Jen Kinser-Traut: Director
Jen Kinser-Traut is the Director of TREC. She is responsible for the day-to-day operations of TREC as well as the long-term planning, alongside the 4 working groups and advisory board. Jen’s role prioritizes building collaborations, supporting the long-term goal of TREC to increase teacher retention, and leading the TREC Teacher Leaders. She joined TREC during the planning and design phase in early October, 2018.
Prior to joining TREC, Jen was a Visiting Assistant Professor at NYU, teaching masters’ level education courses and advising masters’ thesis Participatory Action Research Projects. Additionally, she taught 5th – 12th grade math and science for 9 years in Tucson, AZ and 1 year in Guatemala. She earned a BS in Biology from Bowling Green State University (Ohio), as well as a masters and PhD in Teaching and Teacher Education, with an emphasis in Mathematics from the University of Arizona. Jen has two young children and enjoys hiking and biking with her family in the Sonoran Desert.
Alicia Durbin: Project Coordinator
Alicia Durbin has been in the early childhood education field for 18 years— teaching, mentoring, and leading. She loves supporting children, families, early childhood professionals and all educators. She taught in a 4-year-old classroom for eight years, was the director at St. Mark’s Preschool and Kindergarten for eight years and is now the Project Coordinator with Tucson Regional Educator Collaborative (TREC). She is a University of Arizona alumni and has a master’s degree in Education from NAU. She is mom to an elementary-aged son and an adult stepdaughter. She continues to learn both as an educator and parent on a daily basis from her own children and the teachers and volunteers she works with. Alicia was part of the SAZAEYC board for five years and held the position of President of the Board. She currently works to promote teacher retention and professional development for all teachers, birth -12th grade.