WIDA Fellows

ACCESSfor ELLsWIDA is housed within the Wisconsin Center for Education Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

© 2021 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System, on behalf of WIDA

2021-2022 MembersReturning

Hannah Turner Silver Spring, MD English to Speakers of Other Languages & World Languages Content Specialist

Hannah Turner is the multilingual learner content specialist at Argyle Middle School in Montgomery County, Maryland—supervising English, French, and Spanish language-learning programming. She holds a bachelor’s in English from Utah State University, with teaching certification in English and English as a Second Language. She earned her master’s in educational administration from Trinity Washington University in Washington, DC. She is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) of English as a new

language.

Naseem Alibhai

Schaumburg, IL Bilingual Resource Teacher

Naseem Alibhai is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT, 2009–29). Her teaching career began more than three decades ago in Kolkata, a city in the eastern part of India—where Bengali is the state language. There, she taught nutrition and home management. She eventually moved with her family to Dubai, where she had the opportunity to teach in private schools (British curriculum). Prior to immigrating into the U.S., she had already taught primary grades and high school. During her early years in India, she had the opportunity to become fluent in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Urdu, Bengali, and Arabic. Her language expertise has helped her build the bridge of communication with her students, their families, and other stakeholders in the field of education.





Christina Livingstone Durham, NC English as a Second Language Teacher

Christina Livingstone is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT). She has worked as an ESL teacher for the Durham Public Schools system. Her efforts as an educator have been featured by several media outlets in the Durham, North Carolina area. Much of that local coverage has been due to her efforts and strategies to level the field for refugee students, as well as low-income and ESL pupils.

Vilanha Turner Andover, MA English Language Learner Teacher

Vilanha Turner is an elementary ELL teacher for the Andover Public School District in Massachusetts, with 10 years of experience in the education field. She is a first-generation immigrant from Cambodia, and her personal journey as a multilingual learner has shaped who she is as an educator. As a refugee from the Khmer Rouge era, she understands the challenges of being part of an immigrant family in a new country. She is passionate about building meaningful relationships with her students and their families, and fostering a sense of belonging for them. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Temple University and a Master of Education in English as a Second Language from Merrimack College.

Cassandra Bell East Boston, MA English Language Learner Specialist

Cassandra Bell has worked as a high school language teacher for the past 10 years, first as a Spanish teacher in Washington, DC and then as an ESL teacher in Boston, Massachusetts. She is currently in a hybrid teaching/administrator role, focused primarily on special education. Her professional interests include supporting students identified as dual language learners, anti-bias curriculum and pedagogy, and project-based learning. She holds a master’s in educational studies from Johns Hopkins University and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in education leadership from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, knitting, and kayaking the Charles River.



Carol Pierobon Hofer Indianapolis, IN English as a New Language Teacher

Carol Pierobon Hofer is an elementary National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) of English as a new language in Indianapolis. Carol, who came to the United States at age 18, helps her school community as interpreter, translator, and family liaison. In her 28-year career, she has taught all ages from preschoolers to senior citizens. Carol also mentors NBCT candidates and is a workshop leader and site visitor for the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. Her experience as a Fulbright Educator Exchange participant in Uruguay 10 years ago led to lasting ties and now Carol is the proud madrina (godmother) of a rural school, where she connects remotely with students learning English. A world traveler and polyglot, Carol feels at home in any part of our planet.

Suzy McIntyre St. Cloud, MN Multilingual Coordinator and Teacher

Suzanne McIntyre has been an elementary and multilingual teacher at several school districts in Minnesota and Iowa. She is the multilingual director and teacher at Stride Academy in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University and Master of Arts from St. Cloud State University. When she is not at school, Suzanne enjoys spending time with her two children and watching Iowa State sporting events.

Maggie Gavello Winchester, VA Math English to Speakers of Other Languages Teacher

Maggie Gavello is the mathematics curriculum specialist for Shenandoah County Public Schools. Prior to this position, she spent 14 years in a variety of classrooms. She worked seven years at the elementary level as a classroom teacher and then seven years as an English learner teacher at the middle and high school levels. Maggie holds a bachelor’s in liberal arts from Bridgewater College and a master’s in educational leadership with a math specialty from George Mason University. She was named Winchester Public School’s Teacher of the Year for 2019–20 and is now serving as a WIDA Fellow during the 2020–21 school year.



New

Samar AbdelfatahHope Mills, NC English as a Second Language Specialist

Samar Abdelfatah is from Cairo, Egypt. She is an ESL Specialist with the Cumberland County Schools and City of Fayetteville Human Relations Commissioner. She received her bachelor’s degree in arts and education from Ain Shams University (TESOL). She pursued her master’s degree in teaching methodology at Cairo University, and a Career Certification in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language from American University in Cairo. She worked as a K–12 principal at Bloom International School (2013–18), and served for many distinguished international schools in Egypt. She was a book reviewer and curriculum advisor for Oxford Publishers U.K. and a cultural ambassador and exchange teacher in Chicago, Illinois, for the American Councils for International Education 2016–17.

Daylan BradshawDenver, CO English Language Development Instructor (6th-8th)

Daylan Bradshaw was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He is in his sixth year of teaching with five of those as an English language development teacher for Tier B/C students with the Denver Public Schools, at Compass Academy. His planning, implementation, and data has allowed him—through the urging of his administration—to highlight best practices of language acquisition for his school. In his classroom, he strives to have students embrace their world perspective, language(s) and culture, and learn from others through a lens of empathy and understanding.

Adriana EifertTampa Bay, FL Elementary English to Speakers of Other Languages Teacher

As an ESOL teacher, Adriana views her role as educator, advocate, and ambassador. Ensuring that her students’ needs and voices are heard and appreciated; helping families navigate the public education system and reap benefits for their children; and helping teachers identify ELLs’ strong skills and unique talents. She graduated from the Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and from Belmont Abbey College with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She has always been focused on servant leadership with roles as a bilingual assistant teacher, bilingual Medicaid case manager, and currently as ESOL teacher. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two lovely daughters, reading, and relaxing on the beach.



Elizabeth Folberg

Verona, WI English Learner Resource Teacher

Elizabeth Folberg is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) to English learners. She holds a bachelor’s in French and an MEd in teaching second languages and cultures from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Currently, she teaches grades 3–5 in the Verona Area School District and has been teaching K–5 English learners since 2004. Prior to that, she worked as a middle and high school French teacher in Central Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio. She has served a mentor, instructional coach, and has led professional development sessions.

Jiyeon JeongAnderson, SC English to Speakers of Other Languages Teacher

Jiyeon Jeong was born and raised in South Korea. She currently teaches multilingual learners as an ESOL teacher at Midway Elementary School and North Pointe Elementary School in Anderson, South Carolina. She earned her master’s in TESOL from the School for International Training (SIT) in Vermont in 2004, along with her ESL teaching certificate in K–12 public schools. She has taught various levels of multilingual learners since she completed her graduate education. Her overall teaching experience includes working in elementary schools in Vermont for three years, North Carolina for 10 years (in the Durham Public School System), and two years in South Carolina. In her free time, she enjoys doing yoga and walking with her friends.

Katy KennedyCastle Rock, CO English Language Development Teacher

Katy Kennedy serves as a 4–5th grade English language development (ELD) teacher in Littleton, Colorado. This is her sixth year teaching and her fourth year as an ELD teacher. Her role as an ELD teacher is to plan and co-teach alongside content teachers to provide culturally responsive and engaging instruction for all students, but especially for multilingual learners. She has an undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in teaching English learners. When she is not teaching, she loves to spend her time outdoors hiking and skiing with her husband and two dogs in the beautiful mountains of Colorado!



Lisa Rose Martin

Goshen, IN English Learner Teacher

Lisa Rose Martin is an English learner teacher at Chamberlain Elementary School in Goshen, Indiana. She currently teaches English Learners in grades K–1 and has taught multilingual learners of every grade from K–12 over her career. Prior to working at Chamberlain, Lisa Rose taught English as a new language, English 9, and English 10 at West Noble High School in Ligonier, Indiana. Some of her professional interests include co-teaching, literacy instruction for multilingual learners, and practices that support equity of educational opportunity. Lisa Rose holds a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts Boston. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and TESOL certification from Goshen College.

Ann MarchantStevens Point, WI English as a Second Language Teacher

Ann Marchant is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) of English as a new language. She teaches multilingual learners at Stevens Point Area Senior High in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Prior to teaching there, she taught in the New York City public schools. In NYC, she taught social studies, English language arts, and ESL courses at junior high schools in Brooklyn and Manhattan. She earned her master’s degree in TESOL from Teachers College at Columbia University and her bachelor’s degree in classical languages from Carleton College. She is passionate about sharing multilingual learners’ assets with all of their teachers and ensuring they receive equal access to the core curriculum.

Puja Mullins Ypsilanti, MI English Learner Coordinator

Puja Mullins is the English learner coordinator at Lincoln Consolidated Schools. A recipient of the University of Michigan Press Award and Eastern Michigan University Dean’s Travel Award, she pursues professional growth. She is a founding member of the UM Center for Digital Curricula, and is helping to launch a multi-county EL collaborative. She is a seasoned presenter, having shared her work at TESOL International and MI TESOL, and recently led a workshop for EFL teachers in Indonesia. As a Bangladeshi immigrant, Puja keeps her experiences as a person of color and multilingual learner at the forefront of her efforts in strengthening equity in education. A cornerstone of her philosophy is that educating a child cannot be removed from empowering the family.



Marcy SchumacherKansas City, MO English Language Development Teacher/Specialist

Growing up in a bilingual family has made teaching English learners a passion for Marcy. She strives daily to give her students the love and support she had as a student. She designs her lessons to connect their classroom learning with their lives. Marcy began her teaching career in 1996, working for the Park Hill School District. She feels fortunate to work for the same school district she attended in high school. She feels the most pride when students return as young adults to reminisce about their time in her class, and the sense of belonging they felt. Marcy received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in 1995 from Northwest Missouri State University and in 2003 completed her Master of Science in ESL at Kansas State University. In addition to being chosen as a 2021 WIDA Fellow, she has earned these awards: 2006 Northland Excellence in Teaching, 2015 Renner Spirit, and 2017 Park Hill Teacher of the year.

Julie Yang

Providence, RI Multilingual Learner Teacher

Julie Yang is currently a third grade teacher in Providence, Rhode Island. She earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Rhode Island College and a master’s degree in cross-cultural studies-ESL from Brown University. She has dedicated her entire teaching career (21 years) to teaching multilingual learners and she continues to be a great advocate for her students. Ms. Yang has had great success connecting with students and their families, and goes above and beyond to make sure that her students receive the best education possible. She has expressed great enthusiasm and hopes that being one of the WIDA Fellows will give her more resources and knowledge to support her students—in the best way possible. At the end of the day, she is always about putting her students first.

Nancy Herrera

Wauconda, IL Dual Language Teacher

Nancy Herrera teaches and serves the community of Wauconda, Illinois. After earning a bachelor’s degree in education from DePaul University, she entered the education field to explore her passion for teaching and learning. After several years of teaching, she earned her master’s degree in educational leadership and curriculum and instruction from Concordia University. During her 19 years of teaching, she has been involved in biliteracy curriculum writing and biliteracy professional development. She was recognized as a Lake County Teacher of the year in 2016. In 2017, she was involved in relief efforts for Puerto Rico—along with her students—after Hurricane Maria. She was also recognized for her participation with the Wauconda District 118 food pantry during the pandemic in March of 2020, which served over 600 families weekly.

Documents

WIDA Fellows