Mentor Spotlight

A Legacy Of Mentoring

Jan Reed ~ Karina Roessel ~ Dru Dale Winney

“A commitment to education, friendship, support, and guidance everyday.” That’s the legacy that Karina Roessel’s mentor, Jan Reed, past principal at Chinle Elementary School, passed on to her. Ms. Reed’s reputation for encouraging excellence in all things is legendary, even today. Her mentoring and life-long friendship with Karina is a true legacy.

Along with Karina’s mother, her uncle, Raymond Nakai, and her mentor, Jan Reed, Karina was surrounded by a caring circle of love, inspiration, and support. Their cumuliative message to Karina was to “remain focused, be excellent in all you do and you will have a great future.”

Karina followed in her mentor’s footsteps. She attended the University of Northern Colorado Teacher’s College where she received a Special Education/Elementary degree. Later, she attained her Masters degree from Northern Arizona University.

She first taught special education in Ganado, AZ on the Navajo Nation. When a position opened for Dean of Students at Chinle Elementary, Karina applied and was given the job. The opportunity brought Karina full circle back to her mentor, Jan Reed.

Today, many years later, Karina Roessel is principal of Round Rock Elementary-Junior High School in Round Rock AZ. She is studying for her doctorate of education at Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ.

Today, Karina is mentor to Dru Dale Winney, a sixth grade Navajo student with a 4.0 grade point average.

The legacy continues.