Meet Our Leadership Team
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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. |
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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! |
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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. |
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Dr. Eva Pando Solís
Secretary Dr. Eva Pando Solís is an award-winning educator with more than 25 years of experience. She began her career in her native Spain, teaching Spanish language and literature, and English as a second language. In 1993, she was recruited to teach in California. Eva has extensive experience in instructional coaching, having worked with school principals and coaches to develop educational leadership and expertise in English learner and dual language education. She has also served as a national educational consultant for the Embassy of Spain. In the year 2000, Eva was recognized as "Teacher of the Year" by the Los Angeles County Office of Education. In 2015, she received the “Leadership in Biliteracy Award” from the San Diego County Office of Education. Eva’s credentials include a bachelor’s degree in Education, master’s degrees in English and Spanish; and a doctorate in applied linguistics with a research emphasis on language acquisition. |
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Marilin Escalante
Publicity Chair Marilin Escalante has been teaching in the Sweetwater Union High School District for twenty years. A native of the Philippines, she has taught different levels of chemistry at Mar Vista High School as well as basic and advanced Filipino language classes. She is a member of the Council for the Teaching of Filipino Science and Culture. Prior to that, she was a faculty member, researcher, and chief of laboratories of the CAS of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines She lives at Imperial Beach with her husband Arnel. Her kids Althea and Alonzo are both UCSD Tritons. |
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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. |
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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. |
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Claire Arias-Kassir
Membership Chair Claire Arias-Kassir has been teaching for 20 plus years. Her teaching experience has been at the secondary level in English, ELD, and Spanish. Claire holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish Literature form the University of California in San Diego and a Master’s of Arts, Educational Leadership K-12 from San Diego State University. Currently, she is an English Language Instructional Resource Teacher in San Diego, CA. She participated in the development of the California Spanish Assessment (CSA 2016-19) and English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC 2016-19). Claire was appointed by the State Board of Education to the World Languages (WL) Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committee (CFCC 2018-19). She is a member of the Foreign Language Council of San Diego. I love learning and make it a point to learn something new every day. |
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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. |
