EBs Secondary 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.

Pamela Broussard is a passionate keynote speaker, presenter, and high school New Arrival Center teacher from Houston, Texas. She has more than  35 years of teaching experience ranging from elementary to master's degree prep courses. She has taught Regular Ed., Special Ed.,  ESL/EL/ML, SLIFE, and New Arrivals.  She has taught in the USA and abroad.   She has traveled to more than 35 countries including working in Afghanistan for seven years. She has spent time in: refugee camps, war zones, orphanages, trash heaps, and human trafficking zones.  These experiences and training have given her a wealth of experience with Social Emotional Learning, Cultural Responsive Teaching, and Trauma-Informed Teaching. She strongly believes and advocates for student agency, voice and leadership in their schools and their communities.

Philip Capin is a research assistant professor for the Department of Special Education and a researcher for the Meadows Center for Preventing Educational Risk at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Capin's research focuses on improving reading instruction and assessment for children, including those with or at risk for reading disabilities. He currently serves as a Co-Principal Investigator for two large-scale funded projects focused on English learners (ELs): (1) an Education Development Research Center funded by the Institutes for Education Sciences (IES) that aims to improve opportunities and outcomes for ELs, and (2) the Texas Learning Disabilities Research Center project funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) examining learning disabilities identification and remediation for ELs with reading disabilities. He also serves as a Co-Principal Investigator for a large-scale grant that aims to embed growth mindset practices within reading interventions for students with reading difficulties in the elementary grades. Prior to joining the University of Texas, he was a special education teacher and a credentialed school administrator. 

Margarita Cruz is a high school English and ELL teacher  at La Promesa. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Education in TESOL. As a former ELL student, she felt the desire to become an educator from a young age. After graduating from SHSU in 2014, she returned to her hometown of Tomball where she served her community as an English teacher and ELL Specialist for 7 years. This year, she embarked on a new journey and became a part of the La Promesa family. Ms. Cruz is committed to being a lifelong learner in order to provide all students with the tools and support they need to be successful both inside and outside of the classroom. 

Dr. Estefanie Jaime-Aufegger earned her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Science, minoring in Life-Earth Science and Math. Thereafter, she double majored with Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction; and Education Administration. She continued her education, earning a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership. Dr. Jaime-Aufegger is recognized at Texas A&M Corpus Christi for earning all of her degrees in her hometown. In her 24 years of education, Dr. Jaime-Aufegger has worked as a Classroom Teacher, Campus Instructional Specialist for EBs, Administrator of Instructional Leadership, Assistant Principal, Principal and currently a District Coach for Multilingual Services with Aldine ISD. During Dr. Jaime-Aufegger off time, she serves her community with the Junior League of The Woodlands. 

Danya Martinez grew up and graduated from Aldine ISD. She knew Education was her passion long before her first-hand experiences. She has worked with Emergent Bilinguals for over 9 years. Her years in a Bilingual setting have all been in Aldine with experience in grade levels ranging from 2nd-6th grade. She has also served as an elementary Bilingual Instructional Specialist and now a District Multilingual Coach. She obtained her Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Sam Houston State University. Danya believes that every child has the ability to learn and grow in their uniqueness. In her spare time, Danya loves to spend time with her family and bike riding.

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.

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!®

In her role as ESL Skills Specialist at Nimitz High School,  Ms. Sufflé provides instructional support to all content areas.  ELs are her passion, and acquiring knowledge through staff developments and personal growth is crucial in providing the best strategies and ideas to her campus.  She continues to teach, keeping her at the forefront of the needs of our ELs.  Ms. Sufflé trained in Aldine’s Presenter’s Academy and has presented at BELLA Noche, ELAR, New Teacher Academy, Foreign Language, and the Multilingual Department.  She believes that as a presenter, she not only brings ideas to others, but it also helps her to develop as an educator.

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.

Dr. Jose Luis Zelaya is a graduate of Texas A&M University Department of Education and CEO of Dr. Zelaya Educational Consulting LLC. At Texas A&M, he pursued a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies, a master’s in education in Curriculum and Instructions, and a Doctorate in Urban Education. He attributes each of his academic accomplishments to his family, mentors, and community who have supported his dreams of educational progress. Dr. Zelaya, 34 years  old, is a Dreamer born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. At 13 years of age, he was obligated to flee  Honduras and embark on a journey to the United States as an unaccompanied minor. He fled  Honduras after living for many years as a street child in absolute poverty and violence levels.  After a dangerous 45-day journey, he was found in American soil by immigration officers and  months later reunited with his mother and sister in Texas. With the help of his mother, he  enrolled in school, and like that, he started to build a new life in this country. Since his arduous  journey to this country, Dr. Zelaya has dedicated his time and efforts to his educational career.  For him, education was the way to give back to his family and community.