Keynote Speakers

Dr. Carol Salva

Lead Educational Consultant - Seidlitz Education

Carol Salva is an award-winning educator with proven success working with unschooled/under-schooled, multilingual learners classified as SLIFE (Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education) or ELD (English Language Development) students. She is a key Seidlitz Education consultant for training, coaching, modeling, and supporting program leaders. Dr. Carol Salva is a co-author of Boosting Achievement: Reaching Students with Interrupted Our Minimal Education and a co-author of DIY PD: A Guide to Self-Directed Learning for Educators of Multilingual Learners. She has taught elementary, middle, and high school.

Carol holds a doctorate in education in the area of ethical leadership from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. She also has her Masters degree in Education Administration. Along with her ESL certification, she is a Certified Gomez & Gomez Dual Language Trainer and a Certified Abydos Writing Trainer. Dr. Salva is a Kahoot Ambassador and the co-chair of the NAELPA professional learning committee.

She lives with her husband and three children in Houston, Texas.

Dr. José Luis Zelaya

Chief Executive Officer

Lead Educational Consultant / Speaker

José Luis Zelaya founded Dr. Zelaya Educational Consulting in 2019 and is eager to serve our communities by promoting the generational power of higher education. He has over a decade of experience working closely with newcomer and emergent bilingual students, families, and educators in public education. Dr. Zelaya’s formal educational training and research background coupled with his personal experiences have equipped him with a unique and insightful perspective to add great value to our partners. He is also passionate about public speaking and utilizing the power of storytelling to amplify the voices, abilities, and experiences of our communities.