Meet Your Bilingual Early Childhood/
Pre-K–K Representative

Hello! My name is Veronica Murillo, and I am excited to introduce myself as the Bilingual Early Childhood/Pre-K–K Representative for NJTESOL/NJBE for the 2026–2027 school year!

I have been working in early childhood education since 2007 and as an instructional coach since 2014. Throughout my career, I have focused on creating developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and language-rich learning environments that support young multilingual learners and their families.

I enjoy sharing resources, strategies, and professional learning around topics such as sheltered instruction, language objectives, honoring children’s home languages and cultures, ECERS-3, Creative Curriculum, and building meaningful relationships with multilingual families.

Most importantly, I want to be a resource and connection for our Early Childhood members. Whether you have a question, are looking for a resource, or want to share an idea that is working in your classroom, I would love to hear from you!

I look forward to connecting, learning from one another, and supporting the incredible work you do with our youngest multilingual learners and their families throughout the 2026–2027 school year!

Veronica Murillo
NJTESOL/NJBE Bilingual/ESL Early Childhood / Pre-K – K Rep
early-ed-rep@njtesol-njbe.org

(See below for obtaining a Bilingual Certificate through free online coursework.)

October Announcements

2026 Spring Conference Silver Sponsor

TAKE ACTION: Protect Multilingual Children in Head Start

A proposed federal regulation would require Head Start programs to conduct education in English and prioritize English instruction for children who do not speak English.
NABE and NJTESOL/NJBE firmly oppose this English-only mandate. English development and multilingualism can—and should—coexist.

The federal government is accepting public comments through October 6, 2026. We encourage all NJTESOL/NJBE and NABE members, affiliates, educators, families, researchers, and advocates to make their voices heard.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT

Join the Advocacy Committee to create positive change for educators, multilingual learners, and their families. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at 5:00. Complete this Google form to get the Zoom link.

CABR meetings will be on the second Thursday during the 26-27 School Year!
We will meet at 7:00. Join us for enlightening and inspiring conversations on race, language, and multilingual learners in schools and our communities. Complete this Google form to get the Zoom link.

Chapter Meetings:
Passaic – October 14
Morris/Sussex – October 15th
Tri-County – October 19
Bergen – October 20
Atlantic/Cape May – October 21, 2026: In person. Location TBD
Monmouth – October 29
Burlington – in person TBD

This school year, the Somerset/Hunterdon Chapter is starting a New Teacher Support group to empower ESL, Bilingual, and Classroom Teachers in their work with MLs.
Our aim is to create a community where new teachers feel supported in their work with MLs. Experienced teachers will act as a sounding board, offer insights, reflections, resources, and practical knowledge to new teachers of MLs.
Our first meetup will encourage Collaborative Lesson Planning. Bring your planning materials!
October 17, 2026, 10:30am-11:30-am, Manville Branch SCLS, 100 South 10th Ave., Manville, NJ 08835

NJTESOL/NJBE’s Professional Development Series this year focuses on ML instruction using UDL & SEI. Join NJTESOL/NJBE virtually for our first PLC meeting of the school year on Thursday, October 22nd at 5:00 pm. Please use a personal email to register on Eventbrite; school internet blockers may not accept messages from Eventbrite. Make sure that your registration is confirmed.

Lees Grant at William Paterson University

Do you know someone looking for the opportunity to get a Bilingual Certificate online? William Paterson University has a grant program that makes it possible for all teachers in NJ. The LEES Program (Literacy Empowerment in English and Spanish) provides tuition support and professional learning opportunities for pre-service and in-service teachers to improve literacy instruction and equitable access to content learning for multilingual learners. There are three strands available: Graduate Bilingual/Bicultural Education Certificate for teachers with current certifications, Undergraduate Bilingual/Bicultural Education Minor for pre-service teachers in an education major seeking a teaching credential, and Early Childhood Professional Development for preschool teachers and paraprofessionals seeking professional development in literacy for multilingual learners.

This program offers tuition support from a National Professional Development Grant from the US Department of Education. The LEES Program can offer tuition support for undergraduate students seeking to obtain their bilingual/bicultural endorsement (paired with an education major), and teachers who are seeking to obtain bilingual/bicultural education certification to add to their current license. Tuition credits and testing fees are covered. In addition, the LEES Program offers Academic Spanish language support. Participants receive individualized plans to achieve higher levels of proficiency in academic Spanish. One-on-one and group sessions by highly qualified Spanish language coaches are available virtually or in person.

Applications are being accepted now for a cohort to begin in the spring. For more information, email Joselynne Tanis at Tanisj2@wpunj.edu or LEESProgram@wpunj.edu.

Here’s the flier with more information.

Helping Every Student Find Their Story
and
Culturally Responsive Teaching: 4 Misconceptions

Meet Your Bilingual Early Childhood/ Pre-K–K Representative

October Announcements

Lees Grant at William Paterson University

ARTICLES:

Meet Your Bilingual Early Childhood/
Pre-K–K Representative