Juanita joined the Generation Citizen staff in 2017 after teaching Social Studies for five years. She also taught GC classes for three years at Roger Williams Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island, which was known for its strong GC projects and polished Civics Day presentations. Her students founded a Student Council, met with district officials to discuss strategies for increasing teacher diversity, and testified to the Superintendent and School Board about closing the achievement gap between English Language Learners and their peers. What has made Juanita truly most proud is the long-lasting impact GC has made on her students.

As a member of GC’s National Program Team, Juanita leads the curriculum iteration process making the curriculum more engaging and responsive to student needs. She provides ongoing support to local and national departments’ program needs by serving as a thought partner on education and pedagogical issues and owning curricular and material development for cross-team collaborations. She also manages the national Teacher Leadership Board, an internal structure designed to create opportunities for teacher leaders across sites to provide meaningful input on Generation Citizen’s program, curriculum, and strategic decisions.

As a proud Rhode Islander, Juanita spends time exploring the many gems the Ocean State has to offer with her family and friends.