BE ADVISED: Thursday, December 11, the Natural History Museum will close at 3 pm in preparation for a staff event. Please plan your visit accordingly.

Teacher Advisory Council

The Museum's Teacher Advisory Council is a collaborative effort between the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County and local classroom educators and administrators.

Each Teacher Advisory Council (TAC) cohort works with the School & Teacher Programs division over two years to advise the museums on education initiatives, including evaluating existing assets, identifying potential opportunities, providing feedback to museum staff and stakeholders, and creating and piloting new educational resources with their student, teacher, and school community in mind.

Interested in applying for our next cohort? Applications open on a two-year cycle. Check back on this page for updated information!

APPLICANTS MUST:

Currently be school staff (classroom teacher, TA, or administrator) at an accredited school in L.A. County
Commit to two years of participation, estimated at 40 hours total active time (20 hours per year)
Prioritize IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) initiatives and align practice and purpose with our strategic goal to be a museum “of, for, and with Los Angeles”
Be interested and excited about collaboration and dialogue with a diverse group of educators
Be creative, flexible, and reflective

Applicants may teach any grade level or subject area. No prior experience with the Natural History Family of Museums is necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Attend 5 advisory council meetings online or onsite per year (3 hours every other month)
Contribute an additional 5 hours per year in the form of emails, small group, or 1:1 meetings with museum staff to provide feedback on proposals, brainstorms, learning resources, exhibitions, and programs
Act as a teacher advisor on at least 1 NHMLAC Educator Workshop
Participate in at least 1 NHMLAC School & Teacher Program each school year while on the council, which can include bringing your students on a field trip, attending a free professional learning workshop onsite, or participating in one of our virtual teacher trainings online
Generate one new learning resource to be shared with the broader educator community by the end of cohort tenure
Advocate for the Natural History Family of Museums by sharing museum offerings and resources with colleagues, administrators, and/or district staff

BENEFITS:

Provide feedback, be heard, and help shape the development of offerings for all teachers and students
Network, reflect on best practices, and build connections with a community of diverse practitioners
Earn a $1,250 stipend per year ($2,500 total; split into payments of $250 dispersed following attendance at each meeting)
Experience behind-the-scenes tours and dialogue with museum staff in various departments, including Exhibitions, Research & Collections, Education, Programs, Interpretation, and more
Have access to materials, resources, and support from the museum’s Education Department
Receive complimentary bus funding sponsored by the museum for one field trip during tenure (up to $700)
Acknowledgement of participation in the Teacher Advisory Council on the Natural History Museum website

Apply Here

2024–2026 Teacher Advisory Council

DeAnna Lee-Rivers wearing a t-shirt with arms crossed

DeAnna Lee-Rivers
DeAnna Lee-Rivers, Director of STEMSoul TEACH, LLC, brings over 15 years of experience in science education, centering joy to foster a love for science. Through her innovative organization, she advances social justice by integrating STEM learning with social-emotional development. Her approach empowers students to see themselves as scientists, leaders, and innovators, inspiring them to pursue STEM education and careers.

As a curriculum developer and professional learning facilitator, DeAnna supports educators with tools to enhance inquiry-based learning and amplify student voice and agency. STEMSoul’s impact extends beyond the classroom, developing learning experiences for afterschool programs and summer camps that spark curiosity and exploration—particularly for marginalized learners with historically limited access to enriching STEM opportunities.

Julie Desmond wearing black glasses and shirt with a pink-red scarf

Julie Desmond
Julie grew up and went to college in New England before moving to California to attend graduate school at San Diego State. She earned a master’s degree in ecology, and spent several years studying salt marsh restoration with a focus on fish and invertebrate communities. She eventually moved to L.A. to work in exhibit development at the California Science Center. She researched exhibit panel text, photos and artifacts for the Ecosystems gallery for ten years. When the gallery opened she decided to try something she had always thought about doing, and returned to school for her teaching credential. She has been happily teaching middle school science at Odyssey Charter School in Altadena ever since.

Laura Feucht with black glasses on her head and a black shirt, with a dinosaur skeleton in a large hall behind herith a

Laura Feucht
Laura Feucht has been a high school educator for 18 years, with 14 of those years spent teaching science at Brentwood School in Los Angeles. Known for her passion for innovation and collaboration, Laura has been a dedicated curriculum innovator for the Belldegrun Center for Innovative Leadership, where she works alongside other forward-thinking educators to enhance learning experiences.

A native of the Los Angeles area, Laura’s love for the natural world began in her childhood when she frequented the city’s museums. This early fascination with nature led her to participate in various teacher workshops hosted by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and La Brea Tar Pits. It was through these workshops that Laura developed a deep passion for birdwatching and identifying native plants—interests that continue to inspire both her teaching and her personal life.

With a focus on creating engaging, hands-on learning opportunities, Laura strives to connect students to the world around them, cultivating curiosity and a love of discovery. She is excited to participate in the NHMLA Teacher Advisory Council where she can continue to engage a wider range of students with science.

Giovanni Ugalde wearing a white and red patterned shirt

Giovanni Ugalde
I currently teach Special Education Science to students in grades 6–12 at Elizabeth Learning Center in Cudahy, California. Although I majored in Anthropology, I discovered that I love teaching and supporting students. In addition to my teaching role, I served as the faculty advisory for a photography club, The Click, for two years, both with a fellow teacher and independently, as well as a guitar club that I founded for the past two years.

I was inspired to become a teacher by the former educators who were not only role models but also important supporters in my life. I strongly believe that teachers play a crucial role in shaping society, and I'm dedicated to inspiring my students to make a meaningful impact on both their own lives and the world around them.

I’m excited to bring my enthusiasm and love for science to the Natural History Museum. As a long-time member, I’ve enjoyed visiting the museum for years, initially with my wife when "First Fridays” was inside the African Mammal Hall, and now with my three children, who love to attend the museum’s Adventures in Nature camps. I’m eager to contribute my expertise in special education to foster inclusion and diversity at the museum.

David Kwan wearing a white baseball cap with LA in blue letters, black glasses, and a floral patterned shirt, next to a red dinosaur figurine with its mouth open

David Kwan
TK/K, National Board Certified Teacher
75th Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA

Chris Chavez wearing a black t-shirt with orange lettering and a black and orange lanyard

Chris Chavez
Chris Chavez has been a resident of Los Angeles for over 40 years and currently lives in
Burbank. Chris has been a special education teacher for three years and a special education
assistant for 16 years prior to that. He currently co-teaches math and English at Grant High School in Van Nuys. He has worked with students at every age and grade level, from elementary through high school. Chris earned a Bachelor’s degree in anthropology from CSUN, which supports working with students and colleagues from a variety of cultural backgrounds.

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David Kwan
TK/K, National Board Certified Teacher
75th Street Elementary School, Los Angeles, CA

2021-2023 Teacher Advisory Council

Akiko Arevalo
Science Specialist, Marquez Charter School
Pacific Palisades, CA

Cinthia Lazo
Academic Coordinator, Sycamore Junior High School
Anaheim, CA

Denise Benjamin
3rd and 4th Grade Teacher, Open Magnet Charter School
Westwood, CA

E. Dominic Black
Art Teacher, San Dimas High School
San Dimas, CA

Gloria Amador
Pre-K and Kindergarten Teacher, Mayberry Street Elementary
Los Angeles, CA

Jennifer Zapata
Kindergarten Teacher, El Rincon Elementary School
Culver City, CA

Leah Millman
Community School Coordinator, Logan Academy of Global Ecology
Echo Park, CA

Teodora Lopez-Valles
2nd Grade Teacher, Vermont Avenue Elementary
Los Angeles, CA