Hello, my name is Vaughn Thornton and although I have a bit of traveling under my belt, Detroit, Michigan will always be home. In high school, I completed a service trip to Costa Rica, which was a big influence on my decision to study Spanish Education and continue on to my masters in International Education. I’m a recently returned Peace Corps Volunteer and spent the last year and a half teaching English in Indonesia. I am dedicated to using education to create a more equitable world by using it as a platform to grow students’ understanding of the world around them. This looks like ensuring that racial and ethnic diversity is included in the curriculum and that LGBTQ students’ voices are heard and celebrated. My superpower is interpretation, even outside of actual languages, I have found a unique ability to explain other’s perspectives within different contexts. I’m very proud of the international experiences I’ve had. My mother has never had the opportunity to leave the US. When I think about my time in Europe, Latin America, and Asia I am reminded of the work my ancestors put in to get me here. I am also proud to say that I saw Avengers: Endgame three times in three different cities across Indonesia because I’m a big superhero fan. Of course, I cried each time.