New York State Association for Bilingual Education

🌟 Celebrating a Champion of Multilingualism and Biliteracy: Dominika McPartland 🌟

In today's please join us in recognizing Dominika McPartland, NYSABE's Polish Language Delegate.

On June 10, the Polish Consulate in New York City welcomed students, families, educators, and community leaders for a special celebration honoring 23 New York City Public Schools students who earned the Polish Seal of Biliteracy. After years of supporting students through the Polish component of the Seal, this year's celebration marked a significant milestone, made possible through the dedication of many advocates, including former Polish Language Delegate Alicja Winnicki. Special guests included: Elisa Alvarez, Associate Commissioner for the Office of Bilingual Education & World Languages at the NYS Education Department, Ron Woo, Executive Director, Language RBERN at NYU, Kate Menken, Professor of Linguistics and TESOL at Queens College, CUNY and Jill Schimmel, and Polish Consul General Mateusz Sakowicz.

Among the inspiring leaders recognized was Dominika McPartland, whose tireless advocacy continues to expand opportunities for multilingual learners across New York City.

As the Multilingual Learners (MLL) Services Administrator for the Citywide Transfer School District, Dominika provides instructional and compliance support while playing a pivotal role in growing the Seal of Biliteracy program. Her commitment extends beyond her district role—she serves as an adjunct lecturer and field mentor at both Hunter College and NYU, helping prepare the next generation of TESOL educators. As a researcher, she explores innovative ways to integrate computational thinking and digital literacy into teacher preparation programs.

A passionate multilingual educator herself, Dominika also volunteers as a citywide Polish Language Advisor, guiding students as they pursue the Seal of Biliteracy in Polish and advocating for broader recognition of heritage language achievement across New York State.

With academic credentials spanning English Philology, French, and Educational Administration, and a lifelong commitment to language learning, Dominika exemplifies what it means to champion educational equity and multilingual excellence.

Congratulations to all 23 Seal of Biliteracy recipients, and thank you to Dominika McPartland and the many educators, community members, and partners who continue to open doors for multilingual students to thrive and be recognized for their linguistic and cultural assets. 🇵🇱📚🌍

🌟 Celebrating Dr. Shirley J. Vargas: A Champion for Multilingual Learners and Educational Leadership 🌟

In today's please join us in recognizing Dr. Shirley J. Vargas, NYSABE Board of Directors-Secretary, whose unwavering commitment to bilingual and multilingual education continues to transform lives across New York State.

For more than 20 years, Dr. Vargas has dedicated her career to serving multilingual learners, leading language development initiatives, and creating pathways to higher education for bilingual and multilingual students. Driven by a passion for equity and transformational leadership, she pursued a doctoral degree with one clear purpose: to better serve the students and communities she advocates for every day.

A testament to her collaborative leadership, over 100 NYSABE members contributed to her groundbreaking research, sharing valuable insights on leadership and fostering belonging in schools. Dr. Vargas successfully defended her dissertation, “Sense of Belonging of ELL and MLL Students: Examining Educators' Perceptions in New York State Public Schools,”shedding light on the critical role educators and leaders play in creating inclusive learning environments.

Today, Dr. Vargas continues to inspire educators across the state through workshops on leadership, positive school culture, and advocacy for multilingual learners. She is also a trusted voice guiding districts through the New York State Seal of Biliteracy, providing support and resources through statewide webinars.

As Chairperson of the Department of World Languages at Westbury High School, Dr. Vargas has helped build a school culture where bilingualism is celebrated. Her leadership led to the development of innovative programs, including SIFE and Home Language Arts, empowering English Language Learners with strong literacy foundations that extend across all academic disciplines.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Vargas champions opportunities for multilingual students through extracurricular programs that strengthen native-language communication and public speaking skills. She serves as a Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator, Grant Advisor for Nassau Community College STEP, and an Executive Board member of The Dream Foundation, helping immigrant students access scholarships, higher education, and career pathways.

A dedicated educator, community leader, wife, and mother of four, Dr. Vargas exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose and heart. Her belief is simple yet powerful: when we advocate for all language learners, we create boundless opportunities to transform education and empower entire communities.

👏 Thank you, Dr. Shirley J. Vargas, for being a tireless advocate, visionary leader, and inspiring voice for multilingual learners, educators, and families across New York State.

We are beyond excited and proud to share a huge win for bilingual education—and for the incredible community! 🎉

With your support, and the powerful advocacy of the NYSABE Advocacy Committee, Buffalo State University has been awarded $250,000 in New York State funding to launch the Bilingual Educators Pipeline Initiative. This investment is a major step forward in addressing the shortage of bilingual educators across our state.

Through this initiative, Buffalo State will collaborate with partners like City College CUNY and others to expand bilingual certification opportunities in Spanish and additional languages—helping ensure our multilingual learners have the educators they deserve.

A big congratulations to Gliset C. Morales, Ph.D., who will serve as Project Director. We’re excited for her leadership and vision to guide this work!

We also want to give a special thank you to Assembly Member Jon Rivera for helping make this initiative a reality.

👉 Be sure to check out the post below and click the link to learn more about this exciting achievement!

The City of Buffalo will receive a quarter of a million dollars to establish a bilingual educator pipeline program to help cater to the city’s diverse student population.

State assemblymember Jonathan Rivera announced Monday that the grant will help enhance a certification program at SUNY Buffalo State University by supporting tuition assistance, certification costs, technology, recruitment and staff salaries.

"This initiative recognizes a simple reality: New York's classrooms are becoming increasingly diverse, and our educator workforce must reflect and support that community," he said.

Supporters of the program are hopeful it will certify more bilingual educators who will then stay in Western New York, where their services are especially needed. More than 20% of students are multilingual learners, and Rivera said schools across the region continue to face a critical shortage of bilingual educators.

The program will help certify paraprofessionals who can assist students at schools like Lafayette International High School, where 45 countries and 30 spoken languages are represented.

“We have so many graduates here that graduate being bilingual, multilingual, many students speaking many other languages,” said John Starkey, principal of Lafayette International. “This funding can help directly support some of our teachers' aides that may be interested in pursuing a career as a bilingual teacher, and also with our graduating students when they go to our local universities here in Western New York."

Read more at the link in comments.

NYSABE’S Elections are happening now! If you are member you will receive an email from Simply Voting. We encourage you to engage with us in this process and vote!
Help us select the next generation of NYSABE Leadership!
Voting ends July 3rd.

THANK YOU! We had a powerful and insightful time today during NYSABE Advocacy Town Hall. Please stay connected for more information on all NYSABE advocacy efforts!

🌍✨ Highlighting Sandra (Sandy) McKenney & Celebrating Community Through Culture ✨🌍

We are proud to shine a spotlight on Sandra “Sandy” McKenney, whose remarkable journey across continents and careers beautifully reflects the power of multilingualism, persistence, and purpose.

Born and raised in Mexico City, Sandra began her professional career as a computer engineer, contributing to major global initiatives before following her passion into education. Her experiences living and teaching in Switzerland, along with her travels across Europe, Africa, and Asia, have deeply shaped her global perspective and commitment to culturally responsive teaching. Today, as a Bilingual Instructional Coach in the Syracuse City School District, Sandra continues to support students and educators in fostering bilingualism, biliteracy, and pride in identity. 💫

This commitment was on full display at Seymour Dual Language Academy’s “One Community, Many Cultures” celebration held on June 10, 2026. Organized by newly elected 2026-2027 Region IV delegates Rosario Anamaria and Sandra McKenney (Currently serving as the Spanish Language Delegate), alongside former delegate Gloria Kimmich, the event was a vibrant testament to the strength of community and cultural richness.

🌟 The evening featured:

* Student-led traditional dances, poetry, music, and a cultural fashion showcase
* Student-led conferences highlighting *Celebrating Biliteracy* writing units
* Classroom displays honoring the guiding principles of Dual Language Immersion
* Powerful student self-portraits reflecting identity and voice
* A joyful community gathering with families enjoying foods from around the world

Families also received information about NYSABE, further connecting this celebration to a broader movement of advocacy and support for multilingual learners.

Events like this remind us that when educators like Sandra lead with vision and heart, schools become spaces where language, culture, and identity are not only honored—but celebrated. 💙

👏 Thank you, Sandra, for your leadership, your journey, and your unwavering commitment to our students and communities!