Wicket: Revolutionizing Education through Innovation

In the unique landscapes of Mesa, Arizona, where the desert meets the sky, a convergence of paths led three extraordinary individuals to forge a partnership destined to transform education. Mark Linsley, Karen Guerrero, and John Guerrero, each heralding from distinct realms of life and expertise, are united under a standard banner named Wicket—a beacon of innovation in a world thirsty for educational evolution.

Diverse Paths to a Unified Vision

Mark Linsley’s life has been a tapestry woven with threads of global exploration, professional shifts, and personal resilience. From backpacking across Europe to sailing uncharted waters, his experiences outside the conventional paths fueled his insight into the transformative power of data and strategic innovation. In contrast, Karen Guerrero’s journey through education, marked by a relentless pursuit of knowledge and a passion for empowering diverse learners, equipped her with the tools to reimagine how education meets technology. Meanwhile, John Guerrero translated his championship-winning strategies from the golf course into life lessons, fostering environments where young athletes could thrive in sports and their academic pursuits.

A Mission Born from Collective Strength

The formation of Wicket was not merely about starting another educational initiative but also about creating a revolution. This vision drew strength from Mark’s analytical prowess, Karen’s innovative educational methodologies, and John’s leadership in building character and community. Together, they envisioned a world where education transcends traditional classrooms, blending with real-world applications and cutting-edge technology to prepare individuals for tests and life.

At Wicket, our mission is to seamlessly integrate the classroom, the field, and the workplace into a practical educational experience. We leverage AI to customize learning, VR to simulate real-world scenarios, and data analytics to enhance decision-making. This approach equips learners of all ages and backgrounds with the skills to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.

Expanding Our Collective Impact

As Wicket continues to evolve, so does our team. We have grown beyond our founding vision to welcome new voices with varied expertise and a shared passion for transforming education. Nedre White, Elizabeth Fuiava, and Alyzzah Vakasiuola add new dimensions to our work, strengthening our commitment to accessibility, innovation, and mentorship.

Nedre’s deep-rooted passion for STEM education and literacy ensures that learning is engaging and accessible for all students. Elizabeth’s extensive experience in inclusive education and community leadership enhances our ability to support diverse learners. Alyzzah’s background in athletics and mentorship adds a dynamic layer to our work, expanding Wicket’s reach into sports education and leadership development.

Together, we bridge disciplines, experiences, and cultures to push the boundaries of education. Our collective strengths empower us to create transformative learning opportunities, ensuring that Wicket remains at the forefront of innovation, accessibility, and impact.

A Future Forged Together

At Wicket, we believe that the richness of ideas comes from the diversity of voices. That’s why we actively seek to expand our network, inviting educators, industry professionals, and community leaders to join us. This collaborative spirit is at the heart of every project and initiative, driving inclusive and impactful innovation.

As we continue to grow, we remain committed to shaping the future of education—creating pathways that empower individuals to maximize their potential through dynamic, diverse, and technology-driven learning experiences.

Meet the Team

Karen Guerrero, an educator, NatGeo Explorer, and innovator from Arizona, has more than thirty years experience teaching in the K-12 classroom, teaching future educators, and conducting teacher professional development; working with students from inner-city children to urban adults. She has a PhD in eLearning and EdD in leadership and innovation and her research focuses on teaching STEM content to English learners, gamification, Civics education, and using innovative technologies to support teaching and learning. She is a mom, traveler,, and lifelong learner who continually looks for opportunities to collaborate globally. Co-founding Wicket brings together Karen’s goals, aspirations, and commitment to the education community worldwide.

Mark Linsley, a vibrant soul from Mesa, Arizona, navigates life with curiosity and adventure. His journey spans academia, backpacking across Europe, immersing in Ecuadorian culture, and sailing the seas. Returning to Arizona, Mark embraced healthcare and Planned Parenthood management roles before pivoting to strategic marketing consulting. Amidst life’s twists, including pandemic challenges, Mark finds solace in golfing, swimming, and his loyal rescue dog, Aida. His diverse experiences culminate in the founding of Wicket, driven by a passion for data analysis and strategic innovation. Mark embraces life’s unpredictability with humor and resilience, eager to embark on new adventures.

John Guerrero is a golf professional and Men’s and Women’s college golf coach whose teams have won the ACCAC and NJCAA Region I Titles 21 times, qualified for the NJCAA tournament 37 times, and held 20 top five finishes, 26 top 10 finishes at the NJCAA National Championships, and won the 2017 NJCAA D2 National Championship. For 20 years the MCC team was the top D2 team at Nationals. John received 21 ACCAC Coach of the Year awards, 39 student athletes have been All-Americans, 81 have been All-Conference, and 65 have been All-Region. He was inducted into the NJCAA Women’s Golf Hall of Fame in 2014 and Mesa Community College Hall of Fame in 2023. John continues to support more than 200 student athletes after they move on to universities and careers, inspires high athletic and educational achievement, and teaches critical life lessons to develop athletic, academic, and personal skills in the athletes he works with. Generosity of spirit has been among the coach’s well-rounded life lessons, with the golf teams adopting families during the holidays, assisting in junior golf tournaments, running golf clinics for underprivileged youth, supporting Special Olympics golfers, and helping to integrate golf into the elementary PE curriculum in local schools. These philanthropic goals have inspired John to co-found Wicket, a nonprofit, to continue to make a difference in the local and global golf community. You can read his feature in the Arizona Golf magazine for more details on John’s accomplishments.

Nedre White was born in Lubbock, Texas, and raised in New Jersey. I have been a teacher for over 30 years, most of whom were in the primary grades working in reading, ESL, Early  Childhood, STEM, and Gifted Programs. Teaching is my passion because I can help students grow and become lifelong learners. In my spare time, I like to travel around the world to learn new things to share with my students. The STEMSS project helped me develop my identity as a geography teacher and guided my creation of lesson plans and skills in conducting workshops. This lesson has been tested in multiple classrooms and introduces a culture that students are familiar with. I ensured the lesson included rich vocabulary so my English Language Learner (ELL) students could use it to comprehend what they learned. The lesson includes critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. All these skills are essential for modern students to succeed in school and the workplace.

Greetings. My name is Elizabeth Fuiava, and I have 24 years of experience in educating young minds in various capacities. I’ve taught for 19 years as a classroom teacher in American Samoa, Washington, and Arizona for levels K, 1st , 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. I earned my bachelor’s degree in elementary education through the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the fall of 2010 and a master’s in science for special education from Western Governors University in the fall of 2020. In 2017, I gained my Washington teacher residency certificate while working one year as a paraeducator, one year as a site director for the YMCA, and two years as a certified substitute teacher. I moved to Arizona in 2018 to help my husband start another church ministry branch for the First Samoan Full Gospel Pentecostal Church. I’ve been actively involved since 1996 as a leader for the children’s choir and Bible ministry.

Alyzzah Vakasiuola is a senior at Grand Canyon University, where they play on the women’s golf team and are majoring in Applied Science in Technology. Alyzzah previously attended Mesa Community College, where they earned NJCAA DI First Team All-American honors for three consecutive years (2020-21, 2021-22, 2023-24). In the 2023-24 season, Alyzzah was named ACCAC Player of the Year and tied for third at the NJCAA Women’s Golf National Championship with a 5-under scorecard. They won multiple events throughout college and consistently delivered impressive performances, including a second-place finish at the NJCAA National Championship in 2021-22. During high school, Alyzzah attended Hamilton High School and Combs High School, where they played three years of golf and achieved a low score round average of 70. They were named First Team All-Conference. Born in New Zealand, Alyzzah enjoys art, fashion, and sports. Inspired by their own golf experiences, Alyzzah co-founded Wicket, a non-profit, to make a difference in the local and global golf community. They aim to inspire those who want to learn the game and provide opportunities to others with golf knowledge, both at the college level and professionally.