COE Community Diversity Advisory Board

BS 2004 Sociology/Ethnic Studies, University of Oregon; MEd 2005, University of Oregon, Sapsik'ʷałá member

2nd grade Teacher, Irving Elementary, Bethel School District

Nicole was recently awarded the honor and title of the 2021 Oregon Teacher of the Year and is the first Indigenous Teacher in Oregon to receive this recognition. She is a member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians-Chetco Band (Oregon) and the San Carlos Apache Tribe (Arizona). Nicole is deeply committed to equity in the classroom, providing students with an accurate Native curriculum that focuses on presence, and cultural competency in her teaching. 

BA 2012 Family and Human Services, University of Oregon, MPA 2014 Public Administration, University of Oregon, Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management 2014, University of Oregon

Founder and President, The City of Refuge International, Inc.

Richard founded The City of Refuge International, Inc. in 2007. Since then, the organization has helped thousands of people in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

BA 2008 Spanish, University of Oregon, MEd 2009 Sapsik'ʷałá Program, University of Oregon, 2020 Post Masters Certificate, Preliminary Admin. Licensure, University of Portland

Marty is the principal of Toledo Elementary School in the Lincoln County School District, where he leads a K–6 learning community focused on instructional excellence, educational equity, culturally responsive practice, and meaningful family and community engagement.

Perez holds a BA in Spanish Literature with minors in Economics and Business from the University of Oregon, an MEd 2009 Sapsik'ʷałá Program in Middle and Secondary Education with endorsements in Spanish and ESOL, and a post-master’s administrative license from the University of Portland. He also studied at Universidad de las Américas Puebla in Mexico. Perez’s work is particularly informed by rural education, multilingual learners, educator diversity, and the development of systems designed to improve outcomes while honoring the identities and experiences students bring to school.

He currently serves as a K–12 administrator representative on the Governor’s Council on Educator Advancement and contributes to regional and university-based efforts addressing educator recruitment and retention, equity, leadership development, and educational opportunity. Prior to his current role, he served as principal of Newport Middle School and held educational leadership and teaching positions in Oregon and Alaska, including work in dual-language and multilingual learning environments.