For the past 25 years, Sally has dedicated her time and energy to teaching multilingual learners both at the elementary and secondary levels. In her current role as an EL facilitator, she supports secondary ELD and core content teachers with effective teaching strategies to support second language acquisition for EL students. Sally holds two educational degrees from the University of Central Oklahoma – a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in TESOL and Bilingual Education. Sally possesses Oklahoma teacher certifications in Elementary Education, Spanish, English Language Arts, English as a Second Language, as well as an Elementary and Secondary Principal certificate. Sally’s work is rooted in the belief that life is about serving others well. “Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. Sally is married with three children and knows what it means to wear many hats. She is a dedicated spouse, a caring mother, a teacher, and a committed advocate for multilingual students.

Paul Parkerson grew up in Spain and is fluent in both Spanish and English. He's a K-5 bilingual/ESL interventionist in Denton ISD who has worked with elementary multilingual students in Texas for 20 years in various language programs. He received his Ph.D. in Reading from the Department of Literacy and Learning at Texas Woman's University in Denton, TX, where he has also worked as a research assistant and teaches as an adjunct professor. He received his Master of Education in K-12 English for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Second Language Education from Jones International University. His research has focused on the intersections between teachers and students, focusing on socioculturally sustaining pedagogies in education, with an emphasis on a critical approach.

In this captivating podcast episode, delve into the inspiring journey of Dr. Kelly B. Forbes, a bilingual dancer whose passion for education shines through. Dr. Forbes shares his insights on fostering inclusive learning environments for multicultural and multilingual students, advocating for equitable access to education for all. Through his experiences and expertise, listeners gain valuable perspectives on the intersection of dance, education, and social equity.

Check out EduSkills at eduskillsllc.com

Check out Kelly B’s Consulting at kellybsconsultingllc.com

Andrea Bitner is a passionate educator, author, and professional development provider that has worked with students in grades K-12 through her twenty-three years in public education from all around the world.

Her first book, “Take Me Home” addresses the journeys of some amazing young multilingual students who exhibit the fuel and grit to navigate and embrace the American dream.

She is also a co-author of Chip Baker’s “The Impact of Influence-Volume 3,” and “100 No-Nonsense Things ALL School Leaders Should Stop Doing.”

To learn more about Andrea's work check out this 6ABC Philadelphia News article.

You can find Andrea at www.andreabitnerbooks.com or on social media:

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Instagram

X (Twitter)

Tracey Morales is currently the Family and Homeless Coordinator for Crooked Oak Public Schools school district and is deeply committed to fostering connections among diverse cultures and experiences, with a special focus on supporting our Black and Latinx students. Her dedication is fueled by her firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by students with parents who primarily speak Spanish and possess limited education. She aspires to be the advocate she wished she had during her own K-12 journey.

Dr. Heidi Faust serves as the Grants, Projects, and Partnerships Officer at TESOL International Association where she supports English Language Teaching capacity building programs internationally most recently with secondary teachers and government mentors in India and Uzbekistan on programs in collaboration with U.S. Embassies, Ministries of Education, and Non-governmental Organizations. Prior to this, Heidi has had several roles at TESOL including Director of Professional Learning and Research. As a former member of the association, Heidi was active in the association leadership and chairing both the Intercultural Communication Interest Section and the Social Responsibility interest section, and she was a founding member of the TESOL Diversity Collaborative Professional Learning Network

Dr. Joel Gómez is the President and Chief Executive Officer for the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL). He holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from The George Washington University. He received his M.A. in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, where he also completed doctoral work in Applied Linguistics and Foreign Language Education Studies. He received a B.A. in Liberal Arts (Spanish and History) from the University of Texas at Austin. With a proven management style that empowers and motivates, Gómez brings a wide range of experience in research, policy, and practice in equity, language and education to CAL from his work in higher education, the private, for-profit sector, and public education.

Louise El Yaafouri is a highly accomplished educator and the owner of DiversifiED Consulting, a prominent firm dedicated to empowering clients in their service to culturally diverse, linguistically diverse, and trauma-impacted communities.You can follow Louise on X (formerly Twitter) at @ElYaafouri or on LinkedIn.

Dr. Elizet Moret is an educational leader that advocates for the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students and promotes access to equitable education that is centered in equity and social justice. She is the owner of Edu Lengua, an educational consulting company that serves school districts and charters across the nation. Her company focuses on the needs of emergent bilinguals, families, and their communities.