the Director of Community Engagement for the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

  • Leah is in her eighteenth year of teaching in Aurora Public Schools where she has taught grades kindergarten through fifth grade and held positions as an instructional coach, and mentor for college students, and has planned and facilitated both school-wide and district professional developments. Leah is also a certified children’s yoga instructor, teaching yoga practices to children for the past ten years. She has implemented Glowmundo’s programs for the past four years, experiencing its transformative impact both personally and professionally.