Mishara Cruz; Program Manager – Community Educator Training – Next Education Workforce Initiative
As Program Manager of Community Educator Training on the Next Education Workforce team, Mishara develops training for community educators to enhance their skills in supporting young people in learning environments across the state. Through this program, she assists in building professional learning communities as well as virtual coursework to provide support for educators to come together to deepen and personalize their learning. Before joining Arizona State University, Mishara was the Visual Arts Teacher at Grayhawk Elementary in the Paradise Valley School District for three years where she developed transdisciplinary curricula which supported the students' learning across all subject areas. Mishara also remains the Creative Manager of Ignite Yoga Studios wherein she manages the studio’s branding & websites, as well as coordinates both synchronous and asynchronous events.
Mishara has more than six years of teaching experience, grades K-12, in visual arts and as a sixth grade classroom teacher. She has taught in a variety of demographics, both local and international. She began her BA in Art Education at ASU and graduated from Northern Arizona University. Her MA is in Liberal Studies, focusing on Film & Media, from ASU.