I had the pleasure of working with Rimona during Saturday Academy’s 2024 summer camps, where they served as a Lead Educator. Over the summer, they led full-day, weeklong camps for students in grades 3–8 at the University of Portland campus. They designed and facilitated the curriculum for each camp, which consistently stood out for its thoughtful structure, clear learning goals, and hands-on, interdisciplinary activities that integrated a clever blend of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

The classes Mo led struck an expert balance between academic rigor, creativity, and play, making complex concepts both accessible and exciting. Students made their own paper, created zines, and explored scientific principles through art and local ecology. Several campers even shared with me that Mo’s camps were the highlight of their summer.

What I appreciate most about Mo’s approach as an educator is their attentiveness to each student’s learning journey. They were incredibly thoughtful in adapting their curriculum in real time to support a wide range of learning styles, interests, and developmental stages. Their ability to establish engaging learning pathways while maintaining academic cohesion throughout the week is a rare and valuable skill.

I especially applaud how Mo encouraged students to explore, create, and take ownership of their learning—an approach that not only deepened students’ understanding of STEAM topics, but also sparked genuine curiosity, confidence, and joy through hands-on discovery.

It was truly a pleasure to work with Mo, and I hope they continue to have opportunities to lead creatively. They are skilled across the board—from curriculum design to classroom management to collaboration with co-teachers and support staff—and would be an asset to any educational program or organization that values innovation, inclusivity, and experiential learning. I highly recommend Mo and am excited to see where their talents take them next.

-Allison Beebe, Youth Programs Manager, Saturday Academy

I’d never made a papercut illustration prior to taking Rimona’s class at the Independent Publishing Resource Center. And to be honest, I was a little reluctant. At the beginning of class, Mo gave us each a pair of scissors and a small piece of colored paper to shape as we pleased, then asked us to partner with someone we didn’t know and paste our cut-outs together. The two of us buddied up with another pair of students. Our new foursome found another foursome. And before we knew it, the whole class had built a beautiful paper sculpture and a comfortable community. It was a great warm-up for creating our illustrations.

Time flew as we chatted and worked. I love the papaercut illustration I made, and even more, the creative process Mo guided us through. As a longtime (and now retired) teacher, I appreciate all the planning, the variety of materials, and the initial setup Mo did to design a creative space.

-Jane Meininger, Retired Elementary Educator, North Clackamas School District