Presenters

Megan Alubicki Flick

CTDOE State Updates

Dr. Megan Alubicki Flick works for the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), where she proudly serves as the state’s English Learner/Multilingual Learner Consultant and Title III State Director. She oversees the state’s Title III and bilingual grants and the Connecticut’s Seal of Biliteracy initiative and supports work related to the instruction of multilingual learners.. In 2021, she completed her Doctorate at the UMASS Lowell with a focus on multilingual learners and teacher preparation. Additionally, she serves on the Board of the National Association of English Learner Program Administrators (NAELPA) and earlier this year, she had the honor of presenting a TED Talk called “The Power of Multilingualism in Education'' which can be accessed on the ted.com platform.  

Lauren Bachner

Dual Identified Learners

Lauren Bachner has been a TOSA for English Learner Professional Development and Coaching since 2022. Prior to joining the Teaching & Learning Department, she was an EL Teacher at AITE and Cloonan Middle School from 2016 to 2022. She began her career as an EFL Teacher at Interlingua School in Guiyang, China. After returning to the States, she taught ESL at St. Giles International in New York City, later teaching English to adult learners at Eastern Connecticut State University, the University of Bridgeport, and Valley Regional Adult Education in Shelton, CT. She has a Bachelors in English from Suffolk University, a Masters in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Fairfield University and is pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership with the American College of Education, which will include her Principal Certification (CT 092). Her professional certifications include Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages PreK-12 (CT 111), Grades 7-12 English (CT 015), and Adult Education (CT 088).

Nicole Baker

Advocacy in Action: Transforming Education for Multilingual Success

Nicole Baker is a mom of two boys and just finished her fourth year as an elementary TESOL teacher in Plainville. She spent the first ten years of her career teaching in Hartford. There she worked as a first grade teacher for two years and then as a preschool teacher. She transferred to Plainville in 2014 as a preschool teacher and then decided to go back to school for her TESOL Certification. She began working as a TESOL teacher in 2020 and  greatly enjoys supporting and advocating for both TESOL students and their teachers!

Gloribel Barreto-Ramirez 

Advocacy in Action: Transforming Education for Multilingual Success

Gloribel Barreto-Ramirez is the Bilingual and TESOL teacher at the Middle School of Plainville. She is in her 3rd year at the school and district but has more than 20 years of experience in the education field in Puerto Rico as a Spanish Teacher and the Bristol district in the elementary area. She is a busy mother of two amazing children. As a teacher, she is passionate about helping and advocating for each one of her students to reach their full potential, do their best, and grow into kind, responsible people, no matter their background, culture, or language. She wants them to love who they are and become the best version of themselves every day.

Chrissy Bowman

Translanguaging: Leveraging Multilingual Students' Home Languages 

Chrissy Bowman is a consultant for the CREC Resource Group, specializing in assisting educators create and refine programs, policies, and practices that support multilingual learners while fostering language and academic growth. Chrissy has worked in a variety of contexts and her varied experience coupled with her expertise gained from her degrees in Elementary Education, Spanish, and Bilingual/Multicultural Education and TESOL allow her to design and implement individualized coaching and professional learning experiences for all districts and educators. Chrissy is passionate about supporting teachers and districts as they work to enhance the experiences of the multilingual learners in their schools.

Lily Cornielle-Cordero

Advocacy in Action: Transforming Education for Multilingual Success

Liliber "Lily" Cornielle-Cordero serves as the EL, Equity & Student Support Administrator at Plainville Community Schools, bringing over 18 years of dedicated experience in the field of education. Her extensive career has been devoted to championing the needs of diverse student populations, particularly in the areas of Language Acquisition and specialized student services. With experience across all educational levels—elementary, middle, and high school—Lily has taught Spanish and Special Education, always with a focus on fostering inclusive learning environments.  Lily is committed to ensuring that every student has the opportunity to succeed and advocates for a collaborative approach, working closely with administrators, teachers, parents, and students to enhance educational outcomes. Her vision emphasizes the importance of cross-training and partnership empowering all stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to the success of every student, especially those from underserved communities.

Damaris Cruz

The Interconnectness of the translanguaging pedagogy with social and ethical frameworks 

Damaris has taught in bilingual education for the last 30 years.  She has worked in various capacities- 1st, 2nd and 4th grade dual language Spanish and English teacher.  She transitioned into the role of Dual Language Program Coordinator in 2018 for Norwalk’s 50/50 two way Spanish & English immersion program that scaled up to a whole k-5 school.  She holds 5 certifications and is currently enrolled in her second year of her doctoral studies at Sacred Heart University’s SEAL program.

Amy Fox

Making the Push-in Model Effective by Truly Co-teaching

Amy Fox is a classroom teacher for the Fairfield Public Schools. She has extensive experience working with a diverse population within the classroom setting. Amy has taught at McKinley School in Fairfield for the past 20 years. She has worked with students from all over the world at various levels of language acquisition, while teaching grade level curriculum. Amy has had a success using a co-teaching model with Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.

Eileen M. González

How Teachers Learn Community-based Knowledge through Ethnographic Case Studies  

Eileen M. González is a full-time professor at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. She began her career in education over 27 years ago. She has experience working in Dual Language, TESOL, and other bilingual programs. Eileen attended the University of Connecticut for both her M.A. and Ph.D. In 1998, she graduated with her Master’s Degree in Bilingual Education. In 2013, Eileen earned her doctorate Degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She has been a full-time professor at the University of Saint Joseph since August 2013. She is the Director of Elementary Education and Co-Director of TESOL Education within the Department of Education.

Jessica Keane

Making the Push-in Model Effective by Truly Co-teaching

Jessica Keane has been teaching at the elementary level for 20 years. She has her master's degree in TESOL from Fairfield University and was recently certified as a School Wide English Learning Coach at TESOL International. Jessica works for the Fairfield Public Schools where she has developed a successful co-teaching model at McKinley Elementary School.

Linda Massucci 

Using SIOP for Effective Instruction

Linda Massucci has worked in the CT school system for 29 years. She has worked as a Head Start teacher, literacy interventionist, MLL teacher, and adjunct professor at CCSU. Her educational background includes degrees in Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Remedial Reading, and Educational Leadership. She also has her TESOL certification.  Linda has served on committees with the CT Department of Education during the inception of SRBI, developing beginning teacher evaluations, and reviewing the effectiveness of benchmark assessments/data collection for providing effective literacy instruction. Linda loves to travel with family & friends, improve her golf game, enjoy her new hobby of ceramics, and always has time to bake anything that includes the ingredient of chocolate.

Meredith McConnochie

How Teachers Learn Community-based Knowledge through Ethnographic Case Studies 

Meredith McConnochie is a full-time professor at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut. She began her career in education over 20 years ago. Meredith earned a BS in Psychology with a minor in Hispanic Studies from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004, and an MA in Bilingual/Bicultural Education from Columbia Teachers College in 2007. In 2017, she completed a Doctorate Degree in Language Education at Rutgers University. She is currently the Director of Early Childhood-Special Education and Co-Director of TESOL Education within the Department of Education.

Emily Nguyen

Leveraging Community Assets in Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy

Emily Nguyen is an ESOL/Bilingual teacher at a K-8 neighborhood school in New Haven Public Schools. In her current role, she collaborates with local organizations to support and empower her middle school multilingual learners as they develop their English proficiency and find their place and voice in the New Haven community. With a background in teacher education, data-driven student supports, and language education, she is pursuing an Ed.D in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Virginia. 

Tyler Poeti

Prompt Power: Leveraging AI for Streamlined Teacher Admin Tasks and Dynamic Instruction

Tyler Poeti holds a Master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from Central Connecticut State University and currently serves as an ELD teacher at Rogers Park Middle School in Danbury, CT. As a member of the Danbury Public School AI Steering Committee, Tyler helps analyze AI tools and develop district-wide guidelines. With experience in both K-12 and adult education, including teaching abroad in Shanghai, China, Tyler is never afraid to try the newest technology tools to enhance learning and student engagement.

Amy Russell

Play a Game with Me: Games for the ESL Classroom

Amy Russell studied Mandarin Chinese in college and worked as a translator and interpreter for ten years. After starting a family, she changed careers to TESOL and attended Central Connecticut State University for the teacher certification program. She has been teaching adults and high school students since 2013 and currently works with Multilingual Learners at Cheshire High School. 

Marcelo Sousa

Linking the School and the Community  in the 21st Century 

Marcelo Sousa, originally from Brazil and now a longstanding U.S. Citizen, is a passionate advocate for Multilingual learners and equality in public education. With over 17 years of experience, he is a writer, educator, singer, coach and is fluent in many languages.  He holds a bachelor's degree in History and Elementary Education from Kean University and a graduate degree in TESOL/Bilingual Education with a sixth-year degree in Educational Leadership from Southern Connecticut State University. Certified by The Center for Christian Coaching, Marcelo dedicates his time to teaching and public speaking globally, championing educational equality.