Tucker Baksa & Ryan Dillard
Occupation: 49ers PREP Senior Manager & 49ers PREP Coordinator
Years in Education: Tucker 20+ & Ryan 8+
Tucker is going into his 13th Season with the San Francisco 49ers but has been working in the education space for over 20 years. Upon joining the 49ers Foundation over 12 years ago, Tucker has been able to launch and build up the 49ers PREP program. According to him, "Being able to leverage football as a vehicle to teach life lessons and empower the next generation has been a dream come true.
Ryan is entering year 8 on our 49ers PREP team. He became an educator and coach to follow in the footsteps of his family members. He has seen the impact that his family members in similar roles have had, and it has inspired him to do what he does. "I have a big passion for coaching, working with kids, and giving back to the community, so I love how this job combines all three," he says.
Lino Gutierrez
School: Sherman Oaks, A Dual Immersion School in San Jose
Grade: K - 8th
Years in Education: 9
Lino has been in education for nine years and currently teaches Physical Education to transitional kindergarteners through eighth graders at Sherman Oaks, A Dual immersion School in San Jose. To further increase physical play, he started his school's lunchtime flag football leagues, soccer leagues, and basketball tournaments.
Lino became an educator because he wanted to make a positive impact on youth and help them realize their full potential. By understanding his students' needs, he created a new PE curriculum in Spanish to further establish the importance of bilingualism. He also repurposed a multi-use building for indoor activities such as indoor soccer, yoga, table tennis, and dance.
Nicole Bylsma
School: Christopher High School
Grade: 10th
Years in Education: 15 years
'Ms. B' has been an educator for fifteen years and currently teaches chemistry to 10th graders. She began her teaching career as a substitute teacher. After discovering her impact in the classroom, particularly with a nonverbal student, she pursued a teaching credential and a master's degree in education, and she hasn't left the classroom since. To help her students understand complex lessons, she creates Fun Labs that utilize everyday materials to inspire the next generation of students to think creatively and critically.
Jennifer Hensley
School: August Elementary School
Grade: 3rd
Years in Education: 27 years
Jennifer has been in education for twenty-seven years and currently teaches all subjects to 3rd graders. After school, she goes above and beyond, running tutoring sessions at no extra pay. Jennifer also meets with countless parents to ensure her students get the emotional support they need. This past year, Jenifer took special care of two twins who tragically lost their mother, checking in on them weekly in their native language, Spanish.
Ms. Graville
School: South Hillsborough
Grade: Literacy K-5
Years in Education: 24 years
Jenelle Graville has been in the education space for twenty-four years, currently teaching literacy to students in grades K-5. Her passion for teaching stems from the educators who shaped her own childhood and made a significant impact on her life, motivating her to inspire others in the same way. She loves working with children because there is no better feeling than witnessing the joy of learning in the classroom.
Ms. Prim
School: Haun Elementary
Grade: 1st
Years in Education: 9 years
Jenelle Graville has been in the education field for nine years and currently teaches all subjects to first-grade students at Haun Elementary. As she said, "I've always had a passion for learning and hope to inspire creativity, curiosity, and excitement in my students." In the classroom, she makes it a priority to remind her students that they are loved, are special and that everything will be okay. Every day, she encourages her students to take a moment of silence period and reflect on those thoughts.
Ms. Ortega
School: Nature's Way Montessori
Grade: Early Childhood Education
Years in Education: 8 years
Known for her unwavering dedication, Ms. Ortega creates a safe and loving environment for the children in her care, allowing parents to confidently leave their most precious treasures with her. Her peaceful demeanor brings a sigh of relief to first-time parents, especially those with only children. Her genuine connections with both the children and their families, along with her leadership among her peers, make her an invaluable asset to shaping the future engineers, doctors, and educators of our world.
Tonichi Lorenzana
School: Milpitas High School
Grade: 9th-12th
Years in Education: 10
In 2021, Tonichi served as one of the faculty advisors for the graduating class. Since the students did not get to participate in any of their traditional school events throughout the year due to the pandemic, Tonichi organized a Senior Parade and Picnic for over 300 seniors to make them feel celebrated and special at the end of their high school journey.
Tonichi comes from a family of educators and upon reflecting on the positive impact teachers had on his life, he realized he wanted to have the same effect on others. "I am the person I am today because of the support I received," he said. "I want to help the young people I work with grow both as students and as people."
Fernando Almaraz
School: Jack G. Desmond Middle School
Grade: 7th & 8th
Years in Education: 7
Fernando became an educator because he wants to support and motivate students. Growing up in a low-income family, he had to work at a young age to help make ends meet, and this experience ultimately motivated him to go to college. Since many of his students come from similar backgrounds, he encourages them to continue their education and dream big.
Fernando started his school's Gaming Club and provides his students with gaming consoles during lunch since many of their families cannot afford them at home. He loves bringing together students with similar interests to help them feel included and find a sense of community.
Alivia Derting
Name: Alivia Derting
School: Durham Elementary School (Fremont, Alameda County)
Grade: 1
Years in Education: 5
Alivia chose to become an educator because she wanted to have the opportunity to empower and motivate students to never give up on their dreams and to stay true to who they are along the way, just as her teachers did for her when she was growing up. Whether she is making a student from another country feel at home, helping students tackle learning challenges, or quickly responding to parents during after hours, Alivia stays attentive to her students' needs and circumstances, and goes above and beyond to help them overcome any adversity.
Joseph Rasmussen
School: Lathrop Elementary School
Grade: 8
Years in Education: 13
Earlier this summer, Joseph took a group of 34 students on a field trip to Washington D.C. Since many of his students have never traveled outside of their city, Joseph held fundraisers to make the trip possible for all his students. While there, he encouraged his students to be inspired by their own potential and chase their dreams. Joseph also started a flag football league for his school to help keep his students active, improve overall wellness, build teamwork skills, and foster a sense of inclusivity and belonging.
Joseph's advice for his students is, "We all have endless potential, focus on doing the best you can do!"
Sarah Rahman
Program: Silicon Valley Education Foundation
Title: Director
Years in Education: 9 Years
Sarah is the one of the key leaders of the 49ers STEM Leadership Institute. Sarah goes above and beyond for her students, even if it means less time for her personal life. She spends hours after school helping students with projects and has even met them on weekends to provide extra support. Sarah says, "When student know you love and care for them, they can move mountains confidently." She became an educator so she could inspire her students to follow their passions, encourage them to be the change they want to see in their community, and broaden their horizons.
Armando Castillo
Program: 49ers Academy
Title: High School Program Manager
Grades: 9-12
Years in Education: 6 Years
Armando oversees all programming, planning, and partnerships for his high school students at the 49ers Academy. Armando grew up in the same community as his students and witnessed firsthand the importance of receiving support from community groups while in high school himself. He became an educator so he could be the support system for a new generation of students and their families. Armando encourages his students to be their own advocate, to never be scared to seek help when needed, and to take advantage of the resources available to overcome any obstacle they face.
Hasani Craft
School: Dan Mini Elementary School
Head Custodian
Years in Education: 18 Years
Hasani has been working for the Vallejo City Unified School District for 18 years. Hasani is known for his "positive vibes" and for always being willing to be a helping hand to students and their families. While his job is to clean, he believes he has found his purpose in interacting with students as he can make everyone smile. He tells all of the students at his school to shoot for the stars and never settle for less.
Jennifer Veveiros
School: Phillips Magnet Elementary
Grade: 5
Years in Education: 22 Years
Subject: All Subjects
Jennifer wants all of her students to feel included. Since many of her students have never experienced a summer camp, Jennifer has earned scholarships to cover the cost of camps for her students for five years in a row. She even got businesses to donate camping supplies so her students didn't have to purchase items they didn't already own. She encourages her students to learn about, express, and celebrate their individual cultures by creating a "Leaders Board"Â and corresponding art project that features various activists each month. As a result, her students have won multiple art awards and even were featured in their local newspaper.
Alice Williams
School: Don Callejon School
Grade: Third Grade & Middle School Summer Enrichment Grades 6-8
Years in Education: 25 Years
Subject: Third Grade Multiple Subjects, Middle School Health & Wellness, Yoga, SEL, Multimedia Design
Every day, Alice emphasizes mental health in her classroom by centering her students with an attitude of gratitude and belonging.Alice is also a teacher leader in Equity & Human Rights, Social Justice, and School Culture & Climate in her district and beyond. She has dreamed of sharing her gifts of enthusiasm, synergy, friendship, integrity, and creativity as an educator, coach, and lifelong learner ever since she was young. Holding space, encouragement, and appreciation for students and their families lights Alice's fire. Her advice to her students is, "Everything is a lesson and a blessing. Give love, be love."
Mary Linares-Garcia
School: Rowell Elementary
Grade: K - 6
Years in Education: 16 Years
Subject: Multiple
As a former student of Rowell herself, Mary wants her students to be excited about school both in and out of the classroom. She organizes all pep rallies, helped start the Dual Language Immersion program for Spanish-speaking students, brought back the school's Carnival after a decade-long hiatus, and started a swap closet for students in need of clothes and shoes. Mary's advice for her students is, "Don't believe what others think or say about you. Believe in yourself. Don't forget who you are or where you came from."
Alyse Herrera
Name: Alyse Herrera
School: Natividad ElementaryÂ
Grade: K - 6
Years in Education: 5 Years
Subject: Multiple
Alyse credits her father for her passion for education. He started in the fields and was the first in his family to go to college. He became a teacher and eventually retired as Superintendent . After seeing what education did for her father, Alyse decided to devote her career to her community by giving back to students and show them that someone believes in them in the classroom. Alyse's advice to her students is, "There will always be people who will try to stop you. Your job is to prove them wrong."
Alma Naranjo
Name: Alma Naranjo
School: Caruthers Elementary School
Grade: KindergartenÂ
Years in Education: 5 Years
Subject: Multiple
As a Kindergarten teacher, Alma wants all of her students to have a memorable first year of school. During the pandemic, Alma visited each of her students outside of their houses to read books, color, and sing the alphabet. She became a teacher because she wants every child who enters her classroom to feel appreciated, cared for, and loved, and wants them to know that there is someone who believes in their potential at a very young age.
Dr. Veronica Ramos
School: Osborne High School
Grades: 9-12
Years in Education: 26 Years
Subject: Language Arts and Math
Dr. Veronica Ramos has always had a big heart to help out the underdogs in life. As a teacher for youth in juvenile hall, Dr. Ramos makes sure her students know she will never give up on them both inside and outside of the classroom. She has gone above and beyond for her students, helping them find jobs, providing them with clothing, writing recommendation letters to judges or colleges, providing housing for students during transitional periods, and celebrating every birthday so her students know she is in their corner.
Shawna Smith
School: Sacramento Charter High School
Grades: 9-12
Years in Education: 16
Subject: Performing Arts & Life Skills
Shawna believes it's important to go above and beyond every single day to give my students maximum opportunities. She wanted to be a teacher ever since she was six years old and is grateful to have been able to live out her passion, share her knowledge, and learn from her students. Shawna's advice to her students is "Learning doesn't stop when you leave the classroom. Be a lifelong learner and take advantage of every opportunity given to you."
Stephen Ashford
School: East Palo Alto Charter SchoolÂ
Grade: K-8Â
Subject: Physical Education
Years in Education: 23 YearsÂ
During the pandemic, Stephen wanted to make sure that his students had all of the resources they needed--both inside and outside of the classroom. He provided pizza dinners to students whose families were facing financial uncertainty due to the pandemic and during the holidays, raised over $6,000 for a Toy Drive for kids throughout the Bay Area. To help keep his students engaged, he recruited over 40 celebrities to share messages of encouragement to his students via his school's Instagram, which included guest appearances from Ice Cube, Coach Steve Kerr, and our very own Trey Lance and Nick Bosa.
Sandy Suzuki
School: Calla High School, Manteca
Grades: 11 & 12
Subjects: Algebra I, Algebra II, and Robotics
Years in Education: 23
Sandy is an alternative education high school teacher who taught herself to code at age 60 so she could start a Robotics program for her students. She enters her class into local Robotics competitions against larger high schools and her students have won multiple awards, including first place.
