Tonya Thacker
Coordinator
tthacker@amphi.com
520-696-6957

Tonya previously worked with the University of Arizona in the Office of Early Academic Outreach and also the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the UA College of Medicine. Tonya was born and raised on the Navajo reservation, growing up in Woodsprings near the community of Ganado. She was raised traditionally by her parents and also participates in the Native American Church. Prior to UA, Tonya was a high school and middle school science teacher on the Navajo reservation and in Tucson. She received her BS in Elementary Science Education from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Tonya and her husband, Sam, have three daughters and make frequent trips home to Ganado to visit with family. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and watching the Food Network on TV.

Margaret Blaine
Advisor/Tutor
mblaine@amphi.com
520-696-6954

Margaret is currently in her sixth year as a Native American Education Advisor/Tutor with the Amphitheater Public Schools. She is a member of the Tohono O'Odham (Desert People) Nation and Seri linage and is also a fluent speaker of the Tohono O'Odham language. Prior to NAEP, Margaret was a Teacher Assistant with the Gila River Indian Community for Kindergarten, first, and second grade. She served as the Cultural Specialist for the Preschool program, instructing native language and preserving native culture. Through this capacity, she was instrumental in the grant writing for the Gila River Indian Community's Native Language Preschool curriculum. Margaret attended Pima Community College and Central Arizona College majoring in Early Childhood Education. She currently serves as District Representative for the Schuk Toak District of the Tohono O'Odham Nation.

Albert Sombrero
Advisor/Tutor
asombrero@amphi.com
520-696-6954

Albert is currently in his third year as a part-time Advisor/Tutor with the Amphitheater Native American Education Project. Albert holds two Masters degrees from the University of Arizona; a MA in American Indian Policy Studies and M.Ed in Higher Education. Albert was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation. He is born into the Bitter Water Clan (maternal side) and born for the Red House Clan (paternal side). Albert is a fluent speaker of the Navajo language and was raised traditionally by his maternal grandparents near Inscription House and Navajo Mountain area. He is a practitioner of Native American ceremonies and Native American Post Colonial psychology. He is also a certified Firestarter for White Bison wellbriety movement at the grassroot level. Albert has served the urban Native American community as a substance and alcohol abuse counselor, case manager, and is currently working as a weekend/evening grief and spirituality therapist at Sierra Tucson.

Kimberly Y. Begay
Advisor/Tutor
kbegay@amphi.com
520-696-6954

Kimberly is of Kiowa, Caddo, and Pawnee Nations. She was born and raised in southwest Oklahoma. Kimberly received her BA degree in Political Science from Fort Lewis College (FLC) in Durango, Colorado. As a student, she served as a CLRA certified tutor in the Program for Academic Advancement and received professional training in media to assist in the development of the NAIS Media Curriculum at FLC. Prior to NAEP, Kimberly served on the Title VII Parent Committee for Durango Public Schools, collaborated with OU and FLC for a nation-wide student symposium of American Indian Studies and has experience in grant writing and financial advising in tribal affairs. Kimberly and her husband, Derwin, have two children and actively participate in traditional ceremonies. She has spoken at several events of her Native culture, including storytelling. In addition to being employed full-time, she is also a graduate student at the University of Arizona.