Foreign Language Council of San Diego

The Foreign Language Council of San Diego (FLCSD) is the local affiliate of the statewide CLTA, the California Language Teachers Association. FLCSD members connect with a local world-language network and participate in professional development on best practices in language education. FLCSD collaborates with the California Foreign Language Project, the San Diego Area International Languages Network (SAILN), the Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC), and the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE).

Mission: FLCSD mission is to provide support, leadership and vision for quality World Language and Culture teaching and learning in San Diego County.

In Memory of Norman Leonard


It is with heavy hearts that we share that our beloved member Norman Leonard passed away on December 14, 2017. Norman, who served as president of FLCSD for 15 years, was an instrumental mentor in the recent reenergizing of our organization. He was an active member and advocate whose presence was a guiding force.

Norman’s work for the advancement of language teaching expended well beyond our organization: In addition to teaching French and Russian for 21 years, he was president of the California Language Teachers Association and former director of an International Baccalaureate program. After retirement from public school teaching, he worked for 13 years as Director of Outreach for the Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC) at San Diego State University. During his years at LARC, he helped found 15 community-based language schools for “less commonly taught” languages. He has offered professional development language acquisition workshops in China, Kurdistan, Iraq, and Russia.

Norman has touched many lives and contributed above and beyond to the world of education. We will miss his passionate contributions to our organization, but we shall never lose sight of the important work supporting world language education for which he fought diligently. In his honor, FLCSD will continue to be an advocate for teachers and students of world languages in the San Diego region.

Vacances Scolaires de la Zone B

La zone B des vacances scolaires comprend les académies françaises suivantes :

Les dates des vacances scolaires de la Zone B varient selon les années, et effectue un roulement avec les Zones A et C des vacances en France.

About Us

Meet Our Leadership Team

​Ronit Ron-Yerushalmi
President
​My name is Ronit Ron-Yerushalmi and I grew up in Israel in a small moshav near Netanyah. Currently, I am the Director of Language and Global Studies in Kavod Charter School. I hold a Master of Education degree from the University of Minnesota with a focus on second language and culture education and I also worked at the Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition. I also hold ACTFL OPI Tester of Hebrew with Full Certification (2017-2021) and I serve as a Committee Member in the World Language Standards Advisory Committee at the State of California. In addition I am a participant in the 2018 CLTA’s California Language Leadership Initiative (CALLI) training. These days, I am working on my doctorate in Modern Languages at Middlebury College. I am honored to be part of FLCSD and help to support and train Foreign Language teachers and promote the importance of second language acquisition.

Joseph Pearson
Treasurer
​​My name is Joseph Pearson, but I go by Joey or Profe Pearson. I am a teacher, instructional coach, and curriculum writer who believes that education changes lives when teachers build and leverage relationships that open doors to unimaginable success. Though I am a Spanish teacher, the underlying goal of my instruction is to help students learn how to be creative problem solvers and respectful global citizens. I want to assist students as they find their voices through my student-centered instruction, reminding them that their thoughts and contributions matter. I am honored to work with FLCSD and its members to promote world-language education and 21st century skills in classrooms around San Diego county!

Sabina Adjibolosoo
Secretary
​Sabina Adjibolosoo has been teaching French in San Diego at the high School level since 2005. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in French and Linguistics at the University of Ghana, and pursued an Extended Studies degree in French Linguistics at Simon Fraser University, British Columbia. She holds both a Teaching Credential and M. Ed from Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego. Sabina is a member of the Foreign Language Council of San Diego and currently lives and works in San Diego.

Rizalyn Cruz
Social Media Chair
​Rizalyn Marquez Cruz has been working in the Sweetwater Union High School District for more than twenty years. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education at the Ateneo de Davao University and California Teaching Credential at San Diego State University. She is currently teaching four levels of Filipino at Otay Ranch High School. She is a Southern Area International Language Network (SAILN) Fellow since 2010, a Program Developer for Tier III since 2014 and a Community of Practice Language Group Presenter of SAILN/LARC. Rizalyn is a member of the California Language Teachers Association, Foreign Language Council of San Diego, California Association for Bilingual Association and of Council for Teaching Filipino Language and Culture.

Marina Dillingham
Program Chair
​Marina Dillingham is an AP and IB French and Spanish teacher at Bonita Vista High School in Chula Vista, California. Originally from Córdoba, Argentina, Marina is fluent in Spanish, French and Italian. She received her undergraduate degree from UCLA, her teaching credential from SDSU and an MA in Education from Grand Canyon University. She also spent some time in France at the Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier France, where she acquired the language and culture that would inspire her personally and guide her career. In an effort to share her passion for travel and experiencing other cultures, Marina has lead countless student groups abroad in linguistic exchanges with high schools in France and Italy. Marina has been teaching French and Spanish for over 30 years and is currently World Language TOSA for Sweetwater Union High School District. She is also an AP Reader and College Board Consultant for French.

Dr. Cecile Nedellec
​Webmaster
Dr. Cecile Nedellec currently teaches French at Patrick Henry High School. She is also SAILN’s program specialist. She focuses on developing curricula for SAILN’s professional developments, on establishing connections between SAILN and ELL/world language teachers, and on supporting the SAILN director with a variety of administrative tasks. She earned her PhD in curriculum and instruction from Capella University in July 2015. Her dissertation was on teachers’ perceptions of differentiated instruction. Dr. Nedellec is also a National Board Certified French Teacher. Prior to teaching at her current position, Dr. Nedellec taught four years at Standley MS, where she served as the English department chair, four years in Switzerland, and seven years at Serra High school, where she served as the World Languages department chair. Dr. Nedellec has been a mentor teacher for 11 years. She continues to enjoy coaching new teachers as they fashion their teaching skills. Dr. Nedellec is a fellow of the California World Language Project.

Become a Member

The Foreign Language Council of San Diego (FLCSD) is the local affiliate of the statewide CLTA, the California Language Teachers Association. FLCSD members connect with a local world-language network and participate in professional development on best practices in language education. FLCSD collaborates with the California Foreign Language Project, the San Diego Area International Languages Network (SAILN), the Language Acquisition Resource Center (LARC), and the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE).

Membership benefits include: