Celebrating Women Who Inspire: National Geographic Learning Honors International Women’s Day
Macie Gray
Marketing Intern • National Geographic Learning | Cengage
The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Career Journeys series is aimed to shed light on current career trends as they align to student career clusters. In this series installation, we have interviewed Chris Orr, a High School Principal in the Education & Training career cluster. Chris shares with us the career journey that lead her to his current role with Capital Christian High School. Chris dives what motivated him to pursue this career, milestones that lead to where he’s at today, how she stands out in her field and advice for others looking to pursue this career. This series also offers career outlook data collected from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is also a call to action for accelerating gender equality. At National Geographic Learning, we take pride in recognizing the contributions of women across all disciplines—whether in Social Studies, Science, Math, English Language Learning, or Career and Technical Education.
This year, we are spotlighting voices from our own National Geographic Learning team. We reached out to several of our colleagues to hear about the women who have inspired them, their experiences in the workplace, and their perspectives on what it means to celebrate this important day. Below, you’ll find insights from our Marketing team members!
Tania Pecoraro:
My name is Tania, and I am the Global K12 Channel Manager. I grew up in Miami, FL and attended Florida State University, where I earned my Bachelor’s in Sports Management and Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communication with a Project Management Certificate. I currently live in Lake Charles, LA with my husband Tony who is a college football coach, and two kids- my son Rocky who is 11 and daughter Izzy who is 8. Throughout the years, I have worked in several industries including HR, Staffing, Recruiting, Education, Sales and Marketing.
1. Can you share a woman—whether in your personal life, or history—who has deeply inspired you, and why?
I’ve had several strong women over the years be a wonderful influence on my personal and professional journey. However, the most important since day one has been my mother along with my grandmother. From the critical impact of immigrating to this country from Cuba to create a better life for the family and future generations, the strength and perseverance both instilled in me is priceless. Never having the opportunity to attend college, my mother supported my dreams to attend FSU and helped me move not knowing a single person. Her drive and belief in allowing me to create an independent life provided me opportunities professionally to financially support myself and also where I met my husband. I am incredibly grateful to not only them but the other strong women who gave me an opportunity throughout my career.
2. What advice would you give to young women looking to build their careers in your industry?
While most women love a plan, the most important piece of advice I would give is to be ADAPTABLE! Life doesn’t always follow the plan you have set. However, it does always work out at the right time and place. Don’t be afraid to apply for a position if you don’t meet all the requirements. Put yourself out there and network as much as you can. Most of the positions I’ve held throughout the years, I didn’t check every box on the job post. However, if it’s the right fit with your goals and values, you can grow into any job with the right support and thankfully I’ve had amazing women in leadership positions guide me to success.
Brittany Fischer:
My name is Brittany Fischer, and I started with this company right out of college in 2008. I am a graphic designer, and my passion is designing and optimizing systems and workflows. Outside of work, I am an avid animal lover and former dog trainer, so I usually have a rescue dog or three around at all times. I also love to travel, SCUBA dive, and binge-watch historical dramas.
- Can you share a woman—whether in your personal life, or history—who has deeply inspired you, and why?
Julie Castillo — a dear friend from college who’s been a longtime inspiration to me. She has a master’s in psychology, is the mother of a toddler and three teenage stepdaughters, is going back to school to get her PH.D., and as a teacher spent years championing STEM and CTE programs. She manages all this while being close with her family, keeping in touch with friends, supporting her kids’ extracurricular activities, playing on a softball team, and she gets Christmas cards out on time every year. She’s amazing. - What advice would you give to young women looking to build their careers in your industry?
Commit to building a work community that goes beyond your current job role and career goals. Never underestimate the value of networking. We succeed together and there is room for all of us to thrive.
Amy Banko:
I am a former high school math teacher who left the classroom for educational publishing. I’ve been in the educational publishing industry for almost 12 years and have done everything from content development (writing and editing) to product management and product marketing.
1. Can you share a woman—whether in your personal life, or history—who has deeply inspired you, and why?
Denise McDowell was my manager at a previous company. She saw potential in me that I never saw, and I am so glad that she pushed me in the ways she did to learn and grow. She truly cared not only about my professional growth but about me as an individual.
- What advice would you give to young women looking to build their careers in your industry?
I would say if you have a passion for a particular subject area but aren’t sure about teaching, that there are so many other career possibilities out there! I would also like to tell any current teachers who aren’t sure if they want to continue that your skills are valued and transferrable outside the classroom!
Lauren Kelly:
My name is Lauren Kelly, and I’m a former high school math teacher turned product marketer for Core Mathematics. After 15 years in the classroom, I now get to combine my love for math education with creative storytelling to support teachers and students in new ways.
- Can you share a woman—whether in your personal life, or history—who has deeply inspired you, and why?
Jen Galla, my high school math teacher, showed me what it truly means to be a great educator. She made math feel accessible, engaging, and even fun, which inspired me to follow in her footsteps. Because of her, I found my passion for teaching math and helping others see its value. - What advice would you give to young women looking to build their careers in your industry?
If you love math, history, science, or any subject that sparks your curiosity, there are so many ways to turn that passion into a career. Teaching is an incredible way to inspire students, but you can also explore roles in curriculum development, edtech, and marketing. Stay open to new opportunities, follow what excites you, and know that your love for learning can lead to a rewarding path.
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