Employee Directory

Ms. Gayla Martens teaches Spanish via telecommunication technology. Using the Digital Dakota Network, (DDN), she interacts with high school language students throughout South Dakota from a studio on Northern's campus. Her teaching experience includes face-to-face instruction in parochial and public schools, as well as live interactive video communications, blended learning and asynchronous instruction at the high school and college levels.

She received the South Dakota World Language Teacher of the Year Award in 2010. From 2011-2016, she helped organize CultureFest, an event partnering the city of Aberdeen, NSU and South Dakota high school language students.

An important part of Ms. Martens' life is family ¨C her husband (elementary educator and high school coach in the Aberdeen public school district), three sons and daughter. She and her family enjoy traveling, playing games, and watching sporting events.

Educational Specialist, University of South Dakota (in progress)

K-12 Reading Specialist, University of Sioux Falls

Master of Arts in Teaching, Bethel University

Bachelor of Science in History & Political Science, Black Hills State University

 

Michele Maruani joined the Center for Statewide E-learning at NSU in 2016. She has a B.S. degree in history and political science from Black Hills State University, Spearfish, S.D.; M.A. in teaching from Bethel University, St. Paul, Minn.; is a K-12 reading specialist; and is working to earn the title of educational specialist.

 

Ms. Maruani has been a teacher in residence at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and a national team leader for the National Council for the Social Studies/Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Courses Taught
Sociology
World Geography
World History
Psychology

Research/Areas of Expertise
K-12 Social Sciences
Oceti Sakowin Essential Understandings
Literacy Across the Curriculum
Professional Learning Communities

Professional Organizations
National Council for the Social Studies Committee
National Social Studies Supervisors Association

Awards and Other Recognition
United States Department of State Fellow
National Geographic Certified Teacher
2015 CSPAN Educator2015 Constitutional Scholar
2010 Presidential Academy for American History and Civics

Resume

Lisa Peterson joined the Center for Statewide E-learning (CSEL) in 2016. She has a B.S.Ed. degree in mathematics from Northern State University. Her area of expertise is secondary education in mathematics.