Meet the GITC Summer Strummers Team!

​GITC is thrilled to be participating in Level Up SD: A Summer of Learning and Joy! We'll be providing musical after-school programming at multiple Level Up SD sites, and we couldn't do it without the teaching artists listed on this page. Please take a moment to get to know these GITC superstars who are helping kids Level Up this summer! This program was made possible thanks to grant support from The San Diego Foundation.

Meet Our Team! 

Name: Teresa Adams
Level Up Location: Foster Elementary
School During the Year: Dailard Elementary
Grades You Teach: I am a Paraeducator Independence Learning Facilitator, currently working with mild moderate second graders
Years with GITC: 3
Favorite Activity: I enjoy hiking, camping and taking pictures of my sister’s garden.
Fun Fact: I was a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

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Name: James Clarkston
Level Up Location: Online
School During the Year: LA USD
Grades You Teach: 6-12
Years with GITC: 6 
Favorite Activity: Running
Favorite Summer Food: Tacos
Fun Fact: I once performed classical guitar music at a party for former President & Mrs. Bush.

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Name: Reagan Duncan 
Level Up Location: Euclid Elementary
School During the Year: Maryland Elementary (Vista, CA)
Grades You Teach: Kinder & 1st 
Years with GITC: 1 
Favorite Activity: Hiking & visiting the beach (w/ a uke, of course!)
Favorite Summer Food: Watermelon
Fun Fact: My parents were in the circus when they met! 

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Name: Connie Gonzales
Level Up Location: LMEC Logan Memorial Educational Campus
School During the Year: LMEC Logan Memorial Educational Campus
Grades You Teach: Montessori - Pre-school, TK & Kinder 
Years with GITC: 10
Favorite Activity: Dancing, gardening, family barbecues, outdoor water activities, touring wineries, and riding nice n slow on a big ol' Harley Davidson motorcycle!
Fun Fact: I am a San Diego native, born and raised, and have four adult children and five grandchildren! I am a Flamenco dancer and a member/actor in a community theatre group.

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Name: Gingerlily Lowe
Level Up Location: Nye Elementary
School During the Year: Recently retired from Nye Elementary 
Grades You Teach: Over my 33 years of teaching, I have taught from 1st grade all the way up to 8th grade.
Years with GITC: 4
Favorite Activity: Dancing in the Japanese Obon Festival-- a community circle dance festival celebrating our dear departed.
Fun Fact: I grew up in Chinatown.  When I was a little kid, the Art Linkletter House Party had a segment "Kids Say the Darndest Things".  They wanted a "Chinese" kid on the program and came to my school to find one.  I was lucky to be selected.  And that's how I got my first bicycle--a blue Schwinn which was my prize for doing the show.

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Name: Garner Saguil
Level Up Location: EB Scripps 
School During the Year: Dingeman Elementary 
Grades You Teach: 4th Grade Seminar and Choir Director
Years with GITC: 2
Favorite Activity: I love to run, cook, and travel to tropical climates.
Fun Fact: I just adopted a husky and golden retriever puppy from a shelter in Ensenada, Mexico.  I named him Baja, and he's currently the love of my life.

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​Name: Elise Samaniego
Level Up Location: Foster Elementary
School During the Year: Foster Elementary
Grades You Teach: 4th
Years with GITC: 3
Favorite Activity: I go to Idaho every summer with my family - fresh air, river rafting, and relaxing with no TV, computers, phone or internet.
Fun Fact: I was a concert violinist for 12 years! 

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Name: Mimi Seney, Ed.M
Level Up Location: Euclid Elementary
School During the Year: East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility 
Grades You Teach: High School but have taught pre-school through 12th, adult learners and special education (DHH)
Years with GITC: 6
Favorite Activity: Pool time and ukuleles!
Fun Fact: I have two mini schnauzers (Charlotte & Savannah) and love quilting in my spare time!

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Name: Mark Spencer
Level Up Location: Clay Elementary
School During the Year: Veterans Elementary
Grades You Teach: 3rd
Years with GITC: 3
Favorite Food: Sushi
Fun Fact: Besides being a teacher, I have 3 wonderful children with my wife Krista (also a teacher), I am an Uber driver on weekends, and I enjoy acting in community theatre.

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Name: Patti Steele
Level Up Location: Floater/Substitute
School During the Year: Recently retried from Paradise Hills Elementary
Grades You Teach: Tk & Kinder
Years with GITC: 3
Favorite Summer Food: Cherries
Favorite Activity: Reading at the beach
Fun Fact: I take tap dancing lessons! 

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Name: Katie Stoesz 
Level Up Location: Dewey Elementary
School During the Year: Dewey Elementary
Grades You Teach: 2nd
Years with GITC: 6
Favorite Activity: I enjoy the beach and the pool. I read a lot. I enjoy watching people play live music! 
Fun Fact: I swim a mile in a pool 4 days a week. 

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Name: Maria Weiss
Level Up Location: Clay  & Foster Elementary
School During the Year: Doyle Elementary
Grades You Teach: 5th
Years with GITC: 2
Favorite Activity: The end of my gym class always makes me very happy! 
Fun Fact: I played college volleyball at the University of San Diego

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​Additional Staff Profiles Coming Soon!