Board of Directors
Board of Directors 2009-2010
Claire Cavallaro, Ph.D - Director
Claire has served as Dean of the College of Education at Cal State Fullerton since 2006. She brings to this position more than 30 years experience in education. At Cal State University, Northridge she was a professor and chair of the Department of Special Education from 1982 to 2003, and Chief of Staff to the University’s president from 2003 to 2006. While at Northridge, she founded the CHIME Institute, a national leader in the development and delivery of quality inclusive education. Previously, she was a professor at Binghamton University in New York, and she taught in elementary and special education classrooms in New York and Tennessee. She received her Ph.D. in Special Education from Peabody College at Vanderbilt University, and her Master’s degree at the State University of New York College at Buffalo. Cavallaro is the author of numerous publications, including the book, "Preschool Inclusion.”
C. Loren Doll, Ph.D - Secretary
Loren is a partner in a web-based service that assists governments and government agencies within the U.S. He has careers as an electrical engineer, college professor, and business consultant before starting his current business path. He has lived in various parts of the United State and Canada and has traveled extensively. Loren is an avid reader and always stresses the demand for individuals to become competent readers, writers, and thinkers in order to work well in any career.
Minard Duncan - Treasurer
Minard is a Korean War Veteran. He also served 41 years in the Fullerton School District as a teacher at Commonwealth School and Ladera Vista Junior High, and as principal at Pacific Drive School, Rolling Hills School, and Richman School. He serves on many boards in the community. He was recognized by the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce and Orange County Region of the Association of California Administrators. Minard believes that all children are entitled to a quality education in a safe environment that involves both an emphasis on the basic skills of reading, writing, and math, and attention to art, science, social science, computer technology, health, and physical education. It is important to him that education prepares students to become socially aware and responsible citizens who strive to better their communities.
Bobbi Mahler, Ph.D.- Director
Bobbi is serving an interim position this year in Capistrano Unified School District. She has a 42 year career tenure in public education, starting as a school cafeteria cashier to teaching at the doctoral level at California University at Long Beach. A proponent of balanced curricular offerings, Bobbi developed a Fine and Performing Arts Foundation while Superintendent in the Centralia School District. She first became familiar with the Menendez versus Westminster case when Interim Superintendent in Westminster School District, and she became intrigued with the work of the Museum of Teaching and Learning to develop a curriculum for youngsters to learn about this watershed in education history. Dr. Mahler also served in a variety of administrative positions in the Irvine Unified School District, and spent her early teaching years in Saugus, Downey, and Fountain Valley.
Greta Nagel - President
Greta is the Founder and Curator of the Museum of Teaching and Learning. She was an elementary and middle school teacher for fifteen years. She was also an elementary school principal for six years before taking a teaching position at California State Polytechnic University. She is now a retired professor of education from California State University at Long Beach. She received the 2009 Phi Delta Kappa Friend of Education Award. She has authored two bestselling books, "The Tao of Teaching" and "The Tao of Parenting", and numerous papers and articles in national education journals. Dr. Nagel's "The Tao of Teaching" and "The Tao of Parenting" are widely recommended in universities and book clubs around the country. Dr. Nagel's book "Effective Grouping for Literacy" Instruction has been adopted by libraries and reading lists in hundreds of universities across the country. She believes that a nation of citizens who really understand educational history and principles of acquiring and retaining knowledge will be better at teaching and learning as well as voting and governing.
Dyan Venters - Director
Dyan is the National Accounts Manager for ConAgra Foods, Inc. She has been in the Foodservice industry for 30 years, working in sales and sales management. In this position, she has been instrumental in growing a sales portfolio of more than 40 million dollars. Her contribution and service to the Museum of Teaching and Learning is through sales, fundraising and marketing. She grew up in segregated schools in the South, so she believes in equal, quality education for all students. She is interested in the education of our entire population and ensuring that all are exposed to the various learning and teaching methodologies that the museum will present. She is also a motivational speaker teaching high school students about the values of a good education. She is a member of the Women's Foodservice Forum Committee and the Foodservice Advisory Council.
Rafael Spears - Director
Rafael is the Vice President of L-3 Communications Electron Technologies Inc., an Aerospace Technologies Company which produces products for the Department of Defense, Homeland Security and Commercial Space Applications. Rafael is responsible for the design, production, test and delivery of Satellite Propulsion Systems. These systems enable Commercial, Defense and Space Science Satellites to orbit the earth at various fixed altitudes and inclination angles as well as complete deep space science missions. Prior to his current position Rafael was the Director of Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test for the Boeing Company. Rafael received his degree in Mechanical Engineering from California State University San Luis Obispo and with over 20 years of experience in Aerospace and Manufacturing he brings organizational knowledge and expertise as well as a desire to bridge the science and mathematics gap, with students, through the MOTAL vehicle. He believes that we should view learning as a limitless adventure and MOTAL has the responsibility to be the “Pied Piper” of said adventure.