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)
2025 TexTESOL V Slate of Officers
Meet Our Board of Directors
CYNTHIA KILPATRICK
Currently serving as Director of the Center for Teaching and Learning at Stephen F. Austin State University, Cindy brings decades of expertise from her tenure at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she directed the English Language Institute. Cindy holds a B.A. in English, an M.A. in Linguistics, and a Ph.D. in Linguistics with a focus on second language acquisition.
VERONICA LAW
Veronica Law is an advocate for multilingual learners, having held diverse roles such as Director of World Languages and ESL Teacher. Currently, she guides pre-service teachers at the University of Texas at Dallas. Veronica holds a Principal Certification and an M.Ed. in Bilingual Education and has led major TexTESOL initiatives, including the 2023 state conference.
Paula Giron
Paula Giron is a Title I ESL specialist with 24 years of experience in education. A former ESL student herself, Paula holds a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and a Master’s in TESOL. She has worked as a literacy coordinator, ESL teacher, and an English Language Fellow abroad, passionately supporting teachers and students in ESL and bilingual education.
DR. DONGMEI CHENG
Dr. Dongmei Cheng is an Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics at Texas
A&M University-Commerce, where she mentors graduate students. With a
Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics, Dongmei is a prolific presenter and researcher,
contributing extensively to the field of TESOL.
Sarah Guedry
Sarah Guedry is an ESL Specialist in Lewisville ISD. With over 20 years of experience, she coordinates enrichment opportunities for English learners and provides teacher coaching. Sara’s educational background includes a B.A. and M.A. in 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
Kathryn Guerrero
Kathryn Guerrero teaches at the English Language Institute at UTA. With an M.A. in TESOL, Kathryn’s passion for creativity and teaching excellence diverse her work.
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.
Reza Panahi
Reza Panahi is an expert in integrating technology into language teaching. He earned his Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from ETAMU in 2024. He has presented at national and international conferences on topics such as online teaching and Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL).
Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson is the CEO of AIR Language, with extensive teaching
experience in multiple countries. He has a double major in Spanish and English Linguistics and a Master’s in Teaching.
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.