As the Superintendent of the A-rated School District of Palm Beach County, Michael J. Burke is passionate about ensuring academic excellence and paving the way to post-graduate success for the District’s more than 189,000 students who attend 180 schools. He is deeply committed to the School Board’s mission to educate, affirm, and inspire each student in an equity-embedded school system.

Mr. Burke grew up in South Florida and enjoys working and living in the community with his wife and three grown children.

Alexandria Ayala represents District 2 on the Palm Beach County School Board. District 2 encompasses central Palm Beach County and includes parts of West Palm Beach, Greenacres, Palm Springs, Cloud Lake, Lake Worth, Lake Clarke Shores, and Haverhill. Ayala was elected on August 18, 2020 with 56% of the vote, in a three-way race.

She is the first Latina elected to the Palm Beach County School Board, and her goal is to ensure that every child has an opportunity to succeed, that policies work to close the student achievement gap, and that decisions are made with transparency so that parents, teachers, and the community all have a voice in the decision-making process. 

Ayala is committed to ensuring a safe, inclusive school environment, proper fiscal management of the budget, and protecting the arts, choice, and career academy programs that are critical to student education and success.

The Chiefs Latin Dance Team is the first Latin Dance Team in the School District of Palm Beach County. They formed this special club at Santaluces High School under the leadership of their dance teacher, Ms. Jommart Rivera-Agosto.

Allyson Berríos de Gacharná earned her B.S. in Elementary Education from the Florida International University and her M.A. in TESOL and Bilingual Education from Florida Atlantic University. She has been an Adjunct Professor for Florida Atlantic University since fall 2007. While at FAU, she taught different course sessions regarding TESOL Issues and Practices, and Introduction to Theories and Practices of TESOL. She has also worked for over ten years as an elementary school teacher in Palm Beach County Public School District’s Bilingual/Dual Language program and is currently a Hispanic/Latino Studies Program Planner for the District. 

Dr. Ivonne Díaz-Claisse is the founder, president, and CEO of Hispanics Inspiring Students’ Performance and Achievement (HISPA), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that aims to inspire Latino students to discover their potential, ignite their desire to embrace education, and achieve success. HISPA accomplishes this goal by recruiting, training, and mobilizing Latino professionals to serve as role models in educational programs in the communities where they live and work.  HISPA’s educational programming reached over 23,000 students to date, engaging leaders from the public and private sectors across the United States. Under her leadership, HISPA received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (2020). Her professional background includes a 10-year career at AT&T as an Operations Research Analyst followed by a 16-year career as a DE&I and Educational consultant.  

Dr. Díaz-Claisse leads by example as a HISPA Role Model herself. She’s shared her journey nationwide with over 20,000 students and over 70 companies. She has spoken at numerous universities—including the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), Columbia, Princeton and Rutgers Universities—and at national conferences such as College Board’s “Préparate” and the U.S. Hispanic Leadership        Institute. 

She holds a BS in Mathematics from the University of Puerto Rico; a master’s in engineering in operations research from Cornell University, a master’s in mathematics from the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. in mathematics from Arizona State University. 

With this background and her professional experience, Díaz-Claisse is particularly passionate about growing the pipeline of Hispanic students going into the STEM fields. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey.

Dr. Andrés Ramírez is an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL USA. He is also co-chair of FAU’s Hispanic Serving Institution Research Interest Group. His research explores culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogies that promote the literacy and language development of Emergent to Advanced Bilingual students (EABs). He teaches courses in TESOL education, curriculum theory, and discourse analysis.

Fernelize Henry, Program Planner of Secondary Social Studies

Historical Migration Patterns and its Impact on the Identity of Our Caribbean Students

During this presentation, we will be looking at how the identity of our Caribbean students has been impacted by migration. We will discuss how we, as educators, can affirm their identity in our classrooms.

Daisy Cedeño, Communications Department Multimedia Journalist

The Future is Bilingual

In this presentation, Daisy will share her story as a bilingual professional and then talk about the importance of embracing bilingualism.
The 5 Strategies:
1)Identity
2) Habits
3)Your story vs Their Story vs The Story
4) Collective Conscience or Pre- conditioned
5)Compelling Future

Dr. J.P. Linstroth, Royal Palm Beach High School Social Science Teacher & Adjunct Professor at Palm Beach State College

Social Challenges of Guatemalan-Mayan Immigrants Living in South Florida

This presentation will concentrate on the social challenges of Guatemalan-Mayan immigrants living in South Florida. Originally, many Guatemalan-Mayan immigrants migrated to South Florida because of the Guatemalan Civil War (1960-1996) and the Guatemalan genocide. Aside from the historical background of this diverse group, this talk will concentrate on those social challenges the Guatemalan-Mayan immigrants have had in acculturating and assimilating into the broader society of South Florida. This research stems from an Alexander von Humboldt Grant, which funded the project in which these findings are based.

Christina Chavarria, Coordinator of the National Outreach at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Teaching the Holocaust with Spanish-Language Resources

Learn about the US Holocaust Memorial Museum's Spanish-language content, resources, and lessons and connections between the Spanish-speaking world to Holocaust history. All resources that will be shared are free and accessible in Spanish and English.

Kimberly Coombs, Program Planner of Holocaust Studies (K-12)

Teaching the Holocaust with Spanish-Language Resources

Learn about the US Holocaust Memorial Museum's Spanish-language content, resources, and lessons and connections between the Spanish-speaking world to Holocaust history. All resources that will be shared are free and accessible in Spanish and English.

Inma Ibáñez de Yrigoyen, Dual Language Specialist / Reading Recovery - Descubriendo la Lectura Teacher Leader
Dual Language Especialista / Reading Recovery - Descubriendo la Lectura Maestra Líder

DLL High Effective Spanish Intervention
Intervención altamente efectiva en español - Descubriendo la Lectura (DLL)

Descubriendo la Lectura (DLL) is the Spanish version of “Reading Recovery”, a highly effective intervention program for Spanish-speaking children who are below grade level in class. It is a short-term and individualized intervention to accelerate children's progress to the first-grade average. Each student receives daily half-hour lessons for 12-20 weeks with a specially trained teacher. In this presentation, I will briefly explain the theory and procedures of Marie Clay, creator of this intervention program, and share my experience as a Lead Teacher to train bilingual educators

Descubriendo la Lectura (DLL) es la versión en español de “Reading Recovery”, un programa de intervención altamente efectivo para niños de habla hispana que se encuentran por debajo del nivel académico de la clase. Es una intervención, a corto plazo e individualizada, para acelerar el progreso de niños al promedio de primer grado. Cada alumno recibe lecciones diarias de media hora durante 12-20 semanas con una maestra especialmente entrenada. En esta presentación explicaré brevemente la teoría y procedimientos de Marie Clay, creadora de este programa de intervención y compartiré mi experiencia como Maestra Líder para entrenar a educadores bilingües.

Dr. Carlos F. Diaz is an Emeritus professor in The College of Education at Florida Atlantic University.  Before his tenure at FAU, he was a political science/education professor at Broward College and a middle school social studies/bilingual teacher in the Palm Beach County schools. He has been a co-author or editor of four books and has written many chapters /articles in other publications.  His research and writing have focused on multicultural and global education and equity/social justice in education.

Daisy Cedeño is a Multimedia journalist with the Communications Department in the School District of Palm Beach County.

Student Panel Leader

Dr. Cristobal Salinas Jr. is an associate professor in the College of Education at Florida Atlantic University. He is also the co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Journal Committed to Social Change on Race and Ethnicity. He’s published more than 65 manuscripts in print and has delivered over 200 presentations and lectures. His prolific writing and research has illuminated the importance of understanding and addressing Latino/a/x student identity and development, and made Salinas sought after by media outlets such as CNN, NBC News, NPR, Telemundo, National Review, Chemistry World, Good Morning America, and the Chronicle in Higher Education. The New York Times said his research is “futuristic,” and Diverse Issues in Higher Education said, “Salinas’ a rising star in academe, [and] An expert on Latinx students in college,” in their special issue where he was named one of the top 15 scholars of the year.  A distinguished scholar and advocate, Salinas has been awarded over 30 international and national awards for his commitment to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Joselyn Leon, SDPBC Teacher of the Year

For Ms. Leon, her students at Belle Glade Elementary School are her biggest inspiration. Before becoming a teacher, she knew that working with kids was something she loved to do. She prayed about what would be the best way to dive into this passion she had for working with children, and teaching was the answer to her prayers. She is known as an in-depth planner because every decision, activity, and detail brings her back to who she does everything for, her students. She is very proud of her Nicaraguan heritage and appreciates her students’ multicultural and multilingual backgrounds. 

“I am one of those people who's lucky enough to say that they love what they do, so what I do doesn't feel like work. It's a way to impact the world through working with children.”

Lilly Salcedo, ESOL Instructional Specialist

Keeping your ABBA’s in the Forefront of Teaching

In this presentation we will self- reflect and revisit our ABBA’s (Assumptions, Beliefs, Biases, Attitudes) so that we can incorporate strategies and scaffolds to intertwine and sustain cultural academic and linguistic diversity of our Hispanic Latino communities.

Fernelize Henry, Program Planner of Secondary Social Studies

Historical Migration Patterns and its Impact on the Identity of Our Caribbean Students

During this presentation, we will be looking at how the identity of our Caribbean students has been impacted by migration. We will discuss how we, as educators, can affirm their identity in our classrooms.

Dr. J.P. Linstroth, Royal Palm Beach High School Social Science Teacher & Adjunct Professor at Palm Beach State College

Challenges of Brazilian Urban Amerindians and Their Children Adapting to a Broader Brazilian Society

This presentation will concentrate on the social challenges of Brazilian Urban Amerindians and their children's adaptation to a Brader Brazilian society.

Reginald McKelvin, Secondary Social Studies Specialist

Civics IRL: Making Connections for ELLs

This session will provide educators with strategies to enhance and support ELLs in civics by making connections “In Real Life.”

Judith Gomez, ESOL Instructional Coordinator supporting Central Region Schools

Understanding and Meeting the Needs of Hispanic/Latino Students

In this presentation, we will have an opportunity to explore a case scenario on a particular Hispanic/Latino student and discuss the strategies that would provide the biggest impact on the success of the student. Reflection time will also be provided in order to improve your current practice and meet the growing needs of our Hispanic/Latino students.

Laureene Neubarth, Elementary Social Studies Resource Teacher

Infusing Hispanic/Latino Contributions and Culture into Elementary Social Studies

Participants will learn about the grade-appropriate infusion of Hispanic/Latino contributions and culture and then be shown how to locate these resources/lesson plans in Blender.