Sonia Argueta is an educator with 22 years of experience in bilingual education. She’s worked at the second largest New York State School District, Brentwood Union Free School District, where she served as a 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade bilingual teacher. She’s also worked with adult English Language Learners (ELLs) in an ESL Evening High School program for Adult Education.

As a native Spanish-speaker, Mrs. Argueta loves sharing the love of her language and culture with her students. She was raised in Venezuela where she earned her first college degree in Business Administration. Mrs. Argueta immigrated to the United States, where she fulfilled her dream of learning English and earned an Early Childhood Education degree at Five Towns College. She later continued her professional career at Saint John’s University where she earned a Master of Science in Education degree in TESOL.

As an educator, Mrs. Argueta understands the importance of professional development and serving others. She enjoys teaching ELL students, providing them with meaningful lessons, strategies, and skills to help them reach their full potential. She also enjoys assisting parents by providing them with information and developing workshops that help them understand the educational system in America, but also, to help them learn about the many services that are available through the school and overall community.

Mrs. Argueta has a passion for teaching bilingual students. She brings her students’ culture into the classroom by bridging students’ personal backgrounds and experiences to their experiences in a U.S. school.  In her daily teaching, she engages students by looking at similarities and differences through products, practices, and perspectives of cultures.

Mrs. Argueta believes that a good education shapes, not only minds, but also the hearts of students. She believes that learning the language and traditions of other cultures can make students gain cross-cultural understanding and an appreciation of others. Her biggest joy is seeing students thrive, develop their self-esteem and grow in confidence while they are learning English.

Dr. Jordan González started his career teaching English as a Foreign Language in Madrid, Spain.  He followed his passion for bilingual education and became an ENL and Spanish for Heritage Speakers Teacher for five years, in the New York City Department of Education.

Dr. González then served as the Director of Language Acquisition for Yonkers Public Schools, where he led K-12 programs in Bilingual Education (Dual Language and Transitional Bilingual Education), English as a New Language, and World Languages, across forty schools.  During those four years, he provided leadership and professional learning to principals, teachers and families on ELL-English Language Learner state regulations (CR-Part 154), ELL programs, and instruction for language development.  Dr. González started and cultivated the NYS Seal of Biliteracy program in Yonkers, in 2017, where seniors graduate with formal recognition of their proficiency and academic achievement in English and a World Language.

Currently, Dr. Jordan González serves as the administrative coordinator and lead resource specialist for the Long Island Regional Bilingual Resource Network (L.I.RBERN), where he provides technical assistance, professional development, and support to school districts in Nassau and Suffolk counties as it relates to ELLs.  He participates in NYSED taskforce committees for the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) including the NYS Seal of Biliteracy Taskforce and is currently the Chair for the ELL Graduation Rate Taskforce.

Lisa Pineda, born in Brooklyn, NY, of a Puerto Rican mother and Honduran father, serves as the Associate Director of Partnerships and Family and Student Programs for the Division of Multilingual Learners and Family Community Partnerships at the New York City Department of Education (NYC DOE). For the past 11 years, Lisa has dedicated her career to supporting family and student empowerment. She has held positions at NYC DOE as the Director of Family Engagement at the Office of Family and Community Empowerment and the Office of Cluster One Office, serving over 300 schools. As the Family Leadership Coordinator at The Office of High School Superintendents, Lisa led borough and citywide training for parent coordinators, school administrators, and parent leaders. She has coached new principals and assistant principals on school-parent connections and parent leadership structures. She also supported the design of the first Welcome Centers at the Thomas Jefferson Campus and the Franklin K Lane Campus in Brooklyn. In her current role at the Division of Multilingual Learners, Lisa collaborates with organizations to develop culturally responsive programs that promote education advocacy for parents and students, particularly newcomers and students in temporary housing. As the supervisor of the Angelo Del Toro Puerto/Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute, Lisa works in collaboration with the RBERNs at Fordham University and New York University as well as the NYSED/NYC DOE Seal of Biliteracy initiatives to provide students with greater opportunities for success. In addition to working at the NYC Department of Education, Lisa has experience in organizing study and travel abroad programs for students to Europe, Asia, Middle East and The University of Rio Piedras in Puerto Rico.

Nancy de la Cruz-Arroyo serves as the Director of Multilingual Learner Programs for the Ossining Union Free School District.  The daughter of a Puerto Rican mother and a Dominican father, Nancy has worked as a bilingual teacher, higher education administrator, school administrator and school district administrator throughout her career.

Nancy began her career as a bilingual teacher in New York City’s District 4 in East Harlem before transitioning to multiple roles within the CUNY Hunter College School of Education.  She served as coordinator of two funded programs which increased the number of highly-effective certified teachers in Schools Under Registration Review (SURR) through college coursework, mentoring and professional development. She also served as the Director of Clinical Experiences, facilitating fieldwork and student teaching placements for teacher candidates; and as the Coordinator of the Childhood Education program, the largest within the School of Education.

She has served the Ossining School District since 2008.  As the Coordinator of Funded Programs, she has written dozens of grants which have provided extensive funding and  resources to support students and families via academic programs and wrap-around services.  She served as the Assistant Principal of the district’s early childhood center, offering her the opportunity to work with the youngest learners, and their families, as they began their journeys in the district’s schools.

Presently, as Director of Multilingual Learner Programs, Nancy supports the district’s ENL program and World Language programs, as well as the Two Voices/One World Dual Language Program, to promote bilingualism and multilingualism for students. She works closely with faculty to increase the number of students receiving the NYS Seal of Biliteracy and she has helped design and implement the district’s EdPrep Academy, a program to inspire and prepare multilingual high school students to pursue careers in education. Nancy remains passionate and committed to building pathways to opportunities for academic and life success for multilingual learners.

My name is Gloria Kimmich. I am a kindergarten teacher in the dual language program for the seventh year in a row in Syracuse City School District.   I am originally from the South Bronx, New York. I grew up in a Hispanic neighborhood where many of my neighbors and friends spoke more than one language and came from diverse backgrounds.  My upbringing shaped my outlook on different cultures and helped me to understand and welcome unique individuals and their experiences. It has also heavily influenced me in my career path in education. I am certified in Early Childhood birth to 2, Childhood Education grades 1-6, and ENL certified.  I have been a member of my districts Emergent Bilingual Language Team for the last 7 years and have assisted in the creation of our mission and vision of the school that pertains to our dual language program.

I have a wonderful husband and two children, ages 4 and 17, that support me in the work that I am committed to in the dual program.   My family understands my dedication and the time I spend to involve myself in dual language initiatives and programs that support teachers, students, and families alike.

As a dual language delegate, I hope to continue to advocate for dual language programs that support students in bilingualism and high academic achievement.  I also want to be the model for teachers of color who foster a sense of self and belonging in unique programs such as dual language programs.

Ilianatacha Rosa was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Williamsburg, Brooklyn  in the State of New York.  She attended SUNY Cortland and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Education.  She went on to receive a Masters in TESOL Education at SUNY Brockport and a Bilingual Extension at SUNY Oneonta.   Ms. Rosa has been teaching Bilingual/Dual Language education at the Syracuse City School District for the past eight years and is currently taking courses towards an Educational Leadership degree.

Ms. Rosa grew up in a family that instilled the importance of culture, heritage and language.  She is a product of Bilingual and ENL education, having received support from both programs throughout her elementary years.  Ms. Rosa hopes to use her leadership to advocate for bilingual education and its initiatives.  She wishes to educate and share with others the benefits of Bilingual Education.

Analy Cruz-Phommany currently serves as the Director of Bilingual Education for the Rochester City School District. As a former English Language Learner, she considers it an honor to have begun her career as a bilingual pre-kindergarten teacher.  She served students as a bilingual fifth-grade teacher for eight years and three years as an instructional coach at Enrico Fermi School No. 17.  She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from SUNY Cortland, as part of Cortland’s Urban Recruitment of Educators (CURE) Program. She went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in TESOL at Nazareth and a Master’s Degree in School District Leadership at the University of Rochester.

With a focus on Bilingual Education and Latino Achievement, she currently serves her local community as a member of the Rochester Latinx Leadership Roundtable, the NYSED ELL Leadership Council, and as a newly inducted regional delegate of the New York State Association of Bilingual Education (NYSABE).

Her aspiration is to establish a district culture where there is an individualized learning plan for bilingual students, where the success of each student matters, and where teachers are empowered to meet the language needs of all students.   Working together to cultivate a bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural community. 

Mrs. De Jesus-Lopez is the Director of Transition Systems for the Rochester City School District (RCSD). She works at the Office of Student Equity and Placement, supervising the Language Assessment Proficiency Center (LAPC), as well as supporting students in the Juvenile Justice and foster care systems. She started her career at RCSD in 2003, as a School Counselor, and her passion for supporting students and families led her to earn a degree in School Administration.

In 2017, when Mrs. De Jesus-Lopez  began working with LAPC, she worked to streamline protocols and procedures, advocate for Bilingual programs and services for English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners. In 2018, she championed for additional services for SIFE students, which resulted in the implementation of the BRIDGES program through collaboration with RBERN and district level administration. Mrs. De Jesus-Lopez is committed to the work of strengthening the collaboration of Bilingual Educators.

Dr. Maeva López-Kassem is a Bilingual Education Coach for the Division of Multilingual Education in the Buffalo Public Schools District. During her 35+ years of experience, she has taught ELLs in general, special, and bilingual education settings in Puerto Rico and New York State. She also serves as adjunct professor at SUNY College at Buffalo. As a fierce advocate for bilingual education, Maeva believes it is essential to educate members of the school community about the merits of exemplary bilingual education programs so that they may become advocates themselves. 

Maeva’s interests in bilingual education include Dual Language Program implementation and sustainability, integrated language and content curriculum development, constructivist learning, culturally and linguistically relevant teaching, translanguaging, metalingual awareness, and productive data-driven instruction.

Cynthia Felix Jeffers is a highly respected and accomplished educator who has served culturally and linguistically diverse students in the NYCDOE for 29 years in a variety of roles including Senior Director of Bilingual Programs, Network Leader, Deputy Network Leader, Instructional Support Specialist, Administrator of Special Education, Curriculum Specialist, Director of Parent Outreach, Director of Title VII Programs, Director of Bilingual/ESL Programs, Bilingual and Monolingual Teacher and her favorite PTA Mom. During that time, she has been instrumental in the planning, development, implementation and expansion of bilingual education programs from assessment and evaluation to content and curriculum. She is dedicated to ensuring all students, in particular multilingual learners and students with disabilities, have access to and receive a high quality education. She has presented at many national and local conferences and has served as a guest lecturer at colleges and universities. In addition, she is an active member of various professional organizations and serves as trustees on several community boards.

She is a proud alumnus of NYC public schools and graduated summa cum laude from Brooklyn College with an Advanced Certificate in School Administration & Supervision, a Master’s Degree in Special Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education & Speech.

Madelyn Ortiz has been an educator and advocate for multilingual learners for over 20 years.  She is an educator at the Bedford Central School District where she serves as a Spanish teacher in the Dual Language Program at Mount Kisco Elementary School.  Mrs. Ortiz’s experience as a Bilingual teacher and TESOL teacher has allowed her to engage in varied school and district projects to promote language instruction for English Language Learners.

A leader and pioneer in Bedford’s Dual Language Program, Ms. Ortiz has served on various committees from the planning and implementation phase of Dual Language to bridging communication with middle school staff and central office administrators to ensure continuity of instruction and transition.  She has presented on various topics for the parent community within her district. During the pandemic, she offered workshops for parents on how to connect with students, families and teachers when in a remote learning setting in collaboration with Neighbors Link, a community based organization. Ms. Ortiz engages in political action as a NYSUT representative in the Committee of 100. She also serves as a field supervisor at Hunter College for graduate students completing their student teaching experience in early childhood.  She is looking forward to a partnership, through NYSABE, with colleagues and families for continued advocacy for the multilingual community.

Ms. Ortiz holds degrees and credentials from the City University of New York at Lehman College, College of New Rochelle and the College of St. Rose where she completed her Certificate in Advanced Studies in School Building Administration.

Lyda Ragonese is the Assistant Director for the Office of English as a New Language, World Languages and Bilingual Education in the Syracuse City School District. She is a Hmong-American from Laos and is a fluent speaker of Hmong. She began her teaching career in 1993 as an English as a Second language teacher at Franklin Elementary before moving to Frazer K-8 School in Syracuse. She has her TESOL certification from Le Moyne College and M.A. in Reading Education from Syracuse University. After leaving the classroom, her experiences varied in the fields of student learning objectives (SLO), APPR, and was elected as the treasurer of the teacher’s union in Syracuse. She has served as an adjunct professor at Le Moyne College and earned her Certificate of Advanced Studies (C.A.S.) from Syracuse University in Educational Leadership.

Shirley J. Vargas is an accomplished educator who has dedicated over 20 years of her career to serving multilingual students of diverse backgrounds and has held various roles in the learning community. For 10 years, she served as Chairperson of the Department of World Languages at Westbury High School. She was instrumental in establishing a Home Language Arts program in

the Westbury School District, expanding the department with new teaching positions, and also establishing a language lab as an educational tool for language students via technology. The AP Spanish program has since grown two-folds, gearing students to become high achievers and true commodities to the industries they

will enter post-graduation. She serves as the NYS Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator for her district, and also co-leads as a Grant Advisor at Westbury for Nassau Community College Science and Technology Entry Program. (NCC-STEP)

Ms. Vargas’ experience includes professional development and instructional practices for second language study, English language learners, bilingual education, and college-level language study. Additionally, she holds several board positions, President of HHSRC of Melville NY, Secretary of Club Salitre Ecuatoriano of NY, and board member of Long Island Immigrant Student Advocates; each engaging the community in cultural connections and family-oriented initiatives.

She is a graduate of Hofstra University where she completed a dual major in Elementary Education and Spanish, alumni of Queens College, has completed two Master Degrees, in Education and Educational Leadership, obtained her Advanced Certification in leadership at the College of St. Rose in Albany, NY, and completed the 21 Century Learning Design/STEAM Academy program via NYIT. Additionally, she holds U.S federal clearance and works in pre-trial preparations, for DOJ Offices.

Serving as a co-leader for Latina Moms Connect, has also invited personal and community engagements for her family. Together with her husband, they have nurtured in their children pride in their Ecuadorian and Dominican backgrounds. As a proud parent of four bilingual children of her own, Ms. Vargas has dedicated her life to educating children to embrace the following ideology, “Your fluency in more than one language, pride in your cultural background, and passion to learn, are the core principles to success and the emblem that defines your greatness.”

Mi nombre es Aide Zainos Flores, soy mexicana y vivo en el Bronx. Soy madre de dos niños que asisten a programas de Lenguaje Dual, Español-Inglés, K-6to grado, en una de las escuelas públicas de Nueva York. Uno de mis hijos se graduará de la Escuela Elemental en este ciclo escolar e ingresará a la Escuela Intermedia. He sido una madre muy involucrada en su educación, he aprendido más sobre cómo funciona el sistema educativo y espero poder apoyar a mi hijo en la Escuela Intermedia.

Soy presidente de la Asociación de Padres y Maestros, PTA, de la escuela de mis hijos y participo en  el grupo de liderazgo de la escuela, SLT, así como también en el grupo de liderazgo del distrito escolar, DLT.  Como tal, he brindado mi ayuda a los padres/madres, especialmente a aquellos que no hablan inglés, para que así puedan involucrarse más en la escuela de sus hijos.

También sirvo como presidente del Concejo de Educación Comunitaria (CEC) del distrito 9 del Departamento de Educación de la ciudad de Nueva York y miembro del equipo de Equidad del Distrito 9 del Bronx. Como presidente del Concejo de Educación Comunitaria (CEC) del Distrito 9, miembro del Equipo de Liderazgo del Distrito 9 (DLT) y miembro del Equipo de Equidad del Distrito 9, abogo por todos los padres en todo el distrito. Aseguro así el proporcionar traducción e interpretación en todas nuestras reuniones y hacer que todos los padres estén informados y tengan voz en las conversaciones.

Igualmente ejerzo como miembro del grupo de Padres en Acción (PAC), miembro de la organización comunitaria de apoyo a la familia y la educación MASA, miembro activo del grupo de apoyo LINC y miembro embajadora de la organización de acción alimentaria Hunger Free NYC en el Bronx. También soy voluntaria en el centro comunitario y participo en talleres dirigidos a la comunidad. Estas membresías me han permitido brindar muchos servicios a los padres de mi comunidad, especialmente a los padres que no hablan inglés.

Me gusta escuchar y ayudar con las necesidades que existen en la comunidad de la que soy embajadora.

My name is Aide Zainos Flores. I am Mexican and live in the Bronx.  I am the mother of two children who attend NYC DOE public schools.  They are in the Spanish-English dual language program K-6 grades. My son will be moving on to Middle School this year. I have been very involved in my children’s education, have learned more about how the educational system works, and look forward to supporting my son in Middle School.

As the PTA president and member of the School Leadership Team, I have been helping parents, especially those who do not speak English, to be more involved. As chair of the Community Education Council for District 9, member of the District 9 Leadership Team, and member of the District 9 Equity Team, I advocate districtwide for all parents.  I ensure that we provide translation and interpretation at all our meetings, and that all parents are informed and have a voice. 

I am also a member of Parents in Action, PAC, member of the community and family support organization MASA, the community support group LINC, and member of the food action organization Hunger Free NYC in the Bronx. I also volunteer at the community center and participate in workshops directed to the community. These memberships have allowed me to provide many services to the parents in my community especially to those who do not speak English. 

I like to listen and help with the needs that exist in the community for which I am an ambassador.

Dr. Miriam Eisenstein Ebsworth is a teacher educator, researcher, and advocate in the areas of Bilingual Education, TESOL, Second Language Acquisition, and Applied Linguistics. She is Academic Director of the English program for the families of international students at New York University, Past Director of PhD Programs in Multilingual Multicultural Studies; and co-chair of the ELL Think Tank at NYU.

Her research interests include using technology in second language pedagogy, second language academic writing, and intercultural pragmatics. She is a consultant for the UN in the continued development of Actionthroughwords, a website for English learning and has appeared in “The Three R’s,” a film exploring academic language and the T.V. show Public Voice Salon. Miriam is the recipient of the NYSABE Bilingual Teacher of the Year award (2018-2019), the NYU Teaching Excellence Award and the NYSTESOL Outstanding Teacher Award.

Marina Vinitskaya has been working as a Resource Specialist for NYS Language RBERN at New York University since 2020. She is training ENL, Bilingual, World Language, and subject area teachers. She is leading Russian World Language PLS and providing professional development to Russian Dual Language Programs. She is supporting teachers and parents of multilingual learners on high school requirements for graduation, and the college application process.

Marina worked for the New York City Department of Education, for more than 25 years, as an ESL teacher, Regional Instructional Support Specialist and a High School Principal. As a RIS, Marina was in charge of compliance and instructional programs for ELLs, Bilingual and Dual Language programs.  She provided support to Superintendents and their network of schools on compliance, designing staff development, and instructional programs. Marina was the founding high school principal. As a result of practices and achievements of ELLs, the school was featured in the Stanford University Research for its “school-wide language development framework that integrated content, analytical practices, view of assessment practices, and social-emotional support for students and their families.” Marina coached new assistant principals and principals through the Leadership Program and the Wallace Foundation.

Also, Marina is a TESOL Clinical Supervisor at Pace University and was an ENL consultant for the K – 8 Charter School.  Marina was honored as a noteworthy educator, by New York State Senator, Kevin S. Parker.

Dr. Gliset Colón is an Assistant Professor with the Exceptional Education Department at SUNY Buffalo State. She is also the Coordinator for the Bilingual Graduate Certificate Program. Dr. Colón teaches courses on topics related to bilingual special education, behavior and classroom management, and foundations of special education. In addition to teaching, Dr. Colón has research interests and expertise in literacy and language outcomes for multilingual students with and without disabilities, multi-tiered systems of support, disproportionality, culturally relevant and sustaining pedagogy, and intersectionality. Dr. Colón is actively involved in several professional organizations including the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), CEC Teacher Education Division (TED), National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE), and the New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE).