Speakers

Dr. Elena Izquierdo is a linguist by training, holding a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and Bilingual Education from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. As an educator in practice with 13 years as a district administrator in Washington, D.C., she served as one of the first principals of the National Dual Language Bilingual Education (DLBE) Schools in this country: The Oyster Bilingual ES in Washington, D.C. Oyster continues to be an international model for school wide DLBE!

Having 13 years of high-level administrative experience in bilingual education, including leadership in developing and implementing highly recognized dual language programs, uniquely positions her to bridge theory and practice seamlessly. Her lived real-world experiences as a district leader and principal of a pioneering DLBE model gives teaching and research unmatched depth and credibility.

Dr. Izquierdo is a Professor of Bilingual/Biliteracy/Dual Language Bilingual Education at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels at the University of Texas at El Paso. She is a previous President of the University Faculty Senate, a previous Chair of the Teacher Education Department, and past Provost Faculty Fellow. She was recognized by the UT System and The Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and the American Council on Education, for demonstrating the comprehensive knowledge and skills that constitute the ACUE Effective Practice Framework.

Dr. Xóchitl Anabel Rocha, a former bilingual migrant student and first-generation college graduate, serves as Director of Bilingual Education & G/T Programs at the Texas Education Agency. She led the development of Texas’s Dual Language Framework and continues to support effective, sustainable program implementation statewide. Dr. Rocha has contributed to national dual language resources with the U.S. Department of Education and brings experience as a dual language teacher, district and regional leader, and adjunct professor. A former board member of RGV TABE and current President-Elect of Texas Association for Bilingual Education, she is committed to advancing high-quality bilingual education and promoting bilingualism and biliteracy for emergent bilingual students and their families. 

PENDING

Dr. Kathryn I. Henderson is a leading expert in dual language bilingual education (DLBE), bilingual/ESL teacher preparation, and critical applied linguistics. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Bicultural-Bilingual Studies in the College of Education and Human Development at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Henderson earned her Ph.D. in Bilingual/Bicultural Education from The University of Texas at Austin in 2015. She also holds a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, and an M.A. in Education from Framingham State, which she completed while teaching elementary school in Guadalajara, Mexico. Her five years of teaching experience abroad deeply shaped her approach to bilingual education and transformative educational practices. Dr. Henderson’s research focuses on language ideologies, language policy, and dual language bilingual education programs. Her work has earned her several prestigious honors, including the AERA Bilingual Research SIG Outstanding Dissertation Award, the International Society for Language Studies Emerging Scholar Award, and the Lucher Brown Endowed Professorship. She is a frequent presenter at conferences on local, regional, and international stages and has published in leading journals such as the Bilingual Research Journal, Modern Language Journal, Language Policy, and the International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism. 

Dr. Larry Berger is a dedicated education leader with more than 25 years of experience in public education, including 17 years of service to Pearland ISD. Over the course of his career, he has served the district as Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, Director of Maintenance and Operations, and principal of Pearland High School. On April 12, 2022, the Pearland ISD Board of Trustees unanimously named Dr. Berger as superintendent. Since then, he has led with a vision of “Build Pearland Proud,” emphasizing collaboration with families, staff, and community partners to prepare every learner for success. Guided by the district’s mission to empower, inspire, and develop courageous, confident individuals, Dr. Berger remains committed to maintaining Pearland ISD’s tradition of excellence while ensuring innovation for the future.

Pearland Pride, as Dr. Berger often reminds his community, is contagious—his goal is to model it, grow it, and inspire others to catch it.

Pending