Juana, Castillo

Juana Castillo is a Disciplinary Literacy Coach with the NWREC2. Born and raised on the Navajo Nation, she is from Pueblo Pintado, NM located near Chaco Canyon. Her clans are Tachiinii (Red Running into the Water), Haltsooi (Meadow People), Kinliichiinii (Red House Clan) and Hashtliishnii (Mud People Clan).

Juana earned her Bachelors in Anthropology from Fort Lewis College before beginning her teaching career with Teach for America New Mexico in 2017. After teaching for 5 years (5th and 6th grade), Juana moved to New York City to pursue and earn her Masters in Anthropology and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. This opportunity gave her the chance to dive deep into researching Indigenous and Diné Education systems focusing specifically on Culturally Sustaining/ Revitalization pedagogies, and Decolonization education theories. After earning her Masters, Juana moved back to New Mexico in 2024 to continue teaching. She taught sixth through tenth grade Social Studies/History at a small Charter school in Navajo, NM before becoming a Disciplinary Literacy Coach. Juana also has experience in Curriculum Development in Indigenous education and has worked as a cultural consultant for various Indigenous schools around California, the Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest regions of the United States.

In her spare time, she loves to travel, write, and listen to music and audiobooks. Juana also loves beading and creating earrings for her Instagram page, Juana Maria Creations.