The English Learner Advocacy Network exists to connect experts in academic language instruction, school improvement planning, English learner (EL) programming and multicultural equity with general education teachers and leaders who want to increase bilingual student achievement.

Our clients seek guidance and training on developing strategic plans for English learner success, analyzing English learner data to inform strategy selection and training on evidence-based instructional and programming frameworks to increase equity and achievement for bilingual students.

Equity

Language is Equity, our tagline exists because our world needs confident, compassionate, multilingual citizens who can change the world by communicating across differences. Graduates have more career options and earning potential if they are fluent and literate in their native language as well as academic English. No one was born a native academic English speaker. All educators need to address students’ cultural and linguistic needs in order to disrupt racially and linguistically predictable academic outcomes for ELs.

Kristina Robertson, president

Kristina has over 20 years of experience as a teacher and leader in the English Learner instructional field. She was the lead course developer for the American Federation of Teachers English Learners (EL) 101 course that has provided quality professional learning for educators across the nation. She has licenses in K-12 ESL, Reading, and Administration, and received her M.A. in TESOL from the School for International Training, Brattleboro, VT. She is a doctoral student at Molloy College in the program for Educational Leadership for Diverse Learning Communities. She is a writer for the Colorín Colorado website, a former WIDA trainer, and currently the district administrator of EL programming in Roseville, Minnesota.

Her dream is to create a system of equity in education for ELs through quality instruction and increased access to challenging learning opportunities. She is a change agent who works closely with teachers and administrators to affect change. She listens to teachers and builds on their instructional strengths while developing new strategies to meet EL student academic needs, and collaborates with district leaders to create systemic changes to provide more support for learners, families and educators. 

Kristina is an off-the-charts extrovert who loves meeting new people, traveling, learning, dancing and singing Karoake. She lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband, an adorable puppy and lovey old calico cat.

Michelle Benegas, Ph.d.

Michelle Benegas, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Second Language Teaching and Learning program at Hamline University. Her TEDX Talk entitled Confessions: New Teacher of Newcomers tells of her early experiences teaching ESL to Minnesota’s newcomer population. She was the 2015 President of MinneTESOL (Minnesota Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). In addition to her work in ESL teacher preparation, she also teaches a course designed to prepare mainstream teachers to meet the needs of English learners. She is the principal investigator of the ELM (English Learners in the Mainstream) Project, a US Department of Education funded initiative that seeks to ensure that all teachers are prepared to meet the needs of English learners. Through this work, and as a consultant in Minnesota, Oregon, and Michigan, she promotes a model in which ESL teachers serve as site-based experts and coaches to their mainstream colleagues. Her research interests include ESL teacher leadership, teacher leader identity, and systemic approaches to improving EL services. 

Angela Froemming

Angela has been working with multilingual learners at the elementary level for over 10 years. She loves teaching writing to students, specifically through a genre-based approach. She believes that teaching students how to use language for specific purposes and audiences empowers them to use their voice to tell their unique stories and share what they know. Angela sees a clear link between language and equity, and understands that engaging, explicit language instruction is the foundation for equitable access to classroom content and grade-level learning.

In addition to elementary learners, Angela also enjoys working with adults. She is an English Learners in the Mainstream (ELM) coach at her school, where she supports classroom teachers to develop and deepen their understanding of best practices as they relate to working with multilingual learners. She is also an adjunct professor within the ESL department at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Angela is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in education at Hamline University, where she also earned her MA in ESL. Besides teaching and learning, Angela loves spending time in nature and taking walks with her family, husband and French bulldog. 

DR. AMY YOUNG

Dr. Amy Young is currently the EL Specialist for School Support at the Minnesota Department of Education and works with schools all over the state to develop effective programming for multilingual learners. Previously, she has been an Elementary Principal, Director of Teaching and Learning, EL Coordinator, and has taught at the UMN and NYU. In every role, she has focused on the challenge of leading culturally and linguistically diverse schools.

Amy is available for consulting outside the state of MN.

Cecilia Martino

Cecilia was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, having immigrated to MN at age 18. She has more than 14 years of experience working with multilingual students and families as a Latinx Cultural Liaison for a school district in the Twin Cities. She has a B.A. in Global Studies and is trained in topics of multilingualism, multiculturalism and education. In her role as a cultural liaison she has developed student-led community projects, created online family engagement events and provided equity professional development to educators on Latinx community, immigration issues and developed bilingual communication plans. 

Her passion is supporting and empowering multicultural voices to access opportunities, eliminate barriers, and dismantle inequities in our current systems. She understands complex systems, social emotional complexities, and the hard journey of being an immigrant. She pours her life experiences into helping and supporting multilingual children and families. Cecilia is caring, open, loving and highly family oriented. She enjoys gardening, dancing and (being in a cave during the winter) spending time with her friends and family. She lives in Bloomington, MN with her husband and son.  

“One of the most knowledgeable and passionate advocates for ELL.”