CABE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2026-2027
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Dr. Karling Aguilera-Fort
President
Karling's Biography
DR. KARLING AGUILERA-FORT, PRESIDENT
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
San Francisco Unified School District, Deputy Superintendent
Dr. Karling Aguilera-Fort is the Site Associate Superintendent of Educational Services in SFUSD.
Prior to returning to SFUSD, Dr. Aguilera-Fort served as the Superintendent of Schools for the Schools of the Oxnard School District during 2019-2023. Dr. Aguilera-Fort also served as the Superintendent of the El Rancho Unified School District (ERUSD) from 2017-2019.
Dr. Aguilera-Fort has served as Bilingual Special Education teacher, school principal and assistant superintendent in charge of supervising PK-12 schools in SFUSD. His career has focused on ensuring high quality and equitable education for students who historically have not been served properly by our educational system. Dr. Aguilera-Fort is a firm believer in developing the whole child. He states, “We must support the development of the whole educator in order to provide the tools and mindset to address the needs of the students we receive every day in our classrooms.”
Dr. Aguilera-Fort possesses school site, district, and regional national and international experience across PK-12 and college levels. Throughout his career as educational leader he has supervised, coached, and mentored school and district leaders at all levels. He has been responsible for overseeing a number of programs created to address the needs of students that historically have not been served properly by our educational system. These programs include English Learner Services, Special Education Services, and Standard English Learner Services. These experiences have reinforced his beliefs on leading through a Student-Centered approach.
His work with the Superintendent Fellows is generating a different meaning to the concept of student involvement. This idea is developing future leaders through the empowerment to find solutions to the different dilemmas and challenges students face in our schools today. This work is about student empowerment and about students helping adults to understand the needs and perspective of the students.
He credits his experience as a special education teacher as significantly influencing his career’s work. It includes early education intervention and prevention teacher, elementary and middle school special education teacher, and general education teacher. Aguilera-Fort has been a lecturer in the Principal Leadership Institute at the Graduate School of Education, University of California, Berkeley.
Originally from Venezuela where he worked at different levels in the educational system within Special Education, Dr. Karling Aguilera-Fort was invited to teach in the Spanish Bilingual Special Education setting in SFUSD. Since the beginning of his career, he has been involved with the issues of equity and social justice on behalf of the most marginalized students. He has served as President of the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Board of Directors, a role that he performed from 2007-2010, and from 2014-2017. He attended the Graduate School of Education at UC Berkeley where he obtained his Master’s Degree in r Educational Leadership. Dr. Aguilera-Fort earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership from the East Carolina University through the International and Global Leadership program hosted in Thailand.
Dr. MariaElena Diez Esquer
President-Elect
MariaElena's Biography
DR. MARIAELENA DIEZ ESQUER, PRESIDENT-ELECT
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Palmdale School District, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services
Dr. MariaElena Diez Esquer is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services in the Palmdale School District. She has served the district for 27 years in various roles, including as a teacher at Tumbleweed School, Assistant Principal at both Tamarisk and Yucca Elementary School, and Principal at Los Amigos Dual Immersion K-8 School. Additionally, she has served on the CABE Board of Directors for five years, serving as the Region 5 Representative in the Antelope Valley and Ventura Chapters and Vice-President. Dr. Esquer is a strong advocate for multilingualism and equity for all students across California.
Dr. Esquer holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCLA and a master’s degree from California State University, Bakersfield. These advanced degrees have greatly informed her extensive work in curriculum development and implementation. Her efforts have focused on serving English Language Learners, Standard English Learners, and Dual Immersion programs. She is also deeply committed to professional learning for educators, which leads to continuous improvements in student learning, achievement, inclusion, parent engagement, and cultural proficiency within the educational community.
Dr. Esquer believes in lifelong learning, a principle she holds as a personal standard and encourages in others. Her dedication to educational excellence and comprehensive experience makes her a valuable leader and advocate for those she serves.
Olivia Yahya
Vice President
Olivia's Biography
OLIVIA YAHYA – VICE PRESIDENT
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Retired Teacher, Dual Language Immersion, Bilingual Resource, Staff Developer, Writer and Former CABE Board President
With more than 35 years of experience in education, Olivia has served in a variety of roles, including bilingual and Dual Language Immersion teacher, site coordinator, bilingual resource teacher, staff developer, curriculum writer, consultant, county coordinator, and executive director. These experiences have strengthened her instructional expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to student success.
As a classroom teacher, Olivia developed effective strategies to differentiate instruction and meet the diverse needs of students. In leadership and coordination roles, she supported teachers and administrators in implementing research-based practices and developing high-quality programs for multilingual learners.
While working with the Orange County Department of Education, Olivia collaborated with multiple counties to promote biliteracy, multilingualism, and multicultural education. Through specialized training in Adaptive Schools and Cognitive Coaching, she facilitated professional learning, supported school improvement efforts, and helped build the capacity of educators and leadership teams. Her experience in curriculum development and professional development has enabled Olivia to guide teachers in delivering rigorous, standards-based instruction that supports student achievement.
As an educational leader, she has supervised classified and certificated staff, partnered with district and site administrators, and collaborated with families and community stakeholders. Olivia has contributed to the design and implementation of districtwide English Language Development programs, Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP), and Dual Language Immersion pathways in Spanish and Vietnamese. In addition, she has overseen grants, compliance requirements, state and federal reporting, and program accountability processes, strengthening her organizational, collaborative, and strategic leadership skills.
Olivia is deeply committed to community service. For over 25 years, she has been an active member of CABE, contributing as a conference presenter and serving nine years on the Board of Directors. She volunteers weekly at her church, providing administrative support, Spanish interpretation, and assistance with community events. These experiences reflect her dedication to service, cultural responsiveness, and fostering inclusive environments where all individuals feel valued and supported.
Dr. Bárbara Flores
Director of Financial Affairs
Bárbara's Biography
DR. BÁRBARA FLORES, DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AFFAIRS
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Retired, California State University San Bernardino
Dr. Bárbara Flores is a pioneer Latina scholar activist, teacher educator, children’s literature writer, and international expert in the areas of biliteracy development, teaching/learning based on Vygotsky’s sociocultural theoretical framework, professional staff development, bilingual education, and critical pedagogy. Not only has she published her work in professional journals, books, and chapters, but she is also a sought-after keynote speaker throughout the Americas. She has lectured throughout the United States, Mexico, Central America, South America, the Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Portugal, New Zealand, and Australia. She has been a professor for the last 30 years and currently has an academic appointment at California State University, San Bernardino.
Currently, she serves on the CABE Board of Directors as President and the Vice President of the California Latino School Board Association. She was elected to the San Bernardino City School Board in 2008 and has served as both the President, Vice President and now as a Board member after being re-elected in 2013. She is also the past President of the National Association for Bilingual Education and served on a variety of national, regional, and state professional councils, which include the editorial board of the prestigious American Education Research Association Journal, Social and Institutional Analysis Section. She is the founding member of the Journal of Latinos and Education and the editor of a special edition on Theme Cycles, Primary Voices Journal for the National Council of Teachers of English Executive Board. Additionally, Dr. Flores is the nationally elected Chair of the Elementary Section of the National Council of Teachers of English, is on the Executive Board of the National Latino/a Education Research Agenda, and is the past Co-Chair of the Education Task Force for the Inland Latino Coalition under Congressman Baca.
During the last 30 years, she has also engaged in collaborative Action Research and Teaching and 15+ longitudinal action/research/teaching projects. As a result of this work, she has spearheaded the development of curriculum and pedagogy as well as assessment tools to address the development of scientific concepts and academic language across the content areas of science, social studies, and literature in grades PreK- 8. Her most creative work includes the creation and co-authorship of the first authentic Latino Spanish/English beginning literacy and biliteracy collections, Piñata (132 titles, 1994) and Más Piñata (88 titles, 1997) in the United States. Furthermore, she was the first person to lead the editorial and adaptations of 12 English traditional tales into Spanish for Rigby of Australia in 1988. Her most recent children’s book is titled, Mud Tortillas, published by Lee & Low Press of New York.
Dr. Angélica Hurtado
Director of State/Legislative Affairs
Angélica's Biography
DR. ANGÉLICA HURTADO, DIRECTOR OF STATE/LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Education Programs Consultant, California Department of Education, Student Achievement and Support Division
Dr. Hurtado currently serves as Education Programs Consultant for the California Department of Education, Student Achievement and Support Division. She has been in bilingual education for 35 years and has taught in K-6 bilingual classrooms. Dr. Hurtado has also served as a bilingual Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) Support Provider, English Learner Programs District Coordinator, Elementary School Principal, and Director of State and Federal Programs. Additionally, Dr. Hurtado proudly served 33 districts in San Bernardino County as Program Manager supporting the implementation and development of their multilingual programs. Dr. Hurtado has been a member of the California Association of Bilingual Education (CABE) throughout her educational career. She helped establish the local CABE Chapter in San Bernardino County. Dr. Hurtado is a champion and advocate for English learners and multilingual students, working to help them succeed in a global economy. She’s a servant leader who enjoys uplifting others and networking with colleagues.
Ana Donovan
Director of Paraprofessional Affairs
Ana's Biography (Coming Soon)
Maryanna Lee
Director of Parent Relations
Maryanna's Biography
MARYANNA LEE, DIRECTOR OF PARENT RELATIONS
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Principal, Ball Jr. High School
Maryanna Lee has extensive expertise in dual language immersion at the secondary level and multilingual education. She worked as the Dual Language Academy (DLA) Coordinator at Anaheim High School for over ten years, besides serving as the World Languages Department Chair and Spanish teacher leader for 15 years. Her Spanish and Korean tri-literacy skills and dual language immersion expertise helped her develop program pathways and implement plans that enhanced student learning. In the role of Dual Language teacher and DLA lead, Maryanna was responsible for coordinating and overseeing program initiatives, optimizing the dual language learning experience, designing parent meetings and workshops, and organizing school-wide cultural events that sparked the interest of the community. She led the visits of multiple district teachers and leaders to see the CSBA Golden Bell Award and CABE Seal of Excellence Award Winning Spanish Dual Language Academy at Anaheim High School in action. Maryanna’s educational journey is a testament to her global perspective and diverse experiences. Born in the Rep. of Korea and raised in Argentina, she navigated the intricacies of education from kindergarten through high school, immersing herself in the country’s vibrant culture and rich traditions. She then pursued higher education at Korea University, majoring in Spanish Language and Literature with a focus on Linguistics. Later, she furthered her academic pursuits at Stanford University, obtaining a master’s in Education. Currently serving as a school administrator at AUHSD, Maryanna Lee continues to make a lasting impact in the field of multilingual education, blending her wealth of experience with a forward-thinking approach to student success.
Rosa Armstrong
Director of Community Affairs
Rosa's Biography
ROSA ARMSTRONG, DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Retired, Access & Equity/Department Palmdale School District
Rosa Armstrong attended UCLA as an undergraduate student. She graduated from California State University of Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s Degree. She has been a member and an elected official of CABE for the past fourteen years. Rosa has been an employee of the Palmdale School District since 1994. She started her career as a Bilingual Instructional Assistant. Since then she has filled many positions in the bilingual sector of the district. She was the District Translator/Interpreter for ten years, taught ESL classes and parenting classes in her community; and is a facilitator for DELAC, ELAC and Migrant Education programs. Currently she works as the Assistant to the Director of Special Education. She assisted in creating many of the bilingual education programs for the Palmdale School District. She considers herself as exceptional individual who is highly respected by district administrators, educators, and parents.
Her Leadership Experience includes: Alfalit-Literacy Program-Head Facilitator in Lima-Peru, PTA President (two years at school level), South Antelope Valley Council PTA President, Palmdale School District Lead Translator/Interpeter, CABE Chapter 58-President, Vice President, Treasurer 2000-2014, CABE Director of Paraprofessional Affairs 2006 – 2012, CABE Annual Conference Planning Committee 2011- 2013, CABE Director of Paraprofessional Affairs 2016-2018, CABE Director of Parent Affairs 2018-2020.
Dr. Reyes Quezada
Director of Secondary/IHE Affairs
Reyes' Biography
DR. REYES QUEZADA, DIRECTOR OF SECONDARY AND IHE AFFAIRS
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Professor, University of San Diego
Dr. Reyes Limon Quezada is a nationally and internationally recognized Mexicano/Chicano scholar, teacher educator, and activist. He brings a deeply personal and professional commitment to issues of educational equity, social justice, and bilingual education.
Born in a small adobe home near San Juan de Los Lagos, Jalisco, Mexico, Dr. Quezada began his education in a one-room schoolhouse alongside his six siblings. His father, a U.S. farmworker and participant in the Bracero Program, eventually brought the family to the Imperial Valley in California. As a youth, Dr. Quezada worked in the agricultural fields on weekends and during summers—experiences that shaped his resolve to pursue education as a means of personal advancement and community uplift. He attended Westmorland Elementary, Brawley Union High School, and Imperial Valley College.
Dr. Quezada currently serves as a professor and former department chair in the Department of Learning and Teaching at the University of San Diego’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences. Over the course of more than 40 years in education, he has been a professor at the University of Redlands, CSU Stanislaus, and an adjunct at SDSU-IV Campus, and CSU-San Bernardino. He started as an elementary bilingual classroom teacher, later a bilingual community college counselor, and as the coordinator of the California Migrant Mini-Corps Program in the Imperial Valley. He earned his doctorate in education from Northern Arizona University and holds multiple master’s degrees in counselor education, educational administration, and supervision.
His research and teaching focus on cultural proficiency, equity, and the education of English Learners and students of color. He emphasizes family-school-community partnerships, community college leadership, and international education. At USD, Dr. Quezada teaches in the PhD in Education for Social Justice program, as well as in graduate and teacher credential programs. He is the author or editor of five books, ten book chapters, and more than 50 scholarly articles on topics including teacher education, bilingual education, leadership, and faculty of color.
Dr. Quezada has held numerous leadership roles in professional and accrediting organizations. He served as Co-Chair of the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s Committee on Accreditation (CCTC-COA), was a board member for the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and currently serves on the board of the Association for Advancing Quality Educator Preparation (AAQEP). He is a past president and current board member of the California Council on Teacher Education (CCTE), where he also serves as Editor of Teacher Education Quarterly. He has represented CCTE on the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) and as a board member in the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), and is a former Chair of the International Council for the Education of Teachers (ICET).
His service extends beyond academia into policy and community leadership. At USD, he served as Vice Chair of the Executive Senate and Co-Chair of the Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Advisory Council. He has been Associate Director of the National Community College Hispanic Council and served on equity-focused advisory boards including the San Bernardino County Equal Opportunity Commission. He has also served as board president of Real Journey Academies Charter Schools and currently serves on the board of Old Town Academy Charter School.
Dr. Quezada’s expertise and advocacy for educational equity have earned him recognition in both academic and public spheres. He is frequently invited to speak on education issues and has been featured by major media outlets including Telemundo, Univision, and ABC News San Diego.
Dr. Annie BichLoan Duong
Region 1 Representative
Annie's Biography
DR. ANNIE BICHLOAN DUONG, REGION I REPRESENTATIVE
Coordinator, San Joaquin County Office of Education
Dr. Annie BichLoan Duong came to America at age twenty-two with fourteen years of education in Vietnam and three months of survival English from a refugee camp in Indonesia. She has been in the field of education for more than 30 years, working as a bilingual instructional assistant, a community liaison, an ELD, mathematics, and science teacher, a district language development specialist, and currently as a coordinator for Language & Literacy at the San Joaquin County Office of Education. She has been an adjunct faculty member in the Teacher Education department at California State University, Stanislaus, since 1999, and at the University of the Pacific and the Teacher’s College of San Joaquin since 2001, teaching courses on theories and practices around Second Language Acquisition, English Language Development, and Mathematics Methodology.
Dr. Duong earned her Multiple Subjects Teaching credential along with the Mathematics Supplementary Single Subject credential and the Vietnamese BCLAD (Bilingual Crosscultural Language and Academic Development) certificate in 1996. She completed her Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction in 1999 and her Preliminary Administrative credential in 2010. She finished her doctorate at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, in 2012.
Annie’s experience in various educational capacities has provided her with a deep understanding of teaching and learning, especially for students who speak English as an additional language. In addition, Annie’s involvement in a variety of committees and projects at both local and state levels (CELDT Technical Advisory Group, ELA/ELD textbook adoptions, ELPAC, Science, Writing, etc.) has deepened her vision, expertise, and leadership ability. Currently, she serves as the Region 1 Representative on the CABE Board of Directors and as the Principal for the Van Lang Vietnamese Heritage School.
Nestor Henrríquez
Region 2 Representative
Nestor's Biography
NESTOR HENRRÍQUEZ, REGION 2 REPRESENTATIVE
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
State & Federal Coordinator, Merced County Office of Education
As a Los Angeles native raised in a single-parent immigrant household, my journey into education has always been rooted in understanding the power of language, culture, and opportunity. This perspective led me to the Central Valley, where I attended UC Merced to earn my bachelor’s degree and later obtained my teaching credential from CSU Stanislaus. I began working with immigrant, refugee, and asylum-seeking students in Modesto, where I quickly saw how systemic changes are needed to remove barriers for multilingual learners. These experiences, along with moments advocating for students who were denied equitable access to schooling, shaped my commitment to this work.
My vision for CABE is deeply aligned with its focus on biliteracy, multicultural competency, and educational equity. I believe multilingualism is a strength that should be intentionally developed through strong dual language programs and systems that truly value students’ cultural and linguistic assets. For me, this belief is not only professional, but also personal. As a parent, I have my son enrolled in a dual language program at Merced County Dual Language Academy, where he is currently (in 2026) in the fourth grade. I see every day the impact that biliteracy and culturally affirming education can have, and it reinforces why this work matters so much.
Throughout my career, I have worked across systems to support English learners and multilingual students. As an ELA/ELD Coordinator, and now as a State and Federal Coordinator at the Merced County Office of Education, I support districts in implementing the California English Learner Roadmap and ensuring compliance efforts translate into sustainable systems that truly meet the needs of multilingual learners. My work is centered on helping districts move beyond compliance and toward meaningful, equitable practices that truly support students.
I strongly believe in building community and shared leadership. Through my role as President of the Central Valley Dual Language CABE Chapter #15, my work with the California Newcomer Network Advisory Committee, and my experience as a Teach Plus Fellow, I have collaborated with educators, families, and leaders across the region. Projects like the development of Graduation Pathways for English Learners reflect my commitment to ensuring students have access to multiple pathways, including college, career, and biliteracy.
CABE’s values of equity, servant leadership, respect, and cultural and linguistic human rights are values I strive to embody in my work every day. Whether I am supporting districts, teaching future educators, or working alongside families, my goal is always to advocate, support, and empower. I believe in building systems where students are seen as assets, families are true partners, and educators are equipped to meet the needs of diverse learners.
I am committed to continuing this work with CABE by strengthening dual language programs, elevating the voices of multilingual communities, and ensuring that every student has access to an education that prepares them for success in school and in life.
HồngTiên Trần
Region 3 Representative
HồngTiên BruceChi Trần Biography
HồngTiên BruceChi Trần, REGION III REPRESENTATIVE
HồngTiên was born in Vietnam. His family immigrated to the US on September 24, 1994, as political refugees. He entered 8th grade as an ESL student and graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering.
HồngTiên had been involved in the community as a youth volunteer since the late 90s. His Vietnamese Student Association at Orange Coast College (OCC) successfully petitioned for the opening of the Vietnamese Language classes in 2000. For the past 25 years, HồngTiên continued to be deeply involved in various youth-leadership development organizations, which engaged hundreds of families and impacted over 1000 youths since the year 2000.
In 2017, HồngTiên joined the Vietnamese Heritage Museum (VHM) as a Board Member and VP of Operations, a non-profit organization that focuses on preserving and promoting the heritage of Vietnamese refugees in the US and around the world.
In 2017, HồngTiên also joined the Westminster School District’s Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion (VDLI) Program at DeMille Mỹ Việt Language Academy as a parent advocate and PTA member. Together with six other parent-advocates, he took part in forming the Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion (VDLI) Advisory Committee to aid and advise the district in building tomorrow’s leaders through the VDLI program, and to support VDLI students by focusing on partnership, resources, and growth. In that same year, HồngTiên and his VDLI Advisory Committee founded the Vietnamese Culture Club (VCC) at DeMille to infuse and satisfy the VAPA requirements in the Vietnamese Dual Language curriculum. The club contributed to the growth of the VDLI student body from about 120 students to currently 700+ students across four campuses.
In 2023, HồngTiên co-founded the Vietnamese American Culture Club (VACC) at Warner Middle School, to provide a safe space for all students at Warner Middle School to learn and promote the Vietnamese language and culture, as well as excel in academics and engage in community services, while growing their leadership skills to become well-rounded students and responsible citizens, as well as be the bridges between generations. In that same year, HồngTiên co-founded the WSD VDLI’s Student Ambassador Team called Tuổi Ngọc, to serve as the face and voice that represents the best of our WSD VDLI Program
In 2024, with the encouragement from Dr. Annie BichLoan Duong (CABE Region 1 Representative) and the tremendous support from Mrs. Frances Nguyễn, Westminster School District (WSD); Mr. Châu Thụy, the Vietnamese Heritage Museum (VHM); and Mr. Alan Nguyễn and Mr. George Vũ, HồngTiên, The Union of Oversea Vietnamese Language Schools (UOVLS – formerly TAVIET) we were able to bring the three organizations together to help form the CABE Vietnamese Chapter. This provided an environment for 1) collaboration among community, 2) a specialized focus on heritage, 3) improvement and strengthening of programs, 4) expansion of our biliteracy and bicultural goals, and 5) comfortability to work together among like-minded folks.
On April 1, 2025, HồngTiên had the opportunity to participate in the CABE Lobby Day in Sacramento. This opportunity opened the horizon for him to see that, despite 50 years of CABE’s tremendous progress, there is still a lot of work ahead of us for our Dual Language community to face. With the urging from Dr. Lampkin, HồngTiên became the write-in candidate for CABE Region 3 Representative. He’s committed to not only serving the VDLI program and the Vietnamese CABE Chapter, but to also serve all dual language programs and chapters in CABE Region 3. We are family—Nosotros somos una familia—Chúng ta là một gia đình!
Dr. Carlos Ulloa
Region 4 Representative
Carlos' Biography
DR. CARLOS ULLOA – REGION 4 REPRESENTATIVE
California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE)
Professor, Dual Language and English Learner Department – San Diego State University College of Education
Dr. Carlos Ulloa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies with a Spanish bilingual emphasis from San Diego State University, a Master’s in Education from Harvard University, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCLA.
Since 1991, Dr. Ulloa has devoted his career to TK–12 education as a bilingual educator, reading intervention specialist, author, director of curriculum and instruction, instructional coach, and elementary and middle school principal.
In 2020, he became the first Latino elected to represent Area A on the San Marcos Unified School District Board, where he served a four-year term. During his tenure, he advocated for educational equity, student achievement, and opportunities for multilingual learners and their families.
Today, he teaches in San Diego State University’s College of Education in the Dual Language and English Learner Department and serves as an elementary teacher in the Escondido Union School District.
In 1992, as a second-year bilingual teacher, Dr. Ulloa attended his first CABE conference and found a professional home. Over the past three decades, CABE has shaped his growth as an educator, strengthened his voice as an advocate, and deepened his commitment to multilingual learners, their families, and their communities.
Across every role, his work has been guided by a clear purpose: expanding access, advancing equity, and ensuring that multilingual learners are seen, supported, and empowered. This commitment led to his appointment by Governor Jerry Brown to the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC), where he advised the California State Board of Education on curriculum, frameworks, and instructional materials.
During his tenure on the IQC, Dr. Ulloa played a key role in advancing the FAIR Education Act within California’s History–Social Science Framework and instructional materials adoption. He served as Chair of the World Languages Framework and contributed to the English Language Arts, History–Social Science, and Visual and Performing Arts Frameworks, consistently advocating for English learners and for the integrity and expansion of dual language programs.
These experiences have given Dr. Ulloa a unique perspective shaped by decades of service at both the classroom and systems levels. As a teacher, lecturer, school leader, board member, and state commissioner, he understands the daily realities educators face and the broader policies that shape their work. His leadership reflects a deep belief that bilingual education is not an add-on, but a foundation for opportunity, identity, and academic success.
Dr. Ulloa believes strong schools are built alongside families, grounded in community, and sustained by educators who feel valued and supported. He believes that when we invest in teachers, we invest in students, and when we honor language and culture, we unlock potential. Looking ahead, he believes this work requires continued collaboration, courage, and clarity of purpose to protect and expand programs that serve multilingual learners while preparing the next generation of educators to lead with knowledge, empathy, and skill.
As CABE’s Region IV Representative, Dr. Ulloa is honored to contribute to CABE’s vision for the future. More than three decades after attending his first CABE conference, he remains committed to ensuring that every student learns in an environment where language, culture, and identity are recognized as strengths, and that every educator has the support, respect, and resources necessary to help students thrive.
Dr. Sarah Zepeda
Region 5 Representative
Sarah's Biography
DR. SARAH ZEPEDA, REGION V REPRESENTATIVE
Principal, Dos Caminos Dual Immersion School
Dr. Sarah Zepeda currently serves as the Principal and Lead Learner of Dos Caminos Dual Immersion School in Palmdale, California. She received her B.A. from Mount St. Mary’s University in Business Administration and went on to receive her Teaching Credential and M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from California State University, Bakersfield. She holds a second M.A. in Humanities from Mount St. Mary’s University. In addition, Dr. Zepeda earned a doctorate degree in education from the University of Southern California. Her research focused on building academic vocabulary for English language learners. She started her career in education 24 years ago and has taught Kindergarten, First, and Second grades.
Dr. Zepeda also wrote curriculum for newcomer students in the Seventh and Eighth grades. She has served as an English Learner Coordinator, Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) Support Provider, and a Master Teacher with California State University, Bakersfield. Dr. Zepeda is actively involved with Antelope Valley CABE Chapter 58 and looks forward to serving as the Region V Representative.
Mary T. Hernández
Legal Counsel