Sandra Polacheck (Lightheart Woman) is a Reading and English Language Arts Specialist and Master Teacher and Storyteller. She works with at-risk high school students teaching English literacy, Digital Literacy, and Technical Career-based job skills. Sandra is a long time member of the International Literacy Association where she served as a member of the ILA’s Children’s and Young Adult Book Awards Committee – Young Adult Novels (2017-2020). In addition, she has been recognized in “Whos’ Who in America” 2022-2023 and Cambridge’s “Who’s Who in the Globe” 2008-2009 for her work as a distinguished Educator. She is a life-long collector of Creation Stories from around the world. She is also a student who has studied under many tribal Elders over the years including Grandfather Bear Heart (Muskogee-Cree), Grandmother Esther Jackson (Hopi), Grandmother Nanatasis (Abenaki) and has learned Peacekeeper teachings under Venerable Dhyani Ywahoo since 2010. Sandra became an Elder Server in the Arbor in 2009, under the guidance of Fire Keeper Andy Tobey. With a mother who is a retired pastry chef, Sandra grew up baking and became inspired to learn indigenous cooking when studying corn teachings and visiting the Mitsitam Café in Washington, D.C. at NAMI, while writing high school English Language Arts curriculum for the National Digital Library. |
