Keynote Speakers

Dr. Margarita Calderon

Dr. Margarita Espino Calderón is a Professor Emerita/Senior Research Scientist at Johns Hopkins University. Her research and development projects have been funded by the US Department of Education, National Institutes of Health, the US Department of Labor, and others. One of her empirical studies “The Bilingual Cooperative Integrated Reading and Composition (BCIRC)” is featured in the What Works Clearinghouse.

The Carnegie Corporation of New York funded her five-year study to develop Expediting Comprehension for English Language Learners (ExC-ELL) to train math, science, social studies, language arts, and ESL teachers on integrating language, reading, and content in core content classrooms. With a Title III National Professional Development grant, she implemented “A Whole-School Approach to Professional Development with ExC-ELL” in Loudoun County. She is replicating this approach in 29 schools in TX and NC. She has over 100 publications on language, literacy, and professional development.

Her newest publication: Calderón, M. E. & Tartaglia, L. M. (2022). Cultivating competence in English learners: Integrating social-emotional learning with language and literacy. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree.

Dorina Sackman-Ebuwa

Dorina Sackman-Ebuwa is known as The Lab Coat Teacher and affectionately “Miss Dorito” by her students from around the globe. With her unique teaching style, Dorina has spent the past 25 years empowering students of diverse backgrounds at the K-12, college, and adult learner level. An expert in building solid relationships that result in successful learning experiences for students and teachers, Ms. Sackman-Ebuwa strongly believes “lens of life” teaching, connection to community and EL over IQ make up the true learning experience.

A Nationally Recognized Educator and Florida Teacher of the Year, Dorina takes her EL classroom experiences, collaborative teacher workshops, and doctoral research on emotional intelligence and travels the globe as a “teacher on loan” inspiring, motivating, and empowering teachers and the teaching profession. From innovative, personalized professional development filled with successful and differentiated strategies to authentic “real talk” about teachers leading, Dorina Sackman-Ebuwa encourages all educators to B.E.L.I.E.V.E.! ® - Be the Educators who Lead to Inspire and Empower Via Excellence! When not wearing the many hats of an educator, Dorina dons a Stetson and works on her ranch, tending to her beloved rescue and special needs cows, goats, horses, chickens, miniature ponies, and barn cat, “Cool Ranch”.

Giuliana Jahnsen Lewis

Giuliana Jahnsen Lewis, currently, serves as an EL Instructional Coach for high schools in Loudoun County Public Schools. Her job includes providing support to high school teachers and administrators across the district on best instructional and academic practices for ELs. Prior to this position, Ms. Lewis worked as a school administrator in a Title I school overseeing departments including EL, English, Reading, and Math. In addition, she supervised remediation programs for English and Math at her school for several years, in addition to other roles.

Part of her experience also includes being the district's EL Professional Developer and curriculum writer. Ms. Lewis was the author of the Newcomer English curriculum framework for secondary schools. She also oversaw curriculum writing and implementation for grades K-12.

Ms. Lewis has experience providing professional development at the district, state, and federal levels. Her topics emphasize her passion which includes best instructional practices for ELs and accessibility to content.

Ms. Lewis's teaching career includes grades K-12, being middle school her favorite.
She taught at a Title I school for most of her teaching career.

While she is not at work, Ms. Lewis is an Educational Consultant for Calderón and Associates. She provides professional development and coaching support to teachers and administrators across the nation in all grades and content areas.

Ms. Giuliana Jahnsen Lewis was born in Lima, Perú. She moved to the United States at the age of 14. She was a newcomer student who faced many struggles to overcome. Despite the many circumstances and barriers, she never stopped believing and working to accomplish her dreams. Her parents brought her to a place where anything can be achieved with hard work. Her passion and purpose in education involve instilling this belief in educators and students and advocating for opportunities in which students will be successful.

Special Guest Speaker - Lisa Tartaglia

Lisa Tartaglia is a high school assistant principal in Loudoun County Public Schools in Virginia. She has been an educator since 1994 with experience as an elementary classroom teacher, reading specialist, and high school literacy coach. She has taught in a variety of settings that range from working in a Title I, predominantly low-income school to a high-achieving school in an affluent area in Ashburn, VA. She was also an instructor for early childhood classes at the community college level and has presented at several conferences.

She was a member of the 2020-2021 Transformative Education Leadership cohort. She is also a consultant and trainer with Margarita Calderón and Associates. Dr. Calderón and Lisa just recently published, Cultivating Competence in English Learners: Integrating Social-Emotional Learning with Language and Literacy. The book focuses on social-emotional learning with EL students through literacy instruction.

Lisa believes that all students can learn, and she advocates for equity in schools, especially with a focus on literacy. She has helped to create curriculum and culture changes for English learners in her school district.

Lisa received a bachelor’s degree in elementary and early childhood education from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, a master's degree in reading from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, an endorsement in TESOL from George Washington University and an endorsement in Education Leadership and Supervision from Longwood University in VA.