We’re here to help.
The English Learner Group was founded in 2011 by Dr. Sam Nofziger, Ed. D. Since then, we’ve put our team’s experience and expertise to work in addressing the challenges faced by multilingual learners within our schools. We understand those challenges because we are teachers, administrators, and educators just like you.
Our team: At a glance
100% of our team holds a Masters or Doctorate degree in education.
79% of our team have held an administrative position at school, district or county level during their career.
At least 50% of our team speaks a language other than English.
Donning Day, MA, Ed.
Managing Partner & Lead Educational Consultant
Ms. Day has over 19 years of experience in education. She has served as a kindergarten teacher, elementary newcomers teacher, English learner intervention teacher, English learner coach, academic science coach, ELPAC trainer of trainers, and teacher induction support provider. More recently, she was the lead adult school teacher for a local district. In this role, she collaborated with multiple stakeholder groups to rebuild and expand the program options, receive WASC accreditation, and provide educational access to adults in underserved populations and those living in remote areas.
Ms. Day holds an MA in Reading/Language Arts, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and a Reading Specialist Teaching Credential from California State University, Fresno.
Nancy Tikkanen, MA, Ed.
Managing Partner & Lead Educational Consultant
Mrs. Tikkanen has over 19 years of experience in education. She has served as an elementary school teacher, English language development teacher, new teacher support provider, mentor teacher, ELPAC trainer of trainers, ELPAC coordinator, and the English Learner coordinator for a Central Valley school district. She is also an experienced teacher using online platforms and various curricula to support students from elementary to high school grade levels.
Mrs. Tikkanen holds a BA in Liberal Studies and an MA in Education, with an emphasis in cross-cultural teaching.
Sam Nofziger, Ed. D.
Founder & Senior Consultant
Administrative and Instructional Coach
Dr. Nofziger has been serving various English Learner populations since 1987. He has served as an elementary school teacher, an instructional coach, and a school site, district, and county administrator. In his experience as an administrator, he has coached teachers and administrators, all focusing on increasing student achievement in English Learner populations.
Dr. Nofziger holds a BA in Liberal Studies and a Credential from California State University, Fresno, an MA in Bilingual Cross-Cultural Education from Fresno Pacific University, and an Ed. D. from North Central University focusing on English as a Second Language. He has held a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, a Bilingual Cross-Cultural Specialist Credential, and an Administrative Services Credential, all awarded in California.
Get acquainted with some other members of our team!
Sandra Alonzo, MA, Ed.
Instructional Coach
Mrs. Alonzo has over 20 years of experience in education. She has served as an elementary bilingual and structured English immersion teacher, testing coordinator, and teacher on special assignment with Fresno Unified School District.
Mrs. Alonzo holds a BA in Liberal Studies from California State University, Fresno, an MA in Educational Leadership and Administration from California State University, Fresno, a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, and an Administrative Services Credential.
Joey Campbell, MA, Ed.
Administrative Coach
Mr. Campbell has over 30 years of experience in education. He has served as a high school teacher, various high school site administrative positions, and was the high school principal for 10 years at Washington Union High School. He then served as assistant superintendent and superintendent for Washington Unified School District.
Mr. Campbell holds a BA in Industrial Technology from California State University, Fresno, an MA in Educational Technology from Fresno Pacific University, a Single Subjects Credential, and an Administrative Services Credential.
Kelli Duckworth, MA, Ed.
Administrative Coach
Ms. Duckworth has over 35 years of experience in education. She has served as an elementary school teacher and a school and district administrator with Kings Canyon Unified School District.
Ms. Duckworth holds a BA in General Studies and an MA in Educational Leadership and Administration from California State University, Fresno, a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, an Administrative Services Credential, and an Authorization for English Language Development.
Larry Jarocki, Ed. D
Instructional Coach
Dr. Jarocki has over 20 years of experience in education. Since 2001, he has been teaching English at the high school level, first for Clovis Unified School District, and now for Visalia Unified School District. He has also spent the last decade working with new teacher interns for the Tulare County Office of Education and has served as a BTSA instructor. Prior to this, he worked with the Soros Foundation’s Open Society, providing teacher training and ESL instruction throughout Eastern and Central Europe and Central Asia.
Dr. Jarocki holds a BA in English Literature with a Humanities Minor from California State University, Fresno, an MA in Linguistics, ESL option, from CSU, Fresno, and an Ed. D. in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University. He also holds a Single Subject Teaching Credential in English Language Arts and a Preliminary Administrative Services Credential from the State of California.
Nydia Mendoza, MA, Ed.
Administrative Coach
Ms. Mendoza has over 40 years of experience in education. She has served as an elementary school teacher with Sanger Unified School District, a migrant resource teacher for Fresno County Schools, and a district and school administrator for Fresno Unified School District for 25 years.
Ms. Mendoza holds a BS in Child Development from California State University, Fresno, an MA in Administrative Services from Fresno Pacific University, a Standard Teaching Credential, an Administrative Services, and a Bilingual Credential.
Tina Nakashian, MA, Ed.
Instructional Coach
Ms. Nakashian has over 25 years of experience in education. She has served as a high school math teacher in Laton Unified School District, Fresno Unified School District, Fresno Christian Schools and Washington Unified School District, as a Math & STEM consultant for the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools. Ms. Nakashian also serves as an instructor at California State University, Fresno, and as a supervisor/coach for Single Subject Math Credential Candidates.
Ms. Nakashian holds a BA in Mathematics from Fresno State University, an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from Fresno State University, and a Single Subject Teaching Credential and CLAD Credential.
Rosario Sanchez, MA, Ed.
Administrative Coach
Ms. Sanchez has over 35 years of experience in education. She has served as a teacher, vice principal, principal, assistant superintendent and as associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction with Fresno Unified School District.
Ms. Sanchez holds a BA in Psychology from Stanford University, an MA in Educational Leadership and Administration from California State University, Fresno, a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential, an Administrative Services Credential and an Authorization for English Language Development.
Sheila Wiebe, MA, Ed.
Administrative and Instructional Coach
Mrs. Wiebe has over 40 years of experience in education. She has served as an elementary and high school teacher and as an administrator at all grade levels and at the district level, primarily with Kings Canyon Unified School District.
Mrs. Wiebe holds a BA in Liberal Studies from Fresno Pacific University and an MA in Education from Fresno Pacific University, with an emphasis on the Integration of Math and Science, as well as a Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential and an Administrative Services Credential.