Hispanic Caucus Officers

NEA HISPANIC CAUCUS CHAIR

10985048_10152860081933579_3313831146498403018_n

Gladys F. Marquez 

Term: 2018-2020

Email: NEAHispanicCaucusNews@gmail.com

IEA-NEA Illinois Education Association

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Local (IEA-NEA CHSD Local 218)
  • IEA-NEA Local 218 Building Representative
  • IEA-NEA Region 28 Ethnic Minority Representative
  • Local 218 Bargaining Team
State (IEA- Illinois Education Association)
  • IEA-NEA Human & Civil Rights Committee (2010-2017)
  • IEA-NEA Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee EMAC (2010-Present)
  • IEA-NEA Steering Committee (2010-2014)
  • IEA-NEA Legislative Committee (2014-2015)
  • IEA-NEA EMELTP Planning Committee (2011-2016)
  • IEA-NEA MLT Planning Committee (2011-2014)
  • IEA-NEA Racial and Social Justice Committee Chair (2017-Present)
  • NEA Board of Directors for Illinois (2017-2020)
National (NEA-National Education Association)
  • NEA Hispanic Caucus:
    • NEA-Hispanic Caucus Midwest Regional Director (2009)
    • NEA-Hispanic Caucus Secretary (2010-2013)
    • NEA-Hispanic Caucus Vice Chair (2013-2014)
    • NEA Hispanic Caucus Chair (2014-Present)
  • NEA Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee (2010-Present)
  • NEA-Resolutions Committee Member (2009-2014)
  • NEA-Social Justice Dialogue (2012)
  • NEA-Leadership Advisory Committee (2013)
  • NEA- Professional Standards & Practices Committee (2014-2015)
  • NEA-MLTP Cadre Trainer (2012-Present)
  • NEA-Cultural Competence Cadre Trainer (2014-Present)
  • NEA School-to-Prison-Pipeline Taskforce (2015-2016)
  • NEA Human and Civil Rights Committee (2017-2018)
  • NEA Member Category Task-force (2017-2018)
  • NEA Conference Alignment Committee (2016-Present)
Current Credentials
  • B.A. in Elementary Education IL Type-3(K-8)
  • B.A. in Secondary Education with a concentration in English, Reading, and Bio-Chemistry IL Type-9 (6-12)
  • M.Ed. in Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation with a concentration in ELL/Bilingual Education Endorsements and IL Type-29 (K-12)
  • M.A. in Educational Administration IL Type-75
Educational Work in Progress
  • Ed. Doctorate- Interdisciplinary Leadership: Nonprofit/Social Entrepreneurship
Public Speaking Experience
  • No Child Left Behind Conference Chicago, Illinois (2008)
  • LEAD Conference Los Angeles, California (2014)
  • NEA Hispanic Observance Presenter (2014-2015)
  • #LATISM Panelist (2015)
  • NEA Hispanic Caucus Chair Spokesperson (2014-Present)
  • NEA –Ethnic Minority Affairs Co-Chair and Spokesperson (2015-2017)
  • NEA Leadership Summit, Dallas TX (2016)
  • Save-Our-Schools Coalition Rally (2016)
Recognitions
  • 2017 IEA-NEA Reg Weaver Human & Civil Rights Award Recipient
PERSONAL STORY

“As a child, I remember my grandfather telling us stories of how we came to live in this great nation. My grandfather was fortunate to secure a position as a railroad worker on the Rock Island in the 1950’s. He worked as a migrant worker for 10 years before he was able to bring the entire family from, Zacatecas, Mexico in the 1960’s. My mother, then 13, explained how she struggled to understand the new language and culture. She talked about not fitting in and feeling awkward and out of place.  She spoke about teachers not taking the time to teach her the language and her own feelings of inadequacy. She, like thousands of other immigrant students, decided to opt out of school and into the labor force taking a minimum wage factory job at the local steel mill, a trend I still see today. These discussions would fill me with sadness. How could my mother feel out of place? How could someone not appreciate her talent and her desire to learn? Most importantly, what was so wrong with our educational system that it would allow thousands of immigrant students to fall through the cracks? These questions would become my life’s passion.

Today I look for the answer to these questions in my students. I work to help motivate, educate, and develop the skills and self-discipline necessary to fight for their futures. Cultural appreciation is the driving force behind these efforts. They know that if they believe in themselves, their heritage, and who they are, they can achieve that which they aspire to become. My students know that, for me, college is not an unattainable dream but an expectation to be achieved.

I love what I do and work to make a difference in the life of every child who steps foot in my classroom. I change the world one child at a time. I am a teacher.”

Together we can make a difference!

NEA HISPANIC CAUCUS VICE-CHAIR

Christine

Christine V. Trujillo

Term: 2019-2021

Email: NEAHCVC@gmail.com

CEA – Colorado Education Association

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Local (JCEA-Jefferson County Education)
  • JCEA Local Building Representative
  • Past JCEA Local Election Chair/Committee
  • Past JCEA Local Variance Committee
  • Past JCEA Local EMAC Steering Committee
  • Past Adams 1 Local Building Representative
  • Past Adams 1 Local Bilingual Teacher l Representative to BOD
  • Past Adams 1 Local Negotiations Team
National (NEA-National Education Association)
  • NEA Hispanic Caucus:
    • NEA-Hispanic Caucus Vice Chair
    • NEA-Hispanic Caucus Treasurer
    • NEA-Hispanic Caucus Western Regional Director
    • NEA–Hispanic Caucus Liaison to the Women’s Caucus Steering Committee
  • NEA –Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee
  • Past NEA-Diversity Cadre Trainer of Trainer & Cadre Member
  • Past NEA-Social Justice Cadre Trainer
  • Past NEA-ELL Cadre Trainer
  • Past President of CABE (Colorado Association of Bilingual Education)
Current Credential
  • BA Elementary Education (K-6)
  • MA Linguistically Diverse Education (K-12) o Endorsement Linguistically Diverse Education: Bilingual Education (K-12) o ECE Credential
PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS

I was born in Taos, New Mexico and then brought up in the San Luis Valley in Southern Colorado.  I am of Hispanic ancestry and grew up in a bilingual home where Spanish and English were languages of choice. Although I do not have children of my own, I can confidently claim I have assisted in helping raise my 15 sisters and brothers children.  As well as parent many, many, many students and parents along my educational career.

My Inspiration

Growing up in a large and diverse family, who spoke two languages had both advantages and disadvantages.  I choose to remember advantages rather than linger on the disadvantages.  However, I must admit, I will never forget the imposed disadvantages.  I know the power in numbers.  See, I remember knowing how proud I was that my parent’s families served to protect this country, even when it wasn’t kind to them.  Why?  Because I know there was power in numbers as many minorities were put on the front line in war.  I remember my parents walking into school and threatening to take all his 15 children out of school if they ever laid a hand on any of us for speaking Spanish or any other disciplinary actions.  That worked power in numbers.  I can remember my father negotiating pay for the work in the fields and telling others to demand more money or the crops wouldn’t be picked. Power in numbers!  Although my father was not a fan of the church, my mother who was like father and mother in his absence, instilled in each of us that church and community were essential.  Power in numbers!  Growing up alongside many, many migrant families and all of us being discriminated against instead of celebrated for a rich language and culture, only made me more passionate and committed to this work inside and outside of education.  For every child, parent or teacher who believes or doesn’t believe in themselves, I believe strongly for them that it is essential that we show them the power in numbers and education is the equalizer.  I look forward to the opportunity and work involved to convince our “gente” of our Power in Numbers!  Let’s get it done.

NEA HISPANIC CAUCUS TREASURER

11896030_633013294924_7067053287528296084_n

Alberto Nodal

Term: 2019-2021

Email: NEAHCT@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
  • San Lorenzo Unified School District
  • SLZUSD Culture and Climate Committee
  • SLZUSD Elementary Literacy Pilot Committee
  • SLZUSD Biliteracy Task Force
  • SLZUSD NGSS Implementation Team  
  • REACH Math Committee
  • Colonial Acres Restorative Practices Site Lead
  • Colonial Acres Instructional Leadership Team
  • Colonial Acres Culture and Climate Committee
Local (SLEA-San Lorenzo Education Association)
  • SLEA Vice President
  • SLEA Membership Chair
  • SLEA TK-5 Elementary Representative
  • SLEA NEA Delegate
  • SLEA Site Rep
  • SLEA PAC Committee
  • SLEA Educator of the Year 2015
Service Center (Alcosta Center Council)
  • Alcosta Alameda Medium Size Chapter Representative
  • Alcosta Secretary
  • Alcosta Equity Team
  • 2018 Alcosta State WHO award
State (CTA-California Teachers Association)
  • CTA California Reads Committee
  • CTA State Council Delegate
  • CTA Scholarship Committee
  • CTA SOGIIAC (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues advisory Committee) Co-Chair
  • CTA Hispanic Caucus Secretary Treasurer
National (NEA-National Education Association)
  • NEA Hispanic Caucus:
    • Pacific Region Director (2017-2018)
    • Hispanic Caucus Treasurer (2018-present)
Other Affiliates/Organizations
  • Mills Teacher Scholar
  • CABE (California Association of Bilingual Education Association) 5-time conference presenter
  • English Learner Leadership and Legacy Initiative Participant
  • Former EBCUE (East Bay Computer Using Educators) Secretary
  • Teacher Induction Mentor

Personal Highlights

Alberto Nodal teaches bilingual Kindergarten in San Lorenzo, California (Northern CA in the Bay Area). He has taught bilingual 2nd grade, 3rd grade, Transitional Kindergarten and now Kindergarten. With a Masters in Early Childhood Education, he loves to incorporate the Arts into his teaching and strives to be an advocate not only for his young students, but his students’ families, and the larger Latino community.

NEA HISPANIC CAUCUS SECRETARY

M.Avila

Maritza Avila

Term: 2020-2021

Email: livetoday2007@gmail.com

California Teachers Association

Local
  • Oxnard Educators Association Representative
  • Oxnard School District Curriculum Council Representative 
  • Site Leadership Team
  • Classroom Teacher – 26 Years
  • AMAE Oxnard – Secretary
  • LULAC Council 3026 – Secretary
State
  • Former CTA CISCC At-Large
  • CTA Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards Committee
  • Former CTA REAC Representative
  • CTA California Reads Committee
  • CTA Teacher Evaluation & Academic Freedom Committee
  • CTA Women’s Rights Committee
  • CTA Raices Caucus
  • CTA Zumba Caucus, Chair
National
  • Six-time NEA RA Delegate
  • Former NEA Hispanic Caucus Pacific Director
Education
  • BA – TESOL – Inter-American Univ. of Puerto Rico
  • MA – American Studies. Pepperdine Univ.
Personal Highlights
I was raised by a single mother and the love of my grandparents in  Aguas Buenas, as small town in Puerto Rico. “Tienes que estudiar y ser una professional,” my abuelo would always say. From a very early age, I immersed myself in books to escape the hardships my family endured. I learned that education was the path to escape poverty, and I was determined to end that cycle, which had persisted in my family for centuries.

The support of educators who saw my potential and programs like Upward Bound opened many doors. As a result, I wanted to give back what was given to me and became a teacher. Teaching is my way of changing the world one student at a time.