EB Primary & Elementary Featured Presenters

Alexandra Alvarez is an educator with almost ten years of experience teaching and supporting bilingual programs in Chicago area districts. She has served as a teacher and educational leader who has assisted with the implementation and development of dual language programs, the design of a dual language literacy curriculum, and as a key member of various school leadership teams. Additionally, as a key member of TaJu, Alexandra has designed professional development and collaborated with various states in its implementation. Her passion for education comes from valuing each student, her focus on equity and on the three pillars of dual language education. We welcome the experience Alexandra brings to support our colleagues with the delivery of instruction that ensures the success of our students.  

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I have worked in Aldine ISD for 33 years. 

Enjoys watching my son play baseball. My favorite baseball team is the Astros.   I love working with district coaches, teachers, and paraprofessionals to help them grow, but most importantly incorporate exciting and motivating strategies to support choices and opportunities that spark a fire of learning.

Damaurriah Butler is a District Instructional Coach in Aldine Independent School District, where she specializes in Elementary Mathematics. Beyond math, she has a deep love for implementing technology into the curriculum to increase student engagement and student ownership.

Rolando Cajina is an Elementary District Math Coach. He has been in education for 10 years. He has taught Bilingual Math and Science for 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade. Mr. Cajina has also had the opportunity of serving as a Campus Instructional Specialist supporting Math and Science.

Mr. Carmona graduated from the University of El Paso in Interdisciplinary Studies. As a college student, he worked in the private education sector as a technology educator and adult ESL instructor targeted in workplace English. For the last 13 years, Mr. Carmona has been a bilingual teacher in Aldine ISD; from science, mathematics, and his love and passion for Language Arts. 

During the International Baccalaureate years at Wilson Intermediate, he opened the Parent Literacy Program where he, along with many Aldine colleagues, served the Aldine community with free English, citizenship and technology classes. 

He is currently enjoying his role as a Distric Coach where he keeps learning and growing as a professional with the intent to keep helping our Aldine emergent bilingual students. 

Rachel Clarke is currently a Bilingual Instructional Specialist at Spence Elementary.  Other prior experience includes being a 4th grade Bilingual Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Orange Grove Elementary.  In addition, she has been a STEMScopes Curriculum Writer and collaborator on the Social Studies Spanish curriculum for Aldine ISD.  For the last four years on the Texas Education Agency Teacher Feedback Committee for Writing and Reading STAAR exams in both English and Spanish.  Most recently, she joined Dr. Y’s Consulting as a Senior Language Acquisition Consultant.  She is also a proud parent of an Aldine scholar with a total of 23 years in public education, all of which is in working with Emergent Bilingual students. 

Leticia Cortez graduated from the University of Houston-Downtown in 2014 in Urban Education. She has been a bilingual teacher in Aldine ISD for the past nine years, teaching all subjects in grades 4-6.  She is currently a 4th-grade bilingual teacher at Orange Grove Elementary. Before becoming a teacher, she worked at Eisenhower High School as a parent liaison, helping students and their families with credit recovery for graduation. Leticia and her daughter are Aldine graduates and are proud to be part of the Aldine Legacy. Leticia recently graduated from Lamar University with a Master’s in Education focusing on Applied Digital Learning. Her interest and desire to bring authentic learning opportunities to the classroom inspired her to pursue her master's. 

Susana Cruz, has a master's of education from the University of St. Thomas with a principal certification EC-12. She has served Bilingual students for 10 years and has experience teaching 2nd, 4th and 5th grade students. Her core purpose in everything she does is to provide all students with an equitable education.

I'm an experienced educator with 18 years of teaching in elementary schools. I have a passion for integrating technology into the classroom and have a deep understanding of elementary curriculum and instruction. 

Throughout my career, I've worked with students of various ages, including early childhood, second grade, and fourth grade. I'm also a certified level 1 mentor and coach from Texas A&M, completed my MBA from Houston Baptist University and my PBCCEd. from Texas Southern University, which helped me develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

I created a program called Personality and Learning, which was a huge success, and I presented my innovative ideas at various conferences across the country. I believe that education should be engaging, fun, and interactive, and I'm always striving to find new and creative ways to teach my students.

Stephanie Flores graduated from the University of Houston Downtown in 2009 with a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.   Flores's professional career is split between private and public education.  For 10 years she was a Director of Early Childhood in the private sector where she oversaw the running of the facility as well as the recruiting of teachers and writing of curriculum.  She joined Aldine in 2012 with 2 years of experience from HISD.  Throughout her time in Aldine, she has been a teacher, math skills, and testing coordinator.  Her love of teaching pulled her back into the classroom where she taught 3rd grade, bilingual students for 5 years.  She is currently a Multilingual District Coach for Elementary.

TBD

After 23 years as a bilingual teacher in Houston ISD and Aldine ISD, I got my Dyslexia certification through Neuhaus Education Center and worked for Conroe ISD as a Dyslexia Interventionist. I accepted the position I am currently in as a District Literacy Coach in Aldine ISD. I have always had a love of language and literacy and I am passionate about the development of literacy acquisition in students, particularly in emergent bilinguals. As a coach I work directly with teachers to impact their teaching skills and provide strategies and pedagogies that will in turn make an impact in student achievement. I am passionate about the work I am doing as a leader in literacy development for all students. 

My name is Esther Ibarra, I'm currently teaching second-grade Math, Science, and Social Studies at Odom Elementary. I have been in Aldine for 9 years, eight of those years at Odom Elementary and one year at Marcella Elementary. Most of my teaching background is in Language Arts, I taught reading for grades 2-4 for 8 years and this year I had the opportunity to teach Math. With this new opportunity, I found a new passion and love for Math, my experience in teaching language arts for so many years has definitely impacted my teaching in Math in a positive way. I am aware and able to transfer the strategies and supports from reading to math, to best meet the needs of my EB students. Moreover, this year practicing and learning new teaching strategies from the Dual Language program has been a great experience for both my students and myself. I can see the growth in their academics and language acquisition in English using the supports implemented in the program. I have witnessed the fruits of this program and I am excited to learn more and see where it will take my students and me in the future.

Science is my LOVE LANGUAGE!  I have taught elementary and middle school Science for the past 23 years.  I have been a campus Instructional specialist and an Elementary District Science Coach for the past 16 years in Aldine.  My passion is to motivate and excite our kids and teachers about Science.  I love being part of the action in the classroom with the kids and showing them the endless learning opportunities and igniting the curiosity and wonders about our world.  

Dr. Monica Loas, currently an Information Literacy Specialist, has experience as a Special Education teacher, Instructional Technology Specialist, testing coordinator, and skills specialist. Dr. Loas received her Master of Education in Administration at Sam Houston State University and Special Education at Texas Tech University, focusing on Educational Diagnostician. Dr. Loas recently completed the Professional Leadership - Social Education/Social Justice doctoral program at the University of Houston. Her current passions are promoting diversity in literature to her students, enhancing the school library's space to be accessible, and including a makerspace to grow creativity

I was an EB student and am currently always learning something new in the English and Spanish languages! Graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. I have experience working with ELLs in different programs such as Bilingual, English Immersion, and Dual Language. I also had the pleasure to work with Autistic students in my membership to the UTAAP program at UT. With 10 years of experience working in early childhood instruction, I have grown to love early literacy acquisition including phonemic awareness and writing. 

Nereida Ochoa is the principal at Thompson Elementary in Aldine. She has a total of 17 years in education, all in Aldine. She has served as a bilingual teacher in 4th grade, an instructional specialist, assistant principal and now a principal.  She earned her Bachelor of Science from University of Texas at Brownsville and a Master’s of Education in Administration from Lamar University. This year marks her fifth year as principal in Aldine. Her educational experiences have afforded her the opportunity to collaborate with a diverse group of people to meet the common goal of increasing student achievement. 

Dr. Alba A. Ortiz is a Professor Emerita, Department of Special Education, in the College of Education, at The University of Texas at Austin. A nationally recognized expert on the education of English Learners with language and learning disabilities, Dr. Ortiz’s areas of expertise include culturally and linguistically responsive Multi-tiered System of Support and Response to Intervention, second language acquisition, language assessment, and programs and services for ELs with language/learning disabilities. Dr. Ortiz is the 2021 recipient of the Council for Exceptional Children’s Romaine Mackie Leadership Award recognizing her contributions to improving the education of English Learners, including those with disabilities.

I am a first-generation high school AND college graduate, and proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. I became fluent in my second language in third grade, and this blessing has allowed me to relate to my EB students and be able to help them academically succeed while also enhancing students' social and emotional growth. I am a fun mother, an energetic sister, a loving wife, and a passionate teacher. Some of my hobbies are boxing, camping, or running around with my sons to baseball practice or games. DIE HARD ASTROS FAN and pretty much any outdoor activity that can keep me and my family away from technology. I believe I am a superhero because AS A BILINGUAL TEACHER, I wear so many hats and instead of complaining, it makes me proud to know that I am molding our successful future one student at a time. 

Ms. Reyes has been a bilingual educator for 6 years. She has taught 1st and 3rd grade in Aldine ISD. She graduated from Lone Star College with an Associate in Science and University of Houston - Downtown with a bachelor's in Bilingual Education. Ms. Reyes is a product of Aldine ISD and she has experienced first hand the transition of a bilingual student from L1 to L2. She believes that every EL can succeed with appropriate support, just like she did.  

 Allison Ross serves as a Professional Learning Design Lead for MIND Education and resides in Fort Worth, TX. Prior to joining MIND, she spent six years as an elementary educator in Birdville ISD and nine years in the roles of Middle School Educator and Curriculum Coordinator & Coach at independent schools serving gifted and talented learners. Throughout her teaching journey, she honed her skills in differentiation for the gifted and talented population, developed several Project-Based Learning units, and revitalized her school’s service-learning and applied research programs. Additionally, she presented on topics related to executive functioning, digital citizenship, prosocial gameplay, giftedness & perfectionism, and Project-Based Learning. Allison holds a Bachelor’s degree Early Childhood Education from Texas Christian University and her Master’s degree in Gifted Education from Hardin-Simmons University. She has a passion for math, enjoys encouraging learners who lack confidence in the subject matter, and supporting teachers as they do the same.

Dorina Sackman-Ebuwa is the 2014 Florida Teacher of the Year and Top-4 Finalist for National Teacher of the Year. Affectionately called “Miss Dorito” by teachers and students, Dorina was recognized by First Lady and Educator Dr. Jill Biden for excellence in teaching and advocating for English Learners. With her unique teaching style, Miss Dorito has spent the past 25 years empowering ALL students of diverse backgrounds at the K-16 and adult learner level. An expert in building solid relationships that result in successful learning experiences for students and teachers, Ms. Sackman-Ebuwa strongly believes that “Lens of Life” teaching, connecting content to community, and Transformative Emotional Intelligence (TEI) make up the true learning experience.

As a Certified Transformational Intelligence Specialist, Dorina takes her classroom and coaching experiences, collaborative educator workshops, and doctoral research (she’s almost finished!)  around the globe inspiring, motivating, empowering, and celebrating teachers, leaders, students, and communities. From innovative, personalized professional development filled with successful and differentiated strategies to authentic “real talk” about what teaching and leading looks like for 2022-2023, Dorina Sackman-Ebuwa encourages all educators to B.E.L.I.E.V.E.! – Be the Educators who Lead to Inspire and Empower Via Empathy!®

Dorina truly “practices what she teaches” and believes in the importance of living a balanced life of hard work, passion, and play along with setting boundaries for self-reflection and self-care. Therefore, when not wearing the many hats of an educator, consultant, and motivational speaker, Miss Dorito dons a Stetson and works on her “Franch”, tending to her beloved rescue and special needs cows, goats, chickens, ponies, Sicilian mini donkeys, and barn cat named “Cool Ranch”. She hopes one day to turn The Franch into a center of transformative emotional intelligence, a non-profit save space where educators can come to build their teams through trust, TEI, and some good old fashioned bucolic bliss. That is, if you B.E.L.I.E.V.E.!

I am a product of Aldine, from elementary through high school. I have worked in the Aldine District for 8 years. I am currently a Math Instructional Specialist at Magrill Primary. I enjoy spending time with my family and being outdoors.

Lynnette Sepulveda is currently an ELA/SLA Instructional Specialist at Jones Elementary. She is a certified ESL and Bilingual Elementary Generalist with 10 years of teaching experience. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Spanish, this educator truly understands the significance of learning a second language and its overall benefits. 

Favorite Childhood Memory: Being introduced to traveling very early on. I remember visiting the virgin islands with my family as a young child, and going to Europe as a teenager.

Fun Fact: I love adventure. I’ve been skydiving, ziplining, snorkeling, and I swam with nurse sharks in Belize last summer.

Prior Experience Before Joining Ellevation: Elementary ELA Teacher and 3rd Grade Team Lead

Marcy Voss is an Educational Consultant who has recently retired from public education after 36 years. During her career, Marcy taught elementary and middle school students, as well as coordinated Gifted and Special Programs in several districts. As Special Programs Coordinator for Boerne ISD, Marcy helped develop and implement their Two-Way Dual Language Program.

Since retirement, Marcy has served as an EL Coach, writer, researcher, and staff development trainer. Her passion is helping EL students to think at higher levels through the use of differentiated curriculum that incorporates depth and complexity. She is also interested in identifying and serving gifted EL students.students in multiple campuses through relevant workshops. As a Senior Consultant at Dr. Yacovodonato Educational Consulting LLC, Dr. Villarroel has designed and delivered exceptional, customized, hands-on workshops for bilingual, ESL, and dual language teachers in school districts in the Houston and surrounding areas. She has tailored lessons in English and Spanish that have been used as model lessons and have become part of the instructional development plan for school districts.

From Bilingual Educational Paraprofessional to an ESL Teacher, Erica Zamarripa has been in the game with Aldine since the 3rd grade. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Child Learning and Development from the University of Texas-Dallas. 

Ms. Zamarripa believes that all students are science language learners and must be explicitly taught how to grow in their new language. Through a variety of differentiated strategies, she keeps her scholars engaged and edu-tained. Ms. Zamarripa has been teaching for 6 years and looks forward to coaching science teachers in what's working for Emergent Bilinguals.