Meet the 2025 recipients of the
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California, especially rural and high minority/low-income districts, faces teacher shortages, with the greatest need in Special Education and STEM fields.
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LTUSD must replace 4–10 teachers annually, with the highest demand for Special Ed and Bilingual teachers.
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High cost of living and low Latino teacher representation are significant challenges.
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During the 2024-25 school year, LTEF identified over a dozen current LTUSD employees at various stages of their educational journey to becoming certificated teachers and invited them to apply.
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Seven were selected and awarded a total of over $20,000 in scholarship assistance for 2025-26.
Daisy Arellano was born at Barton Memorial Hospital and raised in Stateline, Nevada. She attended Zephyr Cove Elementary, Kingsbury Middle School, and George Whittell High School. Daisy’s professional background spans customer service roles in local rental agencies, banking as a Wells Fargo teller, and medical assistance in family and pediatric healthcare. For the past seven years, she has pursued her passion for family and child-centered work within the Lake Tahoe Unified School District. Inspired by her family—three of her mother’s sisters are teachers—and her own experiences working with children, Daisy found her calling in education while working at Bijou Community School in 2018. She enrolled at Lake Tahoe Community College in 2022 and is currently in her final year at California State University, Sacramento, pursuing a degree in Child and Adolescent Development, with plans to graduate in May 2026.
Denne Boring was born in Boulder, Colorado, and experienced a childhood marked by frequent moves, attending fifteen different schools before graduating. Despite the challenges of instability and limited encouragement from her family toward education, Denne persevered and became the first person in her family to graduate high school and attend college. Her early experiences fostered a deep appreciation for the importance of stability, kindness, and meaningful connections in a child's life. For more than twenty years, Denne dedicated her career to the medical field, working in psychiatric services, emergency departments, and behavioral health. Currently, Denne works in the Special Education Department at South Tahoe High School, where she finds immense fulfillment in helping students grow, overcome challenges, and discover their strengths. She is presently enrolled at Western Governors University, working toward her Bachelor's in Special Education (Mild to Moderate), and expects to graduate by January of the upcoming year. Balancing family, work, coaching, and studies, Denne’s journey is a testament to her determination and resilience.
Damaris Eckhart was born in León, Nicaragua, where she attended public school and earned a degree in Marketing from the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua. After working for five years in sales and customer service in her home country, Damaris moved to California in 2021. Initially seeking jobs related to her background in sales and real estate, she was encouraged by her husband to support Spanish-speaking students at Bijou Community School, where he is a teacher. Damaris accepted the opportunity and discovered her passion for working with children during her three years at Bijou Community School and the Boys and Girls Club. She finds daily inspiration and continual learning from her students. Currently, Damaris is participating in the El Dorado County Teacher Residency Program, which combines mentorship, online coursework, and CSET test preparation. She is on track to complete the program by June 2026, earning a preliminary teaching credential and bilingual authorization in Spanish.
Amparo Martinez Diaz was born in Jayamitla, Jalisco, Mexico, and moved to the United States during 10th grade. She completed high school in Stayton, Oregon, attended Chemeketa Community College for her transfer degree, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Latin American Studies from the University of Oregon. Amparo’s most meaningful educational roles include serving as an instructional assistant at Bijou Community School, a program leader at the Boys and Girls Club, and a mentor with Trio Talent Search. Her passion for teaching began at age 14, when she worked as a kindergarten teacher in a small Mexican community, an experience that solidified her desire to pursue education as a lifelong career. Amparo is currently enrolled in the El Dorado County Teacher Residency Program, which combines mentorship, online coursework, and CSET test preparation. She is on track to complete the program by June 2026, earning a preliminary teaching credential and bilingual authorization in Spanish.
Jamie Nowitsky was born and raised in Petoskey, Michigan, and after graduating from Petoskey High School, moved to Lake Tahoe, where she has lived for 19 years. Jamie earned an AA in Culinary Arts from Lake Tahoe Community College and built a varied career in hospitality and tourism, working as a youth backcountry instructor for the Tahoe Rim Trail, chef at the Hard Rock Cafe, and running Wildflour, a handmade chocolate business at the Ski Run Farmers' Market. For the past five years, Jamie has served as a cafeteria supervisor in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District, finding fulfillment in supporting the school community. Jamie’s love for culinary arts led to a deeper involvement in education, where encouragement from students and peers inspired a career shift. While Jamie considered other paths such as firefighting and outdoor/emergency medicine, teaching became the true calling. Currently, Jamie is attending Western Governors University, having completed 70% of the multi-subject teaching credential program, with plans to finish by June 2026 and pursue a second credential in Special Education.
Stephanie Spees was born and raised in Southern California and has lived in the Lake Tahoe area for almost 12 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from SDSU. Before becoming a teacher, Stephanie worked in various roles supporting children and families, including serving as a secretary at Tahoe Valley for nine years. These experiences inspired her to work directly with students in the classroom. Stephanie decided to become a teacher after working at an elementary school for many years and witnessing the powerful impact of education on young lives. Although she considered a career in counseling, her passion for working with kids and helping them grow academically and personally led her to teaching. Currently, Stephanie is in her first year of the teacher induction program with EDCOE and is a fourth-grade teacher. She is on track to complete the program in two years.
Sidney Stimac was born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, California, and attended local schools throughout her childhood. After graduating early from high school, Sidney moved to Roatan, Honduras, to pursue her dream of becoming a scuba instructor, later teaching in Maui, Hawaii, for three years. Her adventurous spirit continued as she taught Marines scuba diving while moving with her military spouse, and she managed the Parks and Beach department for the City of Coronado during her time in San Diego. Since returning to South Lake Tahoe in April 2021, Sidney has worked as the school librarian at Tahoe Valley and operates the only scuba diving charter boat on Lake Tahoe with her family. Sidney's interest in teaching emerged after working at an elementary school, where she realized her potential to help students grow beyond her role as librarian. She found teaching aligned with her desire to share her love of learning with others. Sidney has begun her path to a credential program and anticipates starting student teaching by September 2028.