Our Team

Indigitize is part of One Generation, a project of the Tides Center. One Generation identifies promising, early-stage innovations that build sustainable solutions for Indigenous communities grounded in language, culture, and holistic wellness. Some of our One Generation team members work in direct collaboration with Indigitize.

  • Kara is an Indigenous leader who has dedicated her career to working for positive change and Indigenous students and families. She was the Founding Principal of the Albuquerque-based Native American Community Academy (NACA) and has more than 25 years of experience in Indigenous Education leading the effort to bring families at the forefront of community-led school design and by drawing upon the strengths of the community in which she serves to create a transformative mission and vision for NACA.

    In 2014, Kara founded the nation’s first network solely dedicated to Indigenous Education - NACA Inspired Schools Network who supports communities dedicated to creating schools of Excellence and Relevance in Indigenous Education. She was recognized by President Obama as one of 100 top social innovators in the nation, Kara is a Paraha Fellow, Broad Fellow, and Ashoka Fellow and served to establish the first office of Identity, Equity and Transformation as the New Mexico Public Education Department Deputy Secretary of Identity, Equity, and Transformation to build a statewide focus on Equity and CRL education prior to founding One Generation.

    She serves and works to support early-stage innovations that build sustainable solutions for Indigenous communities, Indigenous Education, and Indigenous Leaders who are poised to impact systems change in senior-level roles in the government, philanthropic and nonprofit sector. She has also been recognized with the Zia Award for University of New Mexico alumni for distinguished service in the field of education, as a “Woman of Influence'' by Albuquerque Business First, as a recipient of the New Mexico Ethics in Business Award, and as a recipient of the Excellence in Educational Leadership Award sponsored by the University Council for Educational Administration. Her volunteer roles have included serving as an advisory board member for Harvard Urban Principal Center, New Mexico Now, Explora Children's Museum, and Learning Alliance New Mexico, Education Reimagined, Currently, she serves as a board member for the New Mexico Dream Team and Emerita Member of the NACA Inspired Schools Network, Food Corps and Appleseed New Mexico, and an Equity Advisor to the NM Public Education's Statewide Language and Culture Division.

  • Frank McCulloch was born, raised, and currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A lifelong educator, Frank is a National Board Certified teacher and has taught at the elementary, secondary and post-secondary level. Frank also was an Instructional Leader, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Executive Director and High School Principal. Frank recently joined the Non-Profit One Generation as a Senior Managing Director and currently serves as an Associate Director with the Indigitize team.

  • Kim Schlesinger is the Director or Curriculum for Indigitize. Kim taught elementary school special education for 5 years, and worked in the tech industry for 6 years and now she enjoys working with her team to create meaningful computer science learning experiences for Indigenous students. Kim lives in Denver, Colorado.

  • Francisco Cervantes brings more than 10 years of experience in computer science education to Indigitize. Throughout his career, Francisco has held impactful roles, including Director of Creative Learning at the Scratch Foundation, Advisor to the Science Museum of Minnesota, Director of Program Design and Evaluation with the NYC Department of Education’s CS4All Team, and Educational Researcher at EDC’s Center for Children and Technology. Each position has reinforced his commitment to co-designing programs with school districts, supporting technology use for teaching and learning, driving educational innovation, and fostering positive learning outcomes through hands-on coding experiences in curriculum development and program management.

  • Throughout his career, Brad has had the good fortune of supporting a number of organizations and agencies whose impact plays a pivotal role in giving back and building up the communities in which they serve.

    Originally from the Northeast, Brad relocated to the Southwest following the completion of his undergraduate degree to pursue opportunities in the environmental field; his first was serving with a conservation focused AmeriCorps program based in Arizona. In the years to follow, he continued his time working in natural resource management focusing primarily on forestry, fuels, and trails.

    After years working outdoors, he would eventually find himself back in the National Service world where it all started, and has remained ever since. For over a decade Brad has continued his efforts supporting AmeriCorps organizations throughout Arizona, Utah, California, Washington and New Mexico and has had the pleasure of supporting efforts involving childhood literacy, environmental stewardship, and funding administration for programs at the state level.

    Brad brings these experiences and a thoughtful perspective to Indigitize to support the mission of engaging Indigenous youth in Computer Science education to catalyze positive change within their communities.

  • Madeline Leyba, Director of SkoCode Compliance, Indigitize for One Generation, a project of Tides Center, born and raised in Gallup, New Mexico has served in the non-profit educational sector of service for students for over 30 years. Madeline has worked in administration at the executive level alongside teams of administrators working towards a mission and vision of meeting the needs of our diverse student populations. Madeline is a life-long learner who is motivated by continual learning, team building, striving towards implementing change, and exceeding targets while driving towards organizational goals. She served as a Program leader for AmeriCorps in New Mexico operating in State and National Grants as the Manager, and Director of Compliance to help our AmeriCorps Members meet their service requirements while working towards serving our students. Madeline strives intentionally to be culturally respectful and equipped to forge authentic relationships across lines of difference. She is dedicated to serving as the SkoCode Director of Compliance.

  • Corey Ashley is Ta’neeszahnii (Tangle Clan) and born for Tódík’ǫ́zhí (Salt Water Clan.) His cheii’s clan is Mą’ii Deeshgiizhinii (Coyote Pass Clan) and his nali’s clan is Naasht’ézhí (Zuni Clan.)

    Corey Ashley serves as the Cultural Technologist for Indigitize. He graduated from Stanford University in 2019 where he studied STS (Science, Technology, and Society.) He is from and was raised on the Navajo Nation in Sanders, Arizona. One of his passions is intersecting his Diné identity with technology in order to revitalize and sustain the culture and language. Corey created “Diné Adóone’é,” an app project focused on helping Diné people express clan kinship among each other using the Diné language.

    Another passion of Corey's is music. He is the co-founder of the band M.I.S. (Merciless Indian Savages.) He uses heavy metal music as a medium to spread awareness and knowledge around Indigenous issues, identity, and culture; as well as drawing attention to the greater histories and systems that perpetuate colonization. He aims to continue having a transformational impact by helping indigenize technology and music in ways that prioritize the needs of Indigenous communities and uplift their narratives.

  • Caitlin Bordeaux is a Sicangu Lakota member joining Indigitize after teaching for 8 years in South Dakota at St. Francis Indian School and Lakota Tech High School. She taught computer science, STEM CTE courses, and worked on culturally relevant curriculum with groups like the Kapor Center and AISES. Caitlin loves traveling, hiking, going to concerts, and spending time with family, friends, and her pet dog, Chai.

  • Nate Morrison grew up in Massachusetts, and for as long as he can remember, he wanted to be a teacher. After graduating from Princeton, he had the honor of teaching math at Shiprock High School, where he met some of the most brilliant students in the world. Following his time in Shiprock, Nate helped lead Teach For America - New Mexico, serving as Executive Director from 2012 to 2018. Nate then became Senior Director at the NACA Inspired Schools Network, supporting communities to build excellent and relevant Indigenous schools. In 2022 he began working with One Gen and Indigitize as a consultant focused on expanding opportunities in computer science for Native youth. Nate lives in Corrales with his wife Anne and two young daughters, Elizabeth and Charlotte.

  • I'm sorry I'm so behind on this. Attached is a headshot and below is my bio (title is Senior Director of Strategy, Innovation & Program Development).

    Amy Holt brings over 13 years of experience in education and software development to her role as a strategic leader at Indigitize. With a background in Elementary Education in Mathematics, her journey has been marked by a commitment to leveraging technology for social impact.

    Amy's innovative approach and empathetic leadership style were key to shaping academic programs and driving student success in her role as Director of Back End Engineering at Turing School of Software & Design. She has collaborated on the design of computer science curricula for k-12 students across the country.

    Amy is passionate about empowering Indigenous youth in Computer Science education and honored to bring her experience to the Indigitize team.

  • Lashawna Tso hails from Smoke Signal, Arizona. She is of the Salt Water Clan (Tódik'ǫzhi) born for Coyote Pass (Mą'ii deeshgiizhinii), her maternal grandparents are Salt People (Áshįįhí), and her paternal grandparents are Chiricahua Apache (Chishí). Lashawna developed a deep sense of civic duty from an early age. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Speech and Hearing Science from Arizona State University and later pursued a Master's in Public Administration at Grand Canyon University where she honed her skills in policy analysis and governance.

    Lashawna is a dedicated public servant with a career spanning over 10 years. Known for her unwavering commitment to the betterment of tribal communities and passion for fostering positive relationships between government agencies and Indigenous communities. Lashawna has become a trusted advocate for tribal rights and interests.

    She formally served as the Chief of Staff for Speaker Seth Damon of the 24th Navajo Nation Council, the Assistant Secretary of Indian Education under Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Executive Director for the Navajo Nation Washington Office, and recently as the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department. As the Executive Director, she served worked with members of congress, the White House, and federal, state, and local government officials and agencies.

  • Heidi Macdonald (Wohiste Maxbiya) is an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Tribes (Nakoda/Dakota) in Montana and a descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in North Dakota. Before embarking on the journey to New Mexico, they were a drug and alcohol prevention educator at the Onondaga Nation School in upstate New York. In 2008, Heidi attended the Pre-Law Summer Institute at the University of New Mexico and graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2010. Before joining the OneGen team, they worked in a variety of policy and research spaces, including the American Indian Law Center, New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, Legislative Education Study Committee, Education Commission of the States, and the New Mexico Public Education Department. Heidi is learning the Nakoda language and is diligently working to become fully fluent in the language.

  • Dinée Dorame is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and is Tábąąhá (Water’s Edge clan) born for Naakai Dine’é (Mexican People clan). Her maternal grandfather’s clan is Tótsohníí (Big Water clan) and her paternal grandfather’s clan is Naakai Dine’é. She is currently the Director of Special Projects and a Resident Fellow at One Generation Fund. Dinée graduated from Yale University in 2015 with a B.A. in Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies. She previously worked as the Associate Director of College Horizons, a national non-profit supporting Native students in their pathway to higher education. Prior to these roles, Dinée worked for three years as an Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Yale University where she coordinated Native American Outreach & Recruitment.

    As part of her One Generation fellowship, Dinée is also the Host of the Grounded Podcast, which explores the intersection of running, community, land, and culture. She enjoys finding ways to intersect her work in higher education with running/movement by serving as an advocate for Indigenous land recognition and representation in the running industry. Dinée also volunteers her time as an At-Large Delegate for the Yale Alumni Association and as an application reader/evaluator for several national scholarships.