NACTEC STAFF

Doug Walrath

Director

Dr. Doug Walrath has been the NACTEC Director since 2009. His undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Stout was in Technology Education, and graduate work followed at Utah State University with a Master’s degree in Industrial Technology & Education, and a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. Doug is a former NASA Astronaut Selection Candidate and U.S. Army veteran of the Gulf War. He teaches Careers in the Military and enjoys all things outdoors with his childen, Dylan and Denali.

Christian Graham

CTE Teacher

Christian Graham joined NACTEC in 2022 after a year of teaching Social Studies and English Language Arts in Kiŋegan (Wales, AK). Before moving to Kiŋegan, Christian completed his BA in History and an M.Ed. from Portland State University. He enjoys meeting new people, spending most of his time outdoors, listening to music on the road, reading good books, and learning new skills. Christian completed Driver Education instructor training in 2022 and looks for to helping adolescents and young adults become licensed drivers.

Amber Otton

CTE Teacher

Amber “Attasiaq” Otton is a lifelong Nome resident and Nome Beltz Alum. She has been a part of the NACTEC team since 2015 where she started out as an Educational Aide with a Biology degree, and has since earned her Masters in Education and is a full-time CTE teacher for NACTEC. Amber teaches Native Arts, Village-Based Entrepreneurship, Inupiaq Language & Cultural Tourism, American Red Cross, and Survival Swimming. You can usually find Amber subsisting all over Sitnasuak with her husband, Jared “Tuuyuq” and daughter, Holland “Avu”.

Cary Sargent

Counselor

Cary Sargent is NACTEC’s Counselor. She counsels and teaches Life Skills at the NACTEC House in the evenings; teaches Career Skills in the afternoons, and sometimes leads Culinary Arts during the day. Most mornings she enjoys meditating, running, painting, listening to music, doing yoga, watching waves, and/or facetiming with her family. She relocated to Nome to work for NACTEC in 2015, and loves her work with young people. She has a B.S. in Home Economics Education, and M.S. in School Counseling; she has served in the USAF Reserves, owned a Deli, was a stay-at-home Mom, and taught in Texas for 13 years.

Molly Naaktgeboren

CTE Teacher

Molly Naaktgeboren is an AAA Driver Improvement Instructor and received her teaching certificate through Relay Graduate School of Education and her Masters in Education from the University of Pittsburgh. Molly joined the NACTEC team in 2020 and teaches Driver Education, Culinary Arts, Cultural Tourism, and Career Skills. In her free time she loves to learn and practice artistic crafts and skills such as stained glass, sewing, and creating culinary confections.

Chris Paskvan

CTE Teacher

Chris joined the NACTEC team in 2020 and teaches a variety of courses including Aviation, Design Technology, and Career Exploration. He completed his undergraduate work at Bemidji State University in Minnesota in Elementary Education. He also has a degree in Criminology from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. Chris previously taught a variety of grades and subjects in St. Michael for seven years. Chris enjoys traveling, being outdoors, and hunting.

Elena Malova

Dormitory Manager

Elena started working at NACTEC in 2008 as a house parent and currently serves as the dormitory manager. She loves swimming, roller skating, and cooking with the students and helping them through homesickness when the need arises. Elena was born in the city of Ivanovo, Russia and earned her Russian college degree in Business. Elena moved to Nome in 1997. She loves to travel, picking berries, wild mushrooms, and spending time with friends. Elena is married to Joseph Small, they have a son and three grandchildren.

Penny Gray

STEM Teacher

Penny Gray joined NACTEC in 2022 as part of the STEM team that will deliver the Engineering is Elementary curriculum program. She has been teaching in the Bering Strait School District since 2018. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Science she went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Teaching and Learning. She has lived in seven different states and enjoys traveling. Alaska has become the place she calls home. Most recently she has taught in Gambell and has enjoyed building relationships with students and staff. She has three dogs and travels every chance she can.

Maggie “Kiimlluk” Gray

Program Coordinator

Maggie “Kiimlluk” Gray is Program Coordinator at NACTEC and did her Elementary Education undergraduate work at University of Mississippi, and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from University of Alaska Southeast. Maggie has taught Pre-K through 12th grade on the North Slope, Southwest region, and in Gambell for five years. Maggie has coached Mixed 6 Volleyball, Girl’s Basketball, Cross Country running, and XC Ski/Biathlon. She enjoys many interests including yet not limited to wood burning, painting, coaching, sports, and spending time with her wife and 3 pups: Juneau, Sitka, and Nali.

Dr. Sophia Pantelis

STEM Teacher

Dr. Sophia Pantelis joined the NACTEC team in 2021 to deliver the PreK-12 Alaska Native Engineering Education Development project. She has a dual Bachelor of Sciences degree, a dual Master’s degree in PreK-Elementary and Special Education, and a Doctorate in Education. After completion of her graduate studies, Sophia worked with the U.N and UNICEF collaborative across developing countries, which led to government and private projects with various International Ministries of Education overseas. She enjoys trekking around with her family and you can catch them all out on the tundra sporting their Red Sox caps!

Demetrios Pantelis

STEM Teacher

Demetrios Pantelis joined NACTEC in 2021 as part of the team that will deliver the Engineering is Elementary curriculum program. After receiving a degree in Geography from the University of Buffalo, he worked jobs in banking and accounting in NY until following his heart into Education. Worldly travels have provided the opportunity to work with many grade levels from grade 5, to most recently, high school Science in Stebbins. Demetrios enjoys basketball, and reading and watching movies with his children. And like his wife, he enjoys trekking outdoors, but preferably with NY hats on.