Mentor Biography

Fawn Jelinek

Fawn

2023 to present

Fawn is a lifelong Fairbanksan who knew she wanted to be a teacher since she was in 4th grade. After several years of substitute teaching and working as a Legislative Aide, she joined the Peace Corps and served for 2+ years as a TEFL Teacher Trainer in Kiribati. When she completed her service and had trained the next batch of volunteers, she returned to Alaska and taught as an ESL teacher in Quinhagak, a Yup’ik First Language school. Upon coming home to Fairbanks, she was a Professional Development Coordinator for the Fairbanks school district. Before re-entering the classroom, Fawn was a Partner Teacher with the Association of Interior Native Educators (AINE), providing professional development on brain-based learning and traveling to villages to support teachers who were implementing the strategies taught. In 2009, she was hired at Hunter Elementary, a Title I school, as an upper elementary teacher. After 28+ of teaching experience, Fawn retired in 2022 but couldn’t fully leave teaching behind. She has been working for Kids Voting North Alaska as their Education Coordinator and for AINE as a Curriculum Writer. Fawn loves collaborating and sharing new learning with education colleagues and is excited to join ASMP.