Lydia Breiseth is the Director of Colorín Colorado, the nation’s leading website serving educators and families of English language learners, based at PBS station WETA in Washington, DC. In this role, she oversees content development, multimedia production, partnerships, and outreach. Lydia lives in Arlington, VA with her husband and daughter.
Manuel De Jesus Gómez Portillo, Ed.D., is an educator, researcher, author, and advocate. He currently works as an educational specialist in Fairfax County Public Schools. Dr. Gomez Portillo earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from Radford University, and a master’s degree in TESOL and a doctorate degree in educational leadership from Shenandoah University. His research focuses on family engagement, Indigenous families from Latin America, cultural responsiveness, and multilingual learners.
Mark Gaither has been the Principal of Wolfe Street Academy, a community school in Baltimore, Maryland, since 2005. 76% of Wolfe Street’s students are ELLs, and 96% live in stark poverty. With support from the Baltimore Curriculum Project and the Baltimore Family League, Mark has spearheaded the effort to implement the community school strategy at Wolfe Street, building partnerships and expanding services for families that include a robust after-school program; multiple strategies for addressing food scarcity; dental, medical, counseling, and academic support; and numerous enrichment opportunities for students.
Henry Sales is a native Mam speaker from San Juan Atitán, Guatemala, who works in Oakland as teacher, interpreter, volunteer, and advocate for mistreated and underrepresented Mayan populations. Henry teaches Mam at Rudsdale Newcomer High School and works in many ways to preserve and celebrate Mayan language, traditions, and community in the Bay Area. He is also a follower of Jesus.