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 Language 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 ELLs
- 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.
Council Members
The EL/Bilingual Education Advisory Council is composed of members recommended by the Commissioner and appointed by the Board of Education. Appointment to the Council is for a three-year term, and no member may serve more than two consecutive terms. Membership is presently comprised of local education officials, teachers, parents, students, and representatives from higher education. A list of current council members follows:
| Name | Title | Institution |
|---|
| Allison Balter | Founding Principal | ENLACE, Lawrence Public Schools |
| Heidys Mendez | Parent Liaison | Haverhill Public Schools |
| Meghan Lampert | Parent, English Learner Teacher | Chatham Elementary School |
| Kellie Jones | Director of Bilingual Education | Brockton Public Schools |
| Antonina Parris-Yarbrough | EL Specialist | Excel Academy Charter Schools |
| Ivonne Borrero | Supervisor, English Learners and Students with Disabilities | Boston Public Schools |
| Dalida Rocha | Political Coordinator | SEIU |
| Andrea Parker | Parent, Diversity-Equity Coach | |
| Jill Davan | Parent, ELD Instructional Coach/Teacher Dual Immersion | Framingham School District |
| Kerri Lamprey | ESL Curriculum Coordinator | Burlington Public Schools |
| Mary Jo Rendón | Family/Community Engagement Specialist | Waltham School District |
| Chris Leider | Program Director, Bilingual Education and TESOL | Boston University |
| Meg Burns | President, MABE
Asst. Professor TESOL/Bilingual Education | MABE
Lesley University |
| Craig Consigli | Asst. Superintendent | Milford Public Schools |
| Monica Abdullah | Special Education/Vocational Tech Educator | The Center School Holyoke |
| Virginia Guglielmo-Brady | EL Director and Curriculum Coordinator | Pittsfield Public Schools |
| Ahmed Noor | Director of EL Community Outreach | Boston Public Schools |
| Taran Tiwari | Nepali Parent Liaison | Springfield Public Schools |
| Anis Abdulle | Chair of the Board of Directors | African Community and Economic Development of New England (ACEDONE) |
Names of council co-chairpersons appear in bold type.
Meeting Schedule for the 2020-2021 School Year
The EL/Bilingual Education Advisory Council will meet on the following dates during the 2020-2021 school year:
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|
| 10/29/2020 | 10:00am–12:00pm | This meeting is being held remotely. If you would like to attend please email David.Valade@mass.gov for the ZOOM link. |
| 2/24/2021 | 10:00am–12:00pm | This meeting is being held remotely. If you would like to attend please email David.Valade@mass.gov for the ZOOM link. |
| 5/13/2021 | 10:00am–12:00pm | This meeting is being held remotely. If you would like to attend please email David.Valade@mass.gov for the ZOOM link. |
All meetings will take place virtually via Zoom unless otherwise noted. Final links and proposed agenda topics will be posted on the EL/Bilingual Education Advisory Council webpage at least 48 hours before each meeting.
Contact Information
781-338-6711
David.Valade@mass.gov
Last Updated: January 5, 2021