About

OUR BOARD

PRESIDENT

Kimberly Lybarger, President-Elect for TexTESOL IV, has been in education for over three decades. She currently serves as a LAMAR CISD Language Specialist and has done so for the past 7 years. 


✉️ president@textesoliv.org 

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Katherine Anderson is currently the president-elect for TexTESOL IV. She is originally from Dawson Springs, Kentucky. She completed her undergraduate work at Murray State University where she took the opportunity to study and teach abroad in Latin America. Katherine has worked in English Language Education since 2012. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Secondary English Education and a Master’s of Arts in English with a focus in TESOL. Katherine began her career in TESOL at Catholic Charities in Fort Worth, Texas teaching English to newly arrived refugees from all over the world. Since then she has worked at secondary schools, colleges and universities supporting English Language Learners. Currently, she is serving as a Virtual Educator for Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam teaching government officials, civil servants, and other professional business English. She is passionate about making her classes engaging and valuable to her students. 

✉️ president-elect@textesoliv.org 

PAST PRESIDENT

Dr. Marie D. Moreno is an educator that advocates and supports newly arrived immigrant and refugee families. For 18 years, she was the founding principal of Las Americas Newcomer School in the Houston Independent School District. She helped support and acculturate students from 32 countries, speaking 29 languages and dialects. Her 29 years of education experience have fueled her passion for ensuring refugees and immigrant students receive the best education. She is devoted to learning more about refugee experiences by traveling to Kyangwali Refugee Resettlement in Uganda, small-remote villages in Guatemala, Cuba, Kenya, and newcomer schools in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Marie received her Baccalaureate of Science from the University of Houston, her Master’s in Education from Texas Southern University, and her Doctorate in Education in Ethical Leadership from the University of St. Thomas-Houston. She is a servant leader by promoting equity and excellence to her students, families, staff, and community. She is a member of the American Leadership Forum-Gulf Coast Chapter and the Texas Teachers Educating Students of Other Languages (TexTESOL). She is the CEO/Founder of Newcomer Success LLC, a consulting firm to support teachers and school districts with newcomer programming. She has two children, ages 20 and 29.

 

✉️ pastpresident@textesoliv.org 

CONFERENCE CHAIR

Jacquelyn Kiner is a Multilingual Program Specialist with Houston ISD Multilingual Programs Department. In her role, she helps build teacher capacity in second language acquisition to ensure that Emergent Bilingual learners receive equitable access to the written curriculum. She brings over 15 years of educational experience with a focus on implementing ESL strategies. She holds a Masters degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of St. Thomas and Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of Houston Downtown. She is also a graduate from Holdsworth Leadership Program where she was part of an Instructional Leadership team that focused on improving TELPAS composite scores for her campus 7th grade EB students.  She has presented on various ESL strategies at campus, district and state conferences. As an ESL educator, she believes language does not have to be a barrier for Emergent Bilingual learners to achieve academic success.In her free time, she loves spending time with her family and loves to travel. 

✉️ conferencechair@textesoliv.org 

CONFERENCE CHAIR-ELECT

 Tanesha Turner, 2024-25 Tanesha is a high school ESL educator of eighteen years who believes that ALL learners have it within them to excel at their own pace and ability level, and it is her responsibility to guide them to their full potential.

Some of her accomplishments include:

Initial member of two Houston-area school district curriculum writing teams, providing linguistic accommodations for English language learners at the secondary level.

Lesson plan development.

High School English Language Arts teacher for speakers of languages other than English.

• Implementation of the Fort Bend ISD Newcomer Center.

• Lead ESL teacher and coach at the Fort Bend ISD Newcomer Center.

• Implementation of the ESL program at LCISD’s newest high school, Dr. Thomas E. Randle High School.

• Creating systems to support secondary ESL programming at both a comprehensive and specialized high school.

• Two-time TexTESOL presenter (November 2023, February 11, 2024).

• PROUD teacher of at least eleven high school immigrant graduates with as much as five years in US schools, to as few as two years in US schools.

Tanesha is extremely passionate about serving emergent bilingual students and ensuring that learning is comprehEnSibLe for them!

✉️ conferencechair-elect@textesoliv.org 

TREASURER

Dr. Irma Rohatgi is currently the Treasurer of TexTESOL IV. She is an Adjunct Professor and a Field Supervisor for student teachers at the University of Houston-Downtown. Previously, she served as the Director for Multilingual Programs in the Houston Independent School District as well as Manager of Bilingual/ESL Curriculum PK/12 in the Multilingual Department. She was instrumental in writing and implementing the Title III NCLB grant and assisted in the restructuring of the district’s bilingual programs. She has also written the district’s first Spanish Project CLEAR curriculum document and the ESL Curriculum Frameworks for students in Bilingual programs as well as Enhancing Parent Involvement for Parents of Bilingual and ESL Students. She has participated in numerous state-wide committees whose input and decisions impact state policies for implementation of programs for English language learners. She has extensive experience as a bilingual classroom teacher, school administrator, curriculum writer, program developer, trainer of school administrators, parents and teachers. She was a former NABE Bilingual Teacher 

✉️ treasurer@textesoliv.org 

SECRETARY

Dr. Mary Endress is currently the secretary for TexTESOL IV.  Dr. Endress believes in high levels of learning for all and enjoys working with TexTESOLIV to provide professional learning opportunities to teachers of English Learners.

Dr. Endress earned a BA from Trinity University in San Antonio, a MA in reading from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, and an EdD in curriculum and instruction with a specialization in bilingual studies from the University of Texas of the Rio Grande Valley.  She has previously held several positions on the TexTESOL board including president. Currently, Dr. Endress works for University of Houston Downtown (UHD) as an adjunct professor and clinical coach.  Prior to joining UHD, Dr. Endress served as an administrator in Tomball and KatyISDs. She served as a classroom teacher in Spring Branch and Ector County ISDs. When she is not supporting her student teachers, Dr. Endress enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with her 3 grandchildren.

✉️ secretary@textesoliv.org 

HISTORIAN

Lili Dibai, M.S. Ed. is currently a Senior Manager of Multilingual Academics at TNTP. Lili has committed to ending the educational inequities multilingual learners have faced for generations, dedicating her career to advancing the educational experiences of multilingual learners and their families. Her prior experiences include district-level ESL and bilingual program administration, development of professional learning experiences for educators and school/district leaders, family/community engagement, curriculum and assessment design, identification and implementation of high-quality instructional materials, instructional coaching, and teaching English with an additive bilingual mindset. Lili is certified to teach in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia and has experience in ESL, Bilingual, and World Language classrooms in both the EC-12 and higher education settings. Her professional fluency in English, Farsi/Persian, and Spanish has allowed her to make meaningful connections to learners of a new language. Furthermore, her foundational knowledge obtained through a Masters in TESOL and formal SIOP training have equipped her to influence teacher practice towards providing effective and equitable instruction to multilingual learners across grade levels and content areas. Lili is currently Past President of TexTESOL IV, and one of her proud accomplishments was hosting the 2022 TexTESOL State Conference while serving as President from March 2022 to March 2023. 


✉️ historian@textesoliv.org 

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR

Ashley Madison is a Lead  ESL certified teacher in the Aldine Independent School District. She holds a bachelor’s degree from  Prairie View A&M University in Interdisciplinary Studies, and  believes in the university  motto of “producing productive people''. With over five years of experience in education, Ashley has developed a strong passion for advocating for ALL of her students, ensuring that their individual needs are met and that they  have equity in the classroom. Ashley became a member of TexTESOL IV in order to better service her students. As  founder of the S.H.A.D.E.S mentoring program, she volunteers her time to shape and develop youth, equipping them with the essential knowledge and skills that they need in order to be successful academically, socially and emotionally. Ashley Madison also serves  as a Site Mentor Coordinator for A.I.S.D, assisting with making sure that new and novice teachers are supported as they begin their careers in education. During her free time, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family and friends, attending church, reading and writing

✉️ membershipcoordinator@textesoliv.org 

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION CHAIR

Dr. Estefanie Jaime-Aufegger earned her Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Science, minoring in Life-Earth Science and Math. Thereafter, she double majored with Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction and Education Administration. She continued her education, earning a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership. She is recognized at Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi for earning all of her degrees in her hometown. In her 25 years of education, Dr. Jaime-Aufegger has worked as a Classroom Teacher for Science and Math, Campus Instructional Specialist for Emergent Bilinguals, Assistant Principal of Instructional Leadership, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction, Assistant Principal, Principal and currently a District Coach for Multilingual Services with Aldine ISD. Her experiences include providing Professional Development to educators and school/district leaders; Coaching teachers/Instructional Specialists; creating lessons using High-Quality Instructional Material, implementing research-based instructional activities and strategies so that our Emergent Bilingual students have equitable access to a quality educational experience. During her off time, she serves and advocates for her community with the Junior League of The Woodlands, Communications Council as the Holiday Market Digital Media Coordinator.   

✉️ conferenceregistrationchair@textesoliv.org 

CONFERENCE PROGRAM CHAIR

Carmen Nguyen currently serves as a Professional Development Specialist for Multilingual Learners. Her passion for advocating for multilingual learners and their families stems from her experience as an immigrant and language learner. She strives to support educators by providing professional development that is founded on research-based instructional practices and pedagogy, is committed to educational equity for all students, and strives to continue to learn and grow every day. She has served in many capacities in public education, all with a focus on teaching and supporting language learners. 

✉️ conferenceprogramchair@textesoliv.org 

NEWSLETTER EDITOR

Sekineh Nasiri, Ed. D. is currently the Newsletter Editor for TexTESOL IV. She received her doctoral degree in Language, Literacy, and Special Population at Sam Houston State University in 2019. She is an adjunct faculty at Sam Houston State University and has been teaching English to ESL/ EFL students for more than 16 years. Additionally, Dr. Nasiri has presented at national and state conferences, sharing her passion and knowledge with others. Her research interests lie in the area of foreign language learning anxiety, teacher education, literacy development, and educational technologies.  

✉️ newslettereditor@textesoliv.org 

ADVOCACY

Dr. Stephen A. White has been in the field of education for 51 years. Dr. White

has been a classroom teacher for grades 2 – 12. While in the classroom Dr. White

taught Spanish/ESL/Bilingual Education. After leaving the classroom Dr. White

worked at Region IV Education Service Center as a Consultant for

Bilingual/ESL/Migrant/Foreign Languages. Consultant for Bilingual/ESL in the Fort

Bend ISD. Worked in the publishing business as a National Consultant. As a

National Consultant Dr. White presented at local, state, national, and

international conferences. Presently Dr. White is an Assistant Professor at the

University of Houston Downtown.

✉️ advocacy@textesoliv.org 

WEBMASTER

Antonio Escobar is currently the webmaster for TexTESOL IV. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer science at the Universidad Rafael Belloso Chacin in Maracaibo Venezuela, and his master’s degree in Multicultural studies from University of Houston Clear Lake. He has been working in Education for 20 years, first as a teacher of Pre AP and AP Math, then as a SIOP campus coach, and for the last 4 years as a district Multilingual Specialist currently at Tomball ISD. He is a bilingual and bicultural student-centered English Learner’s advocate with a dedication to ensuring high levels of student success. 

✉️ webmaster@textesoliv.org 

MEMBER AT LARGE

Blanca Flores- Lopez graduated from the University of Guadalajara with a BA in EFL in 1994. Right out of college, she was invited by the UN to participate in a professor exchange program to teach at the University of Scranton in PA. After that, Blanca moved to Paris to learn French. She returned to the USA to start teaching as an elementary ESL/bilingual teacher for 4 years here in Texas. Then, she served as a Research coordinator for TAMU. She returned to teaching elementary ESL/bilingual for 10 years. After that, Blanca taught Spanish at the high school level for 7 years and served as the ESL coordinator for 2 years in that school. She is currently teaching 5th grade ESL at a New Comers center. She has always been involved in education and looks forward to many more years of service and learning. 

✉️ member-at-large@textesoliv.org 

MEMBER AT LARGE

Dr. Rachel Kraut is the Director of Innovative Academic Programs, Language Programs, and an adjunct professor at the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University. She works as part of the administrative team of the Intensive English Program, the Foreign Language Program and as leader of the language programs online initiative. She also serves as a volunteer peer reviewer for the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) and is an incoming Director-at-Large for the EnglishUSA board and the TexTESOLIV board. Beyond language program management, Rachel has also worked as a consultant in language teacher professional development for public school districts, a content developer, an ESL instructor, and in pre-service teacher education. Her research interests lie in language program administration, language teacher training, program evaluation, language assessment, and online language learning. 

✉️ member-at-large@textesoliv.org