Join the TexTESOL V Board!
TexTESOL V is seeking applicants to fill these key roles on our 2025 Board:
- Secretary (records the minutes at our meetings and maintains records)
- Social Media Coordinator (manages our social media accounts)
- Technology Coordinator (maintains our TexTESOL V webpage)
- Treasurer (conducts and records all financial business of TexTESOL V)
Board of Directors
VERONICA LAW
CYNTHIA KILPATRICK
Cynthia Kilpatrick (President-Elect) is a longtime ESL teacher and TESOL trainer. She is currently the Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Stephen F Austin State University. From 2009-2024, Cindy was a faculty member in the Department of Linguistics and TESOL at The University of Texas at Arlington, where she also served as the director of UTA’s English Language Institute. She is an award-winning instructor, advisor, and online course developer, and regularly presents at regional, state, and national conferences. Cindy earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Lee University, a Master of Arts in linguistics from The University of Texas at El Paso, and a doctoral degree in linguistics with a focus in second language acquisition from the University of California, San Diego. She has been an ESL teacher in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala; Enga Province, Papua New Guinea; El Paso, Texas; San Diego, California; and in the DFW area.
SARAH GUEDRY
Sarah Guedry serves secondary teachers and students in Lewisville ISD as an ESL Specialist. Her Bachelor’s degree from Texas Woman’s University and Master’s degree from Dallas Baptist University were both focused on Bilingual Education. Sarah has worked with a wide range of English learners over the past 20 years. During the school year she works primarily with teachers, providing coaching and training in Sheltered Instruction strategies. Every summer she coordinates enrichment opportunities for English Learners through STEM and inquiry projects in Lewisville ISD’s SOAR Academy for English Learners. Addicted to learning, she has attended and presented at many local and state conferences and is excited to continue learning and sharing with TexTESOL V.
DR. DONGMEI CHENG
Dr. Dongmei Cheng earned a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics with distinction from Northern Arizona University and has worked as an English language educator and teacher trainer for the past two decades. She is currently Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics at Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she teaches and mentors graduate students in the TESOL and Applied Linguistics programs. She is an active member and presenter of TexTESOL V and the International TESOL convention, and her scholarly publications have appeared in a book published by Routledge and numerous peer-reviewed articles in renowned linguistics journals.
PAULA GIRON-GARZON
Paula Giron serves as a Title I ESL specialist in Arlington ISD. She has been an educator for 24 years. Prior to this, she worked at LaVega ISD as their district literacy coordinator and as bilingual dyslexia interventionist in Dallas ISD. She has also taught ELAR/Language Arts in grades 5th, 7th and 8th in Georgia and Tennessee. Other positions include teaching ESL K-12th, RETELL specialist at the Department of Education in Massachusetts and being an English Language Fellow for the English Language Fellow Program in the Republic of Georgia. Ms.Giron holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education from Lee University and a Masters in TESOL from New York University. Being a former ESL student, Ms. Giron is passionate about supporting both teachers and students in the areas of ESL and Bilingual Education.
YANETH RIVERA
Yaneth Rivera is a bilingual and bicultural leader, first generation immigrant and college graduate who is dedicated to serving her community and advocating for education equity. She is a student in the PhD Educational Leadership program at UNT. Her research interests are Emergent Bilingual Accommodations and Bilingual Education Policy.
PAULA POLK
Paula Polk, M.Ed., has been an elementary educator for fifteen years teaching first and third grade. She currently serves as an ESL Instructional Facilitator in Frisco ISD. In this role, she coordinates professional learning for the ESL department and coaches campus ESL Leaders and Language Coaches as they build teacher teacher capacity to provide Content Based Language Instruction. She received both her bachelor and masters degree from Texas A&M University- Commerce. Her passion for serving culturally and linguistically diverse students has blossomed throughout her career in education leading her to champion high quality instructional practices and literacy for all. When she is not coaching or planning professional learning she can be found with her nose in a book either reading to learn or reading for adventure.
ROSIE ROJAS
Rosie Rojas is an ESL teacher at Birdville High School in North Richland Hills, Texas. She brings 13 years of teaching experience, with the last 7 years focused on ESOL and English Language Development. She holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University at North Texas, a Master’s in Linguistics from Texas A&M Commerce and a TESOL graduate certificate. Rosie is a founding member of the Newcomer Academy in Birdville ISD, has served as a curriculum writer for ESOL and Social Studies, and has received accolades such as the Best First Year Teacher Excellence Award. Passionate about supporting SIFE students, Rosie has her students in a class project connecting ESL and TAFE students through an “E-Pen Pal” program, fostering communication, collaboration, and service projects. In the future, she aspires to use her experience and education to support teachers in sheltered instruction and their culturally diverse students and families.
LISBETH ZUERCHER
SHENIQUA JOHNSON
Sheniqua has 15 years of elementary education experience. Her teaching career began
in Dallas ISD as a 1st Grade ESL Teacher. She transitioned to Lewisville ISD where she served
as a second and third grade ESL Teacher. She continued her passion of serving students and
teachers as a Language Acquisition Specialist and most recently as an Elementary LA/SS
Facilitator.
Sheniqua is a passionate, servant leader who strives to model advocacy and
stewardship while fostering a culture of engagement, elevation and empowerment to promote
growth and excellence. She is eager to partner with all stakeholders to ensure language
learners experience equitable learning opportunities that will equip them with the necessary
tools to achieve academic success.
SUE HURT
Sue Hurt is currently a National Educational Consultant for Savvas Learning Company. After many years teaching Spanish, ESL, and English in grades 1-12, she served as an ESL Specialist at Region 4 in Houston developing instructional materials for teachers of secondary ELs, and then was invited to join Pearson’s National SIOP Faculty for 10 years. As a Pearson SIOP Consultant, she provided sheltered instruction training for teachers, schools, and districts across the United States, from New York to Saipan. She acquired her B.A. in English in Hawaii, studied Educational Administration for an M.A. from Lamar University, and then obtained an M.A. from Texas A&M–Commerce in Applied Linguistics and TESOL. Sue is passionate about supporting and mentoring teachers of ELs, especially in secondary grades.
NALI KIM
Dr. Nali Kim is the Director of Faculty Engagement for the Division of Faculty Success at the University of Texas at Arlington. She has over 10 years of experience in education, with her previous roles ranging from faculty, professional development trainer, and educational developer. She served on the TT5 board as Treasurer from October 2019 to February 2021, and she is excited to be back on the board as the Advertising representative.
DANIELLE OAKLEY
Danielle Oakley is a Secondary ESL Coordinator for Lewisville ISD. She was a middle school teacher for 9 years, and 7 of those years were dedicated to teaching beginning and intermediate English Learners and managing ESL program compliance for her campus. She earned her Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Texas Woman’s University and moved into the ESL Coordinator role where she guides the development of linguistically accommodated curriculum for ESL English Language Arts courses in middle school and high school, provides professional learning opportunities around instructional strategies, and supports teachers who are preparing to take the ESL certification exam. Danielle also leads a team of campus ESL specialists who manage program compliance and provide daily support to teachers, students, and their families.
SHELBY MILLER
Dr. Shelby Miller is an Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics at Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she teaches undergraduate and graduate students in the TESOL and Applied Linguistics programs. She previously served on the TTV board as the Technology Coordinator from 2019-2022 and is excited to return to the board as the Social Media Coordinator. Currently, Dr. Miller also manages Facebook and LinkedIn accounts for TESOL/Linguistics departments at two universities (@altamuc and @tesoluni), and her own professional socials on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok ( @lovelinguage @love_linguage and @teachada @teach_ada).
RITA DEYOE-CHIULLAN
Dr. Deyoe-Chiullán has taught bilingual students of all ages in the U.S. and Colombia since 1968. She teaches graduate online courses for the American College of Education where she has written online masters and doctoral courses in linguistics, and she has served as Chair or Committee for ten doctoral dissertation writers. She was honored as Faculty Celebrity for 2019 at ACE. Her most recent publication was Deyoe-Chiullán, R. (2023). Keeping Promises, Reviewing Resources. TexELT: Texas English Language Teaching, 12(1), 33-36.
She edits Texas English Language Teaching (TexELT), under the sponsorship of the TexTESOL V Board, where she serves as Publications Coordinator.
LANA SLOAN
Lana Sloan, Ed.D., is the assistant provost of Curriculum Production Services at American College of Education (ACE). In her current role, she works directly with faculty leadership to develop ACE’s course offerings and oversees the creation of the courses in the learning management system. She has worked in curriculum development and course production at ACE since the college’s founding in 2005. A career educator and award-winning journalist, Sloan received both Doctorate and Master’s degrees in Educational Administration from Texas A&M University-Commerce and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of North Texas-Denton. She also holds an endorsement in talented and gifted education, principal and teacher licensure, and ESL certification in Texas.