Bilingual in America

Palma Multilingual Educational Solutions, LLC led by Mario Palma, and his team, Jessica Canul Diaz and Jordan Montalvo, are committed to enhancing multilingual learning nationwide. With over 25 years of expertise, Mario and his team specialize in equipping educators with the knowledge and tools to integrate the science of reading and language acquisition research. Through innovative strategies, equitable assessments, leadership development, and home-based literacy support, educational partnerships with his team foster academic success for Multilingual Learners.

Dr. Audrey Cohan is the Senior Dean for Research, Scholarship, and Graduate Studies at Molloy University, Rockville Centre, New York where she has worked for twenty-nine years, Dr. Cohan began her career as a special education teacher in New York City, working with students with special needs and then went on to pursue certification in TESOL. Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld is TESOL professor at Molloy University, Rockville Centre, New York. Before entering the field of teacher education, she was an English as a Foreign Language teacher in Hungary, an English as a Second Language teacher in New York City, and taught Hungarian at New York University. A Fulbright Scholar and sought-after national presenter, Andrea is a regular guest on our podcast. Today, this powerhouse partnership, who have worked together for two decades, talks about their new book, Collaboration for Multilingual Learners with Exceptionalities: We Share the Students. They discuss why it is important to combine expertise and identify a shared purpose. Don't miss this GEM!

How many Latinos are in the field of aviation? Listen in to hear from Jonathan Tejada who was born and raised in the US by his Colombian parents and became interested in aviation as a young boy when they would travel to Queens, NY to watch planes landing and taking off at LaGuardia Airport. He shares his journey in aviation and how it led him to birth Cafe Avion. Alex Retamozo migrated to the US from Paraguay when he was 6 years old. His love of math and science landed him work as a commercial and military pilot. Listen in to hear how they are opening pathways for others, like them, to take flight!

123 Andrés is a husband-and-wife duo that creates children's music in both English and Spanish. They have performed for audiences across the US as well as in Puerto Rico, Panama, and Mexico. They are performers, songwriters, advocates, authors, podcasters, and teacher trainers. This year, 2024, they won their second Grammy Award for Best Children's Music Album for their album We Grow Together, Crecimos Juntos Children's Songs.

Just like the mariposas monarcas, María Chinchilla left everything that was familiar to migrate from Guatemala to New York at the age of seventeen. In her first published children’s book, Maria Becomes A Butterfly, María beautifully tells the story of how she weathered tormentas, discovered her superpowers, and finally found a sense of belonging. This story will resonate with not only young readers who have their own immigration experience, but also with anyone who has ever struggled to make a new place feel like home.