Message from the President

Dear NJTESOL/NJBE Executive Board and Membership,

It is my privilege to introduce myself in the capacity of NJTESOL/NJBE President. I have had the honor to serve on our executive board since 2021, first as Secretary and then as Vice President. In addition to occupying these officer positions, I have been given the opportunity to chair the Professional Learning Community committee and the Spring Conference committee.

As a former multilingual student I am personally connected to the community of educators and learners we serve as an organization. My journey in education started as a Bilingual and Bicultural elementary school teacher in 2016. Then, I transitioned out of the classroom as an ELL Program Specialist, and eventually, a Supervisor of ESL Programs. Throughout all these experiences, I have learned the value of creating spaces where all stakeholders have the opportunity to grow and have their voices heard. It is with that in mind that I share my goals for the next two years as the president of this organization:

• To develop a mentorship program within our membership to identify future leaders within the organization, both for our executive board and for the field of Multilingual Education.
• To further the mission of our organization by fostering partnerships with other state and federal organizations to ensure multilingual learners and educators are supported.
• To advocate at the state level for policy that supports Multilingual Education and Immigrant Trauma Informed Practices.

I am committed to continuing the work of our past presidents to ensure this organization continues to grow and our multilingual educators and students continue to thrive, no matter the political climate, the challenges ahead, or the difficult conversations that may need to be had.

Looking forward to our partnership,

Cecilia Vila

President, NJTESOL/NJBE