Select language, current language English

The School and District Profiles website will be unavailable from 3:00 PM ET on Monday, September 21, until 10:00 AM ET on Tuesday, September 22. Please visit the E2C Hub for data during that time. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE)

English Language Learners/Bilingual Education Advisory Council

Under Massachusetts General Laws (c. 15, §1G), the Department is required to establish and maintain a bilingual education Advisory Council. The English Learners/Bilingual Education Advisory Council's role is to advise the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Commissioner on matters pertaining to the education of English Language Learners (ELLs) in Massachusetts' public schools. Specifically, the Council will:

  • assess statewide trends and needs
  • seek public and professional input
  • analyze information regarding education of ELs
  • advise and make recommendations regarding legislation, regulations, and program guidelines
  • provide other programmatic recommendations as it deems necessary to fulfill the goals established by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

2026-2027 ELBAC Co-Chairs:

FirstLastTitleAffiliation
TatianaLara MelendezELPAC ChairLeominster Public Schools
CarinaDa SilvaExecutive Director of Multilingual LearnersBarnstable Public Schools

2026-2027 ELBAC Members:

FirstLastTitleAffiliation
KelleyAllenEL Coordinator & TeacherQuabbin Regional
AmelieCabralESL DirectorAbby Foster Charter School
AmandaCampbellInterim Executive Director of Multilingual EducationLynn Public Schools
BarbaraCohenDirector of English Language LearnersNantucket Public Schools
NathanCoutoCurriculum, Data, and Assessment Manager for English Learner EducationNew Bedford Public Schools
MarilynGlazerAcademic ESL Program Support CoordinatorHolyoke Community College
KatherinLoboESL Teacher 6–8Newton Public Schools
KateLyons MaillouxDirector of English Learner EducationMarshfield Public Schools
LauraMacklinMLE DirectorPittsfield Public Schools
KarimaMehannyArab Language InstructorQuincy College
JenniferNoorjanianFamily Welcome Center DirectorMilford Public Schools
SusanOuBoston PS DELAC Co-chairFCSN
SimoOuazzaniQuincy High School English Learner Department ChairQuincy Public Schools
ManuelRamirezDirector of Dual Language ProgramsBoston Public Schools
AnneRobertiExecutive Director of English Language Programs and Community EducationFramingham State University
MollyRossMATSOL PresidentHarvard PhD Candidate

ELBAC Meeting Dates

DateTime
Friday, October 16, 2026 9:30AM–11:30AM (Zoom )
Friday, February 5, 20279:30AM–11:30AM (Zoom )
Friday, April 30, 20279:30AM–11:30AM (Zoom )

DESE ELBAC Liaison Information

Elenita Irizarry Ramos, Ed.D.
Bilingual Education Lead, Instruction and Multilingual Education
elenita.irizarry-ramos@mass.gov

Last Updated: September 16, 2026

Top