Naomi Herthel

Beginning this fall, I will contribute to mixed‑methods research on scaling the non‑residential model of Duke TeachHouse, a Duke‑affiliated program designed to support early‑career teacher wellbeing, belonging, and retention.

Special Camp is a nonprofit summer day camp based in San Juan Capistrano, California focused on fostering an inclusive, supportive environment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). This past summer, as one of eight full-time staff members, I worked closely with camp administration, counselors, campers, and their families to ensure a smooth experience for all. In addition to overseeing one‑on‑one camper-counselor pairings, I trained new counselors, facilitated house visits with incoming camper families, managed and organized sensitive files, and served as a central point of contact for all stakeholders.