Preservice Ambassadors
Kylie Smith
Kean University
Kylie Smith (she/her/hers) has three semesters left to complete her bachelor's degree in mathematical sciences with her teaching certification K-12 and endorsed to teach students with disabilities at Kean University at Ocean County College. She previously graduated cum laude with her associate's degree in mathematics in May 2022 from Ocean County College. She plans to enter the workforce once she graduates with her B.A. but is thinking about eventually going to graduate school to receive a master's degree in something related to Education. She is also thinking about becoming an adjunct professor in the future! Kylie will begin her substitute teaching career in the fall as well!
Kylie has known since she was 16 that she wanted to teach math and going through college her want has only increased. She thought she wanted to teach high school but after observing both high school and middle school classes she realized she wants to teach middle school math. She loves the fun ways that she can teach math to middle schoolers and wants to help students build a strong foundation for their math and academic careers. She is a positive optimist and wants to bring that to her classroom every single day. Kylie is so incredibly passionate about education and truly loves math and cannot wait to have a career that she gets to use those passions and love every single day. She is truly looking forward to helping students love to learn and to build their confidence in math and life in general. She wants to be a safe space for all students, no matter what and that is a big part of the way she will be setting up her classroom and interacting with her students every day. Kylie is part of the LGBTQ+ community and wants to make sure she is a safe place for her students because it is so vital to her to make sure her students are comfortable and accepted.
Kylie is most excited to be on the Leadership Team to advocate for NJEA Preservice on her college campus, as not many students on her campus know about it and the amazing opportunities and benefits that come with it. She is also incredibly excited to be a part of a team of people who are just as passionate about education as she is. Community is so important and didn’t realize how important it is to be surrounded by people who are just as excited and passionate about education as she is. Being a part of this community, helping to build this community, and make others feel included in NJEA Preservice is really important to her.
Kylie officially joined NJEA Preservice in February 2024 and felt immediately so welcome and embraced by the people already involved with NJEA Preservice! She decided to apply for an ambassador position to become a voice for Preservice on her campus. She is also the President of the Kean Ocean Education Association after being the Vice President/President Elect this past academic year. She can’t wait for her time as an Ambassador for NJEA Preservice!
Madeline Beavis
Rutgers University
Madeline Beavis is a rising senior at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. She is studying Mathematics with a minor in education and has been accepted into Rutgers School of Education to earn her Master’s Degree. Madeline has always appreciated the objectivity of math and finding that one right answer. After graduation, she hopes to teach high school math and share her love of learning with the next generation of students.
Madeline has been involved with NJEA Preservice since the beginning of her junior year as a Local Chapter Leader and member of the State Professional Learning Committee. She also represented Preservice at the 2023 Teacher’s Convention in Atlantic City. Preservice has afforded her the chance to collaborate closely with other like-minded- and inspiring- future educators from universities and colleges across the state of New Jersey. Aligning with NJEA’s mission, Madeline strongly believes in the power of education and forging a more equitable future for students.
Outside of NJEA Preservice, Madeline often surrounds herself with numerous opportunities to hone her teaching craft, as it has been her dream to pursue a career in education since Kindergarten. She was a Learning Assistant in a Calculus class during her freshman and sophomore years and is currently the Vice President of the Future Teachers Association at Rutgers University. She is also a Campus Ambassador for Teach For America (TFA) and has been a TFA Ignite Fellow tutor since her freshman year. She hopes she has made a difference, however big or small, in the lives of the students she has worked with in the past and looks forward to impacting students in the future.
In her free time, Madeline is an avid tennis player. While she competed on her high school team in singles and doubles, these days she keeps up her skills by hitting with friends and family. She makes sure to get to the US Open in NYC every year! Off the court, you’ll often find her flicking the pages of a good read or looking through her camera lens to advance her photography skills.
Communications Co-Chairs
Rana Yildirim
Rutgers University
Rana Yildirim is a rising senior at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, where she is pursuing a major in Psychology with a minor in Education. Currently, Rana is also enrolled in the Graduate School of Education, following the K-6 and P-3 Elementary Education track and working towards a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. Her academic journey is driven by a profound passion for fostering young minds and contributing to their holistic development. Through her studies, Rana has gained a deep understanding of child development and learning behaviors, bolstered by practical teaching methodologies and effective classroom management strategies.
Rana's passion for education is rooted in her commitment to creating a culturally diverse and inclusive learning environment. She believes that every student should feel seen, valued, and supported, regardless of their background. This commitment is not only a professional goal but also a personal value, influenced by her own global upbringing.
Having lived in various parts of the world, including Russia, India, Vietnam, Turkey, South Africa, and the United States, Rana has developed a rich cultural awareness and adaptability. These experiences have broadened her worldview and deepened her empathy, enhancing her ability to connect with students from diverse backgrounds. This unique perspective fuels her drive to create a learning environment where all students can thrive and feel respected.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Rana is actively involved in various educational initiatives and leadership roles. She is excited to serve on the NJEA leadership team, particularly on the Communications Committee. Rana sees this as an invaluable opportunity to develop her leadership traits and build a network with other passionate future teachers. She is eager to connect with peers and participate in events that foster both fun and professional growth. She believes that these experiences will provide long-lasting value that she can carry into her future career as a teacher.
Rana's decision to join the Communications Committee on the NJEA Preservice leadership team stems from her belief in the power of effective communication to bridge gaps and foster community engagement. She understands that clear, inclusive, and empathetic communication is essential in creating a supportive environment for future educators and ensuring that diverse voices are heard. Rana is enthusiastic about using her role to amplify the stories and achievements of aspiring educators, facilitate meaningful dialogue, and promote a sense of unity and collaboration within the educational community. She is particularly interested in leveraging various communication platforms to share valuable resources, insights, and opportunities that can benefit her peers and contribute to their professional development.
Outside of her academic and professional activities, Rana enjoys exploring new cultures, traveling, volunteer mentoring, reading, and watching movies. These hobbies not only provide personal fulfillment but also enrich her teaching practice by bringing diverse perspectives and experiences into the classroom.
As Rana continues her journey in education, she remains dedicated to making a positive impact on her students and the broader educational community. She is committed to advocating for more diverse and inclusive educational environments, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed and feel empowered.
Madison Baca
Rutgers University
Maddie currently attends Rutgers University-New Brunswick and is in her senior year pursuing a major in psychology. After she graduates in 2025 she will be returning to Rutgers Graduate School of Education to get her masters in elementary education with a P-3 certification. Last year was Maddie's first year on the PLT where she served on the communications committee and was a Preservice Ambassador at Rutgers. It was also her first time at the teacher's convention and she learned so much and got to meet so many other aspiring future educators.
Her reason for joining the PLT again was to further her knowledge and position on NJEA Preservice. Maddie is also very excited to see where this position takes her and all the new aspiring educators she will get to meet. Outside of her time on the PLT Maddie is also involved in two organizations on her campus. One is Omega Phi Alpha which is a national service sorority and where she is the rituals coordinator. As well as the new President of Charity Water: Rutgers which is an organization that helps bring water to people in other countries who need it!
Diversity & Justice Chair
Jacques Lapeyrolerie
Montclair University
Jacques is a History major at Bloomfield College of Montclair State University in his Senior Year. He has worked as a substitute teacher and enjoys sports. Last year, he volunteered for the sports broadcasting department at Bloomfield College. Growing up, he played travel ice hockey. Jacques enjoys spending time with his family. In particular, he likes having conversations with them about philosophy and social justice issues.
Political Advocacy Chair
Andrew Kazim
The College of NJ
Andrew Kazim is a current student at The College of New Jersey, studying Secondary Education and History. His passion belongs to the classroom and education reform and Andrew believes community building is a crucial part of the fight for preserving rights for both students and teachers.
Throughout the past six years, Andrew has devoted himself to community building, activism work, and peer advocacy on and off campus. During his time at Raritan Valley Community College, he served as a tutor, and he has been a mentor to his peers studying similar fields of interest, centering his philosophy around the idea that understanding various aspects of history and education are critical to growth and improvement. This is his first year on the leadership team for preservice, and Andrew is eager to bring this energy to the team!
Andrew strives to get younger audiences and peers to support education and political reform as he understands the work of progress cannot be completed without the cooperation of the whole community and its resources. He is most excited to expand preservice membership, fighting for pension justice, and lobbying for compensated student teaching as well as scholarships for preservice teachers.
Professional Learning Chair
Ashley Leach
Stockton University
Ashley Leach is a sophomore at Stockton University, studying Liberal Arts with a concentration in Early Childhood Education and a minor in childhood studies. She enjoys working with young children and working hard to create a relationship between teacher and student.
After she graduates with a bachelor’s degree, Ashley wants to continue her work at Tabernacle Elementary School and hopefully get her own classroom there. She hopes to create a safe place for students to be free to express themselves inside the classroom. She also hopes to foster that creativity and make her classroom feel like a home/family to any student who walks through those doors. Ashley also hopes to eventually obtain her masters degree in hopes to further her education. She is also working towards her special education certification to really have the most inclusive environment possible for any child or student in need of attention and love.
Ashley only recently learned about Presevice through Stockton. She has already made her way into the leadership team and will be working hard to be a great part of the team. She is working hard to create amazing ideas for this year and to create a calendar of awesome professional learning events and activities. She also wants to get more people in Preservice and to experience the friendship as well as knowing others are struggling with me.
Ashley is a hardworking student who really wants to change the world one classroom at a time if she can.