• Home
    • Annual Voices Journal Submission Guidelines
  • Annual Voices Journal 2025
    • Journal 2025 Picture Word Indicative Model (PWIM)
    • Journal 2025 Creating ESL Bilingual Units
    • Journal 2025 Creating Lessons for All through Picture Books
    • Journal 2025 Faculty Resources for ML Student Success
    • Journal 2025 Fostering Inclusive Environments
  • 2025 Spring Weekly Voices
    • Teaching Newcomers? Effective Writing Strategies for ELL Newcomers
    • Proposed Changes of HS Requirements for Districts and Students
    • Congratulations to April’s NJTESOL/NJBE Member of the Month: Daryl Perkins
    • Preserving Family Culture and Language: A Parent Workshop in Irvington’s Early Childhood Department
    • Trauma Informed Considerations and Strategies for Multilingual Learners
    • Addressing Student Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression
    • Free Resources to Explore and Use ChatGPT and AI
  • 2025 Winter Weekly Voices
    • Professional Development Opportunities in 2025
    • NJTESOL/NJBE Scholarships and Awards for your students and you!
    • Congratulations to January’s NJTESOL/NJBE Member of the Month: Brittany Fuentes
    • English Learners With Disabilities: The Rules Schools Have to Follow
    • 2024 Higher Ed Scholarship Winner’s Essay
    • 2024 Higher Ed Scholarship Winner’s Essay
    • Resources for Educators Pertaining to Immigrant Students, Families, and Preparation for Response
    • How to Identify and Serve English Learners with Disabilities
    • 2024 Raquel Sinai Newcomer Scholarship Winner’s Essay
    • How to Connect With English-Language Newcomers: Teachers Share Their Favorite Lessons
    • Congratulations to March’s NJTESOL/NJBE Member of the Month: Juliana Neno
    • 2024 Pedro J. Rodriguez High School Scholarship Winner’s Essay
    • NJTESOL/NJBE Spring Conference Invited Speakers
  • About Us
    • Mission Statement
    • Executive Board
    • Membership Information
    • The Hotlist
    • W25 January 21

Contact Us by Email

webmaster@njtesol-njbe.org
njtesol-njbe-voicesnjtesol-njbe-voices
  • Home
    • Annual Voices Journal Submission Guidelines
  • Annual Voices Journal 2025
    • Journal 2025 Picture Word Indicative Model (PWIM)
    • Journal 2025 Creating ESL Bilingual Units
    • Journal 2025 Creating Lessons for All through Picture Books
    • Journal 2025 Faculty Resources for ML Student Success
    • Journal 2025 Fostering Inclusive Environments
  • 2025 Spring Weekly Voices
    • Teaching Newcomers? Effective Writing Strategies for ELL Newcomers
    • Proposed Changes of HS Requirements for Districts and Students
    • Congratulations to April’s NJTESOL/NJBE Member of the Month: Daryl Perkins
    • Preserving Family Culture and Language: A Parent Workshop in Irvington’s Early Childhood Department
    • Trauma Informed Considerations and Strategies for Multilingual Learners
    • Addressing Student Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression
    • Free Resources to Explore and Use ChatGPT and AI
  • 2025 Winter Weekly Voices
    • Professional Development Opportunities in 2025
    • NJTESOL/NJBE Scholarships and Awards for your students and you!
    • Congratulations to January’s NJTESOL/NJBE Member of the Month: Brittany Fuentes
    • English Learners With Disabilities: The Rules Schools Have to Follow
    • 2024 Higher Ed Scholarship Winner’s Essay
    • 2024 Higher Ed Scholarship Winner’s Essay
    • Resources for Educators Pertaining to Immigrant Students, Families, and Preparation for Response
    • How to Identify and Serve English Learners with Disabilities
    • 2024 Raquel Sinai Newcomer Scholarship Winner’s Essay
    • How to Connect With English-Language Newcomers: Teachers Share Their Favorite Lessons
    • Congratulations to March’s NJTESOL/NJBE Member of the Month: Juliana Neno
    • 2024 Pedro J. Rodriguez High School Scholarship Winner’s Essay
    • NJTESOL/NJBE Spring Conference Invited Speakers
  • About Us
    • Mission Statement
    • Executive Board
    • Membership Information
    • The Hotlist
    • W25 January 21

Meet Our New NJTESOL/NJBE Executive Board Members

Jessica Duran, Secondary Bilingual SIG

I am a seasoned educator with 12 years of experience in K-12 education, specializing in Bilingual and ESL instruction. Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to supporting multilingual students, with a particular focus on Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFEs) at the secondary level. My educational background includes a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, along with certifications in Bilingual Education, ESL, and middle school History.

This year marks my first as a member of NJTESOL-NJBE, where I am honored to serve on the Executive Board as the Bilingual Secondary Special Interest Group Representative. I am eager to collaborate with the esteemed members of NJTESOL-NJBE, whose advocacy efforts empower multilingual students to have their voices heard.

Veronica Murillo, ESL/Bilingual PreK-K SIG

I have been dedicated to early childhood education since 2004, beginning my teaching career in Newark and now working in Irvington. Since 2014, I’ve had the privilege of serving as a Preschool Instructional Coach for the Office of Early Childhood. In this role, I mentor, coach, and provide professional development to teachers, with a focus on bilingual/ESL best practices and early childhood education.

I hold a BA in Psychology and Early Childhood from New Jersey City University and continued my education at Walden University and Montclair State University. I’m certified in ESL, bilingual education, P-3, K-5, and as a supervisor. My passion lies in supporting both teachers and families, whether it’s mentoring Prek or Kindergarten teachers or helping families in the registration office.

For 10 years, I was honored to serve as the President of NJAKE. Now, I’m proud to be a part of NJTESOL as the representative for ESL/Bilingual PreK-K, continuing my commitment to fostering a nurturing and inclusive educational environment for all.

(See more new Executive Board Members below.)

Announcements

Nominate the member of the month!

NJTESOL/NJBE has so many amazing teachers throughout our state that it would be fitting to highlight some of them. Nominees could be colleagues who are available to answer questions about ELLs or the Bilingual Education code; educators who support students and their families beyond the classroom with projects, college applications, and extracurricular activities; someone who joins committees in support of ELLS or to implement positive change for the community. The nominee must be a member of NJTESOL/NJBE. Nomination Link

T-Shirt Design Contest – All NJTESOL/NJBE members and their students are invited to participate in this first-ever competition. The winning design will be featured on the 2025 Spring Conference t-shirts sold to raise funds for the NJTESOL/NJBE Scholarship Fund. Submissions are due by Nov. 15, 2024. See more information here.

Meet More of Our
New Executive Board Members

Kimberly Sharkey, Adult Education SIG

With over 22 years of experience as an educator, I have dedicated my career to supporting MLLs across various age groups, with a particular focus on Adult Education and High School levels. My work has primarily centered on helping these learners achieve their goals through effective language acquisition, building their confidence, and encouraging their personal development. I hold a Master’s degree in TESOL from Shenandoah University, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Adult ESL and Literacy. For more than a decade, I have been teaching ESL at Rowan College of South Jersey’s Gloucester County Campus, and I’ve been involved in K-12 education since 2003. This year, I am thrilled to be joining the team at Willingboro High School, where I look forward to continuing my work with diverse student populations.

I am passionate about collaborating with fellow educators and am excited about the opportunity to engage with the NJTESOL-NJBE community. I believe in the power of professional networks to drive growth and innovation in our field, and I am keen to contribute to and learn from our collective experiences, especially within the area of Adult Education. Please feel free to reach out to me at adult-ed-rep@njtesol-njbe.org. I look forward to connecting with you and working together to enhance our practice and support our learners.

Keith Perkins, Ed.D., Supervisor SIG

Supervisor of ESL, Bilingual, & World Language Education for Irvington Public Schools

The 2024-2025 school year marks the beginning of my 23rd year in education, all of them in Irvington, NJ. My first 17 years were spent as an elementary teacher in grades 2 and K. I began working with the multilingual learner kindergarten class in 2015, and fell in love with their thirst for learning. This led me to becoming a Multilingual Learner Instructional Specialist, and then into the position of district-wide supervisor of Multilingual Learners and Word Language Programs for my district. I am entering my 6th year as supervisor of the department, which is charged with the task of providing our 3,000+ ML students with the best education we can provide them. I am excited to collaborate with my colleagues across the state as the SIG Supervisor Representative and develop a network of support that will help all of us who work with ML students learn from one another and continue to make New Jersey a place where our students thrive.

Elizabeth White, ESL Secondary Representative

I have been a teacher of MLs at the high school level for nine years, with a focus on Newcomers, and those preparing to exit our school’s program. Born and raised in New Jersey, I truly believe that our state provides amazing educational opportunities for all its students, and I am proud to be a part of it. As the ESL Secondary Rep, I hope to connect educators with one another, and promote the spread of knowledge and resources. I am especially passionate about MLs successes in challenging content areas — such as math and science. When I am not teaching, I can be seen walking my two crazy dogs (which all of my students know I talk about way too much)!

2024 Spring Conference Platinum Sponsor

President’s Message 
and
Vice President’s Message

ARTICLES:

Meet Our New Executive Board Members

Science of Reading Podcast 3:
Diagnosing Dyslexia in Multilingual Learners
– with Francisco Usero-González
and
Science of Reading Podcast 4:
Practical Strategies for Multilingual Learning
– with Diane August, Ph.D.

Communication is KEY!
and
Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric Has Consequences. What Schools Can Do to Help

Congratulations to October’s
NJTESOL/NJBE Member of the Month Kellie Cuccaro

and
Every Teacher Is a Language Teacher: Strategies for Supporting Multilingual Learners of English in the Mainstream Classroom– Naashia Mohamed

3 Ways to Ensure English Learners Benefit from the Science of Reading
-Leslie Villegas
and
Supporting Multilingual Learners in Developing Reading Fluency across the School Day– Kate Kinsella

Announcing the 2025 Spring Conference Keynote Speakers!

Congratulations to November’s
NJTESOL/NJBE Member of the Month Mrs. Singh

and
4 Ways to Support Long-Term English Learners – Sarah Said

Word Analyzer Vocabulary Tool
and
Online Dictionaries

Notebook LM
-Jessica Duran
and
5 Ways to Use AI-Generated Images in Your Classroom -Brent Warner

Inspirational Quotations
and
A Chorus of Reasons Why We Teach

Invitation to Write an Article for the Yearly Voices Journal
and
Padres con Poder/Parent Power Parent Expo

5 Ways to Bring Cultural Diversity into Your Classroom -Carol Higho
and
Defying Labels at Tables -Joyce Farr

Season’s Greetings from the NJTESOL/NJBE Executive Board

NJTESOL/NJBE Voices Editorial Board

Executive Director
Kathleen Fernandez

President
LeighAnn Matthews, Bridgewater-Raritan Public Schools

Past-President
Michelle Land, Randolph Township Schools

Layout
Dale Egan, Bergen Community College

Technology
Marilyn Pongracz, Bergen Community College

NJTESOL/NJBE Home Page

Visit the home page, NJTESOL/NJBE
for
Advocacy
Spring Conference Information
Chapter Meetings
Discussion List Information
Membership
Helpful Links

Affiliated With

NJTESOL/NJBE Voices