Nicole Alberico-Farr is an experienced Spanish teacher with over 20 years of experience teaching in a public-school classroom in central New York State. She is enthusiastic about sharing new perspectives with her students through the exploration of history, culture and language. Having graduated from SUNY Geneseo, she began her career in  her alma mater’s junior high teaching levels 1 and 2 while earning her M.A. at Middlebury College. She transitioned to the high school where she has taught levels 2, 3, 4, 5 and AP. She is currently on the advisory committee for her school’s NYS Seal of Biliteracy program, leads and organizes student groups on overseas trips, teaches private elementary language classes during her summers and participates on her local professional organization’s executive board (LECNY). In 2023, Nicole was honored to receive NYSAFLT’s Ruth E. Wasley Teacher of the Year award. Nicole enjoys continuing to learn through participation and leadership in professional book studies and both attending and presenting at conferences. She now has the privilege to be an AP reader as well. In her down time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.

Elvira Alfageme, a native of Valladolid, Spain, is a dedicated educator and linguist with a strong passion for language learning and teaching. She earned her Bachelor's degree in English Studies from the University of Valladolid in 2023 and went on to complete a Master's degree in English Teaching at the same institution in 2024.
During her undergraduate studies, Elvira was granted an Erasmus scholarship, which allowed her to spend a year at University College Cork in Ireland. This experience not only enriched her academic journey but also provided her with the opportunity to fully immerse herself in Irish culture, enhancing her linguistic and intercultural skills.
Her passion for teaching developed early on, as she worked as an English tutor for several years while pursuing her degree. Additionally, she gained hands-on classroom experience by teaching a typing extracurricular class at a middle school, further solidifying her commitment to education.
Beyond teaching, Elvira has also worked in the field of translation. She was a translator for Observal, a research entity within the University of Valladolid, where she contributed to various international projects by translating official documents and interpreting meetings with collaborators.
Currently, Elvira is expanding her professional experience as a Spanish intern at Brighton High School, where she is actively involved in language instruction and cultural exchange. She remains committed to fostering a love for languages and cross-cultural understanding among her students.

Candace Black is the World Languages Associate in the Office of Bilingual Education and World Language at the New York State Education Department.  She graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in French from SUNY Potsdam/l’Université de Paris IV - la Sorbonne and earned both her M.B.A., and M.A.T. from the University of Rochester. A National Board-Certified Teacher since 2005, Candace taught French at a variety of public high schools in New York, including serving as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Coordinator in her last district position. She has also taught World Language Methodology at Nazareth College of Rochester and has taught both undergraduate (SUNY Brockport) and graduate courses (SUNY Empire) in French. Candace has been an active member of NYSAFLT for several decades, including serving as a NYSAFLT officer for four years (President 2016, President-Elect 2015, 1st Vice-President 2014, 2nd Vice-President 2013). She remains an active member of the NYSAFLT Rochester Regional Planning Committee and has been a frequent presenter of workshops on the standards and technology integration. n 2021, she was the recipient of the President’s Award for both NYSAFLT and NYSAWLA and was elected as a Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes académiques by the French government.   In all her roles, most especially her current one, Candace is deeply committed to the professional learning and support of World Language teachers.  

Born and raised in Italy, Joëlle Carota is Visiting Assistant Professor of Italian and director of the Frank DiMino Casa Italiana at Nazareth University. Previously, she has taught and conducted research at various universities in the U.S. and in Italy. Her research is focused on the outcomes of language contact in multilingual contexts. She dedicates her free time to giving back to the community: she is currently the secretary of the Italian Civic League as well as the administrative assistant of the Honorary Consulate of Italy in Rochester. 

Lori Chilcott is a TOSA: Instructional Technology Coach at Williamsville South High School. She is also the NYSSB Seal Coordinator for her building. Prior to becoming a TOSA in 2021, Lori taught high school and middle school Spanish in the Williamsville School District. Lori participated in the NYS Western Region Committee to draft the new World Language Standards. In 2021 Lori earned her PhD in Spanish Peninsular Literature from the University at Buffalo. Lori has also been an adjunct instructor in Spanish at Daemen University from 2022-present. As a Tech Coach, she provides guidance and support to teachers through the TIPS program on best practices, as well as supports district goals as they relate to students’ technology use and understanding of digital citizenship. Lori teaches professional development courses for her district after school and recently presented at the NYSAFLT Annual Conference in Niagara Falls on Technology in the Three Modes of Communication. Lori enjoys working with teachers on employing technology in the classroom to engage students and to foster digital literacy and competencies. Lori has also led student educational travel to places like the Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Belize, Puerto Rico, and Spain.  

Amie Dubos is a Spanish educator at Tully Jr-Sr High School in Central New York.   She has been teaching since 2006. She earned an AA in Humanities, her BA in Spanish from SUNY Cortland and has her MST from Le Moyne College.  In addition to her role as a teacher, she serves as the department chair, mentor, advises both the Spanish National Honor Society and International Club, and she oversees the Seal of Biliteracy program within her district. Ms. Dubos is particularly passionate about creating opportunities for students to engage with language beyond the classroom. She is committed to fostering an environment of collaboration, believing that with dedication and support, language proficiency is achievable for students at all levels.  She is excited to be co-presenting for the first time at NYSAFLT.

Shari has been a Spanish teacher in the Pittsford Central School District for the past 20 years. In that time, I have taught multiple levels from HS level 1- AP, exclusively at Mendon High School. In addition to being a teacher in the classroom, I have also been the Standards Leader for the WL department for the past 7 years.  

Steven Farrington is from Hilton, NY and holds degrees in French and Spanish from SUNY Brockport and Bowling Green State University. 

He has studied or lived abroad in France, Spain, Mexico and Brazil. He has taught language courses at all levels from middle-school to college, and enjoys travel, reading, and learning new languages as a hobby. He currently teaches at Williamson Central Schools where he is the coordinator for World Languages. He is also the author of Rodrigo’s Land and Leonardo’s Letter. 

Christopher Gwin teaches German language and culture courses as a part-time lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He is also a volunteer docent at the Holocaust museum at the Jewish Community Center in southern NJ and is guide of historical architecture in Cape May, NJ. He is also the executive director of the Northeast Conference (NECTFL).

Bill Heller has taught in public elementary, secondary, community college and undergraduate classrooms for over 47 years, including 24 years teaching Spanish at Perry High School in Perry, NY. He has been a World Languages methods and Spanish instructor at SUNY Geneseo since 2001.  He is a frequent presenter of workshops, webinars and keynotes at local, state and regional conferences. Bill has served on the Board of Directors of NYSAFLT, was Conference Chair for the 2017 Northeast Conference (NECTFL), and is currently a member of the Executive Committee and Content Advisory Panel for World Languages for the Office of Bilingual and World Languages (OBEWL) at the  New York State Education Department (NYSED). In his free time, Bill enjoys travel; visiting art, science, and history museums; and seeing Broadway musicals and Shakespeare plays.

Clarissa Hensler is in her 4th year of teaching Math. She currently is teaching Algebra I, Applied Math and middle school math AIS. Clarissa teaches at the same school as her mom, Penny! Clarissa completed her undergraduate degree from St. John Fisher University and her graduate degree from SUNY Brockport. Clarissa loves running, spending time with family/friends and learning great new teaching ideas from her mom, Penny, and sister, Noelle (who is also a teacher!). Clarissa loves implementing new technology and fun engaging activities into her math classes. Clarissa loves using Desmos in all of her classes and has many ideas of how to incorporate Desmos activities into World Language classrooms. 

Penny Hensler has been in the classroom for almost 33 years, teaching all levels of French from 7th-12th grade. She began teaching French at Dansville Junior High School and has taught at Honeoye Central School for almost 22 years. Penny loves spending time with her family, taking walks, sewing and learning new ways to make her lessons engaging and fun for her students. Penny has made it her mission to connect her students with the world through an exchange with a high school in Rennes, France and through the Nawari virtual exchange program in Senegal.  Penny completed her undergraduate studies at Nazareth College and her masters studies at University at Buffalo.  

Sarah Hopper is a French, Spanish and ENL teacher with 23 years teaching experience from 5th-12th grade IB and College Credit. She holds a Bachelors Degree in French/Psychology and Education from St. Lawrence University.  She holds a Masters in Second Language Acquisition from SUNY Cortland.   She is a PBIS Digital Innovator Recipient and an ACTFL Lill Cohort 5 graduate.  She has published various books with Teacher's Discovery.  She loves sharing new opportunities with her students.  

A native of the Rochester area, Christopher J. Kausch II has been exploring various world languages since elementary school and has held various educational roles professionally across many grade and age levels. He developed his enthusiasm for learning languages through extracurricular Spanish and French lessons for several years before formally completing advanced language courses in school from Grades 7-12. On the side, he enjoyed learning German as a heritage language with independent study in high school. Kausch subsequently completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Politics and History at Constructor University Bremen (formerly Jacobs University) in Germany while attending academies with the Studienstiftung des deutschen Volkes (German Academic Scholarship Foundation). After returning home, he then obtained a TEFL Certificate and taught English to young learners in person in Shenzhen, China as well as to adults online in Shanghai, China. While back in Rochester, Kausch decided to pursue a MSc. Ed. in International TESOL at Nazareth University. Shortly after graduating, he relocated to Singapore to teach English to native-bilingual students from Nursery to Upper Primary levels. Upon his return to the United States, he became a Lower School World Language Teacher at the Harley School in the Rochester-area suburb of Brighton for both Spanish and French. Currently, Kausch is enriching his TESOL background as a Specialist of Applied Linguistics in the English Language Center (ELC) at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). There, a variety of adult learners consistently engage in self-directed learning and acquire experiential skills for continuous progress in English-language learning for both academic and professional purposes.

"Laura Magdaleno is a Spanish philologist with a degree in Spanish Studies from the University of Valladolid. She also holds a Master’s degree in Education from the same institution. Her academic background has provided her with a strong foundation in Spanish language, literature, and linguistics, as well as in teaching methodologies.

Her studies have been particularly focused on Latin American and Hispanic American literature, exploring the diverse narratives, cultural identities, and historical contexts that shape the Spanish-speaking world. Additionally, she has developed a strong interest in psycholinguistics, examining how language is processed, acquired, and influenced by cognitive and social factors. She also engages in gender studies, analyzing how language and literature reflect and shape gender roles and identities across different cultures and historical periods.

During her academic journey, she has explored innovative approaches to language learning, combining traditional and modern strategies to make Spanish more accessible and engaging for students. She believes that understanding the intersection between language, culture, cognition, and gender is key to fostering meaningful communication."

"Julie Miller-Trembley is an adjunct Instructor at Genesee Community College where she has taught SPA 101-202 both full and part time,  since 2001. She has both a Master’s in Policy Studies, with a focus on the activities of adjunct faculty, and a Master's in Teaching.  AT GCC she has been a part of the Attica Teaching Project and EOP Summer Program staff. 

Her undergraduate work at the University of Rochester was in Linguistics and Language Cognition. She was a student researcher in the Tanenhaus Lab and helped develop the first mouse-over and flashcard games for language learning on the Macintosh computer.

She has a certificate in the Leadership of Digital Education from Abilene Christian University. 

Between 2013 and 2018 she completed NY State’s Intensive Mentored Path to certification for grades 5-7 and 7-12. The path led to Alexander, Avon, Newark and eventually Geneva where she served as a Dual Language Teacher. Today, she's a proud “Blue Devil” at the Seneca Falls CSD. 

Sara Moyer knew at the age of 5 that she would be a teacher, ultimately pursuing a degree from Nazareth College and a Masters Degree in Italian Literature from Binghamton University. She began her career teaching Spanish at Gates Chili Middle and High School, and then went on to teach Italian and Spanish at Spencerport High School. Over the last 19 years as a World Language educator, she has taught all levels from 7th through 11th grade. She is passionate about acquisition based learning and teaching with comprehensible input. In fact, she has presented numerous workshops focusing on topics such as active participation, assessment using the three modes, and comprehensible input. 

Dr. Joanne O'Toole is a Professor of Modern Language Education, Associate Chair, and Student Teaching Coordinator in the Curriculum and Instruction Department at SUNY Oswego. She is the Principal Investigator of the NYS World Language Standards Initiative. Joanne has served in several other world language leadership positions including NYSAFLT President and NECTFL Director, and is a regular presenter at national, regional, state, and local conferences. Joanne is a certified teacher of Spanish and taught Spanish for 16 years prior to entering post-secondary education.

Katherine Resch has been teaching World Languages for 27 years. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Richmond, with a minor in Spanish and a concentration in Secondary Education. She also earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from the University of Richmond. She has taught French levels 1-5 and Spanish levels 1-3, and currently teaches French levels 2-5 at Spencerport High School. Katherine founded the Spencerport chapter of the Société Honoraire de Français in 2005 and is the advisor of the Spencerport High School French Club. She also leads regular trips to Europe for World Language students. 

Katherine works using Comprehensible Input strategies. Over the past several years, she has worked to develop a consistent French curriculum across all levels. Katherine is passionate about including information from Francophone areas around the world. She aims to create an inclusive classroom environment using lessons about Francophone history along with current culture. Music has become a focal point in creating this environment, as Katherine uses Manie Musicale resources to implement a music unit across all levels, differentiating tasks by language level. Katherine is excited to continue learning about different strategies to inspire students as they learn World Language.

Noemí Rodríguez-Grimshaw (@team_lologramos) is a veteran language educator who has been sharing and supporting teachers across the globe since 2005. As an award winning teacher, she specializes in language curriculum, assessment design, technology integration, reading and communication strategies. In 2014 and 2024, FLENJ awarded her workshop “Best of NJ” and most recently, the President’s Award for her continued leadership in language education. She has presented at state, regional, national and international conferences over the past fifteen years. Noemi’s mission is to provide ongoing, customized support to ensure the best world language proficiency-based programs in all schools.

Elisabetta Sanino D’Amanda coordinates the Italian Studies program at Rochester Institute of Technology in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultures since 2001. Her scholarly publications and presentations are on Italian cinema, and Italian pedagogy with a specific focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Her Internship Program in Genova, Italy, created and coordinated with the RIT Career Services, celebrates 20 years in 2024 and sees strong ties with Italian companies providing RIT students with a focus on the Italian as a thriving European language of work. Elisabetta is a documentary filmmaker and her film “As Good As Bread” on the Italian American community of Rochester, NY received the Depth of Focus prize in 2020, has been screened by Italian RAI Tv and in many Us universities. She also received the prize “Inclusione 3.0” for the film “Astrodance” by the university of Macerata, Italy in 2023.

Pamela Stano is an engaging Spanish educator. She holds a B.S. in Spanish & Secondary Education from SUNY Oswego and a Masters of Spanish Education from Binghamton University. Currently teaching Spanish 1 &3 at Tully Junior-Senior High School, she brings over a decade of experience. Beyond her classroom role, Pamela is involved in language education leadership. As the Membership Manager for LECNY and former NYSAFLT Regional Director, she champions collaboration and life-long learning. Pamela's global impact includes contributions to the World Language Council, the Standards Review Committee and facilitating NYSED book studies. In her presentations, Pamela shares insights on restorative practices, student engagement, the modes of communication, technology integration, and using authentic resources. Her evolution as an educator focuses on creating a learning community that prioritizes inclusivity, equity, and belonging. For Pamela, student success hinges on meaningful relationships and creating a space where students feel safe to be themselves. Her journey is a testament to continuous learning, leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the success of her students. Pamela welcomes conversations at any time concerning not only the content of this presentation as well as  pedagogy and instructional practices but also values your feedback, questions and suggestions. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any thoughts or insights you might have at pamelastano23@gmail.com.

Erica graduated from Elmira College with a B.A. in Spanish and completed an M.A. in Adolescence Education in Spanish at SUNY Cortland. She is a middle school Spanish teacher at Chittenango Central School District. She has previously taught elementary through high school Spanish and French in both public and private schools. She was a 2021 NYSAFLT Leader of Tomorrow and has served as a coordinator for the New York State Seal of Biliteracy. She has presented at regional and state conferences in New York on topics such as Readers in the Classroom, Project Based Learning, and Movement Centered Instruction. In her free time she enjoys supporting the arts, hiking with her dogs, practicing yoga, reading, and spending time with her husband and two children. 

Melissa Stio is an educator of middle and high school Italian in the Greece Central School District, currently at Arcadia Middle and High Schools where she just recently received the NYSAFLT Italy Cultural Award. Stio also holds tenure and her professional certificate from NYSED. Melissa attended Nazareth College of Rochester for a total of six years and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Adolescent Education and Italian, as well as a Master of Science in Education in Adolescent Inclusive Education.

Melissa is passionate about the intersection of technology and language learning. She believes students need to be active participants in their learning. She finds inspiration on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, and strives to always be culturally relevant with lesson and unit design.

Melissa is constantly inspired by her Italian teaching colleagues both in the Greece Central School District and beyond, and is thankful for their support. She is also grateful to have such incredible middle and high school students who encouraged her to submit a conference proposal in the first place!

Melissa has enjoyed attending ITACNY, NYSAFLT, and ACTFL conferences over the years and is excited to present for the first time at the Rochester Regional conference! You can follow Melissa on Twitter and Instagram @StioSignorina to see what her and her students are up to! 

Melanie Thomas, NBCT in WL, teaches Spanish levels III, IV and V (with Syracuse University) at Spencerport HS. She received a MATL from the University. of Southern Mississippi where focus was on language acquisition and language instruction. This background in SLA supports her strive to teach with Comprehensible Input to help learners acquire the language they study. Melanie was the New York State 2023 World Language Teacher of the Year.

Julie Wilkens earned a B.A. in English and a minor in French from Oberlin College, a M.Ed in Secondary English Education from the University of Mississippi and K-12 literacy certification from the University of Alaska. Since 1996, she has taught both middle and high school ELA and French all over the country, including in Mississippi, Alaska and Massachusetts. She has lived in Pittsford, NY with her family since 2010 and currently teaches French at Penfield High School. Julie loves exploring language and culture with her students and challenging them to go beyond their comfort zones. To that end, this is the first time she has presented at a conference as well as the first time she has served on a NYSAFLT committee. When she isn't teaching--or planning--Julie enjoys running, cooking, reading, and going on adventures with her family and friends.