Clark County
Alane McQueeney
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Bonanza High School & Clark High School
Email: mcquea@nv.ccsd.net
Website: click here
Hometown: San Jose, California
Alane McQueeney
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Bonanza High School & Clark High School
Hometown: San Jose, California
Bio: Alane is originally from San Jose, California and moved to Nevada in 1985. This is her twentieth year in the Clark County School District. For most of those years, she has been serving student as a Bonanza High School counselor. Alane graduated from California State University, Northridge in 1985 with a degree in Health Education. In 1995, she earned a master’s degree in Counseling and Educational Psychology. Alane is passionate about connecting students with scholarships so that college can be accessible for all who want it. She is excited to work with GEAR UP and help students with their post-secondary goals.
In her spare time, Alane enjoys time with her family, West Coast Swing dancing, and traveling.
Favorite Quote: “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” – Mark Twain
Amanda Tapia
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Bonanza High School
Email: kohleam@nv.ccsd.net
Website: click here
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Amanda Tapia
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Bonanza High School
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Bio: Amanda is a born and raised Las Vegas/Las Vegas area resident. She graduated from UNLV in 2007 with a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and has been teaching in the Clark County School District ever since. When she moved up to teach middle school math she found a new passion advocating for students and talking to them about their plans for the future. This led her to pursue a Master’s degree from Touro University in School Counseling, recently graduating in 2021. Amanda is excited to join the GEAR UP team focusing on college and career counseling. Outside of work, Amanda is married with two children and all of her free time is spent at soccer practices, games or a taekwondo studio for her sons.
Favorite Quote: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” -Norman Vincent Peale
Vannessa Apo
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Bonanza High School
Email: apovc@nv.ccsd.net
Website: click here
Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia
Vannessa Apo
Vannessa Apo
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Bonanza High School
Hometown: Woodbridge, Virginia
Bio: Vannessa grew up in various cities and towns across the USA but refers to Woodbridge, Virginia as her hometown. She moved to Las Vegas in 2005 with her family and completed her Associates in Education at CSN. From there she went on to UNLV where she completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She taught 7th grade History while pursuing her Masters in Counseling, which she completed in September of 2021. That same year she embarked on her School Counseling career before moving into GEAR UP. Vannessa loves all things Disney, spending time with her family, catching up on her never-ending list of shows, reading, practicing Yoga, going to concerts, coffee and traveling. She is excited to be a part of the GEAR UP team to support students with their post-secondary goals.
Favorite Quote: “When you’re curious you find lots of interesting things to do.” – Walt Disney
Shannon Smith
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Clark High School
Email: smithsl@nv.ccsd.net
Website: click here
Hometown: Whitefish, Montana
Shannon Smith
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Clark High School
Hometown: Whitefish, Montana
Bio:
Shannon grew up in the beautiful resort town of Whitefish, Montana and attended the University of Montana, Missoula for an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She moved to Las Vegas with her family in August of 2000 and completed her master’s degree in Educational Counseling from the University of Phoenix, Las Vegas in October 2002. Shannon began teaching special education in August of 2003 and moved to counseling in August of 2007. She has two sons, both attending college away from home and will be looking for projects and activities to fill that empty nest. In her spare time, she likes reading, cooking, hiking, traveling and spending time with her very large extended family.
Shannon is looking forward to working with the GEAR UP team and helping students and families navigate the road of college and career awareness.
Favorite Quote: “You may see me struggle but you will never see me quit” -Anonymous
Donovan Stewart
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Durango High School
Email: stewada1@nv.ccsd.net
Website: click here
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Donovan Stewart
Donovan Stewart
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Durango High School
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Bio: Donovan Stewart has lived in 5 states during his lifetime (New York, California, Connecticut, Oregon, Nevada); however, Las Vegas, Nevada, has been his home for over 20 years. He is beginning his 14th year in the Clark County School District. During his first seven years, he was a special education teacher, and for the last seven years, he has been a high school counselor. Donovan graduated from UNLV with a bachelor’s degree in Communications in 2001. While at UNLV, he was a member of the Runnin’ Rebels basketball team. He later returned to UNLV to earn a Master’s degree in Education, emphasizing Special Education. In 2015, he earned a Master’s degree from Touro University in School Counseling, and currently, he is working on a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration at National University. Donovan will be in his first year working with the GEAR UP team! He is excited to work with such a fantastic group of educators and staff members to support students and their families in making post-secondary options more accessible and attainable for all students.
Donovan is married and has four children (all boys), and he is finally expecting a little girl who will arrive in December 2021. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with family, exercising, traveling, photography, and watching his two favorite sports (basketball and tennis).
Favorite Quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou
Nye County
Jennifer Hagstrom
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Pahrump Valley High School
Email: jhagstrom@nyeschools.org
School website: click here
Hometown: Cadillac, Michigan
Jennifer Hagstrom
Jennifer Hagstrom
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Pahrump Valley High School
Hometown: Cadillac, Michigan
Bio: Jennifer is from beautiful Cadillac, Michigan in the scenic Midwest. Upon graduation from Saginaw Valley State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education, she relocated to Pahrump, Nevada where she has been a teacher and counselor at Pahrump Valley High School for the past 15 years. During her tenure in Pahrump, Jen earned her Master’s Degree in School Counseling from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. As a first generation college student herself, Jen made a valuable connection with her high school counselor which drove her to continue to work with students in a counseling setting. She is passionate about helping students navigate the college and career exploration process after graduation, and loves visits from former students. In her spare time, Jen enjoys spending time with friends, family, travelling, and spoiling her dogs Breslin, and Wrigley. Jen is ecstatic to be a part of the GEAR UP family to do the exciting work of helping students to dream, believe and achieve their goals.
Favorite Quote: “When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts.” -Dalai Lama
Yulissa Castillo
GEAR UP Facilitator – Pahrump Valley High School
Email: ycastillo@nyeschools.org
School website: click here
Hometown: Pahrump, Nevada
Yulissa Castillo
Nevada GEAR UP Facilitator – Pahrump Valley High School
Hometown: Pahrump, Nevada
Bio: Yulissa graduated from Pahrump Valley High School in 2015. After graduation she enrolled at CSN. Yulissa worked for the GEAR UP Program from 2015-2019 as the Parent Involvement Liaison. She really enjoyed working with the students, and helping them with their transition to after high school. She’s excited to be back working for GEAR UP! In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and travelling.
Favorite Quote: “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them” Maya Angelou
Destiney Duff
Nevada GEAR UP Facilitator – Pahrump Valley High School
Email: dduff@nyeschools.org
School website: click here
Hometown: Pahrump, Nevada
Destiney Duff
Nevada GEAR UP Facilitator – Pahrump Valley High School
Hometown: Pahrump, Nevada
Bio: Destiney from Pahrump, Nevada. After graduating from Pahrump Valley High School, Destiney enrolled at UNLV where she attended for a year before transferring over to GBC where she finished her degree in Elementary Education. Destiney has known from a young age that she wanted to work in the school system and try to be a positive part of the students’ day. Ultimately, Destiney wants to help make as many students as she can feel comfortable and know that they have people in their corner rooting them on. Destiney has a lot of experience navigating through college and is eager to share some of those experiences to help alleviate the students’ stress and make them feel more confident in their choices about their future.
Favorite Quote: “Arrange whatever pieces come your way” – Virginia Woolf
Mineral County
Kristy Bekiares
GEAR UP Specialist – Mineral County High School
Email: bekiares.kristy@nvmcsd.org
School website: click here
Hometown: Shurz, Nevada
Kristy Bekiares
Nevada GEAR UP Specialist – Mineral County High School
Hometown: Schurz, Nevada
Bio: Kristy is a true rural northern Nevadan, having attended Mineral County High School and graduating from Yerington High School. She was a transfer student from Western Nevada College and Truckee Meadows Community College, ultimately graduating from University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation: Fitness/Wellness Management.
Kristy raised her family in Fallon, Nevada where she worked for Churchill County in Parks and Recreation in collaboration with schools, taught classes, coordinated community programs and events, and managed the aquatic center. She has always been passionate about helping students figure out their higher education path and career goals. She has also coached high school and youth swimming, tennis, cheer, basketball, softball, and gymnastics. When she is not coaching, you can usually find her in the stands supporting athletes.
Kristy’s love for education led her to an MBA at Ashford University with a focus in finance, and is currently working on a dual master’s degree program in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She hopes to continue supporting students’ educational planning to further their career goals through learning.
Favorite Quote: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go” – Dr. Seuss
