Gianna Pugliese
Originally from Chicago, I moved to Des Moines in 2016 to pursue my MSEd in Literacy at Drake University. I started working with Adult ELLs in 2017 at Lutheran Services in Iowa, where I taught Beginning English to our newest neighbors who were illiterate in their native languages. In my 4 years at LSI, I was also the adult Refugee Education Coordinator, overseeing the Education Department. In 2021, I transitioned to the West Des Moines Community School District to advocate for foreign-born students and their families. I am passionate about shifting the narrative from one that is deficit-focused towards a strengths-based lens where educators promote self-efficacy and humanity. UIowa 2014 - BA English | Drake 2018 - MSEd