Community Council
The Community Council is a dedicated team of experienced global educators at MLRC member schools. They are champions of connecting research to practice at their schools, and represent our member community by providing input and insight on programs and resources- while also amplifying our outreach efforts. Members work with MLRC School Network staff, participate in collaborative problem solving, and help us achieve our mission to advance outcomes for multilingual learners. We are so fortunate to benefit from expertise and insights of this amazing group!
Summer Alcauter
Coordinator of Multilingual Learning, International School of Panama (ISP)
Summer current serves at the Coordinator of Multilingual Learning at the International School of Panama. She holds a Masters of Education from Sam Houston State University, and has over 16 years of experience in teaching, instructional coaching and program coordination for Spanish language acquisition and digital learning. As an international educator, Summer is committed to research and implementation of best practices for multilingual learning, content and language integration, and designing student-centered and data-informed systems of support.
Karli Barness
EAL Coordinator, American School of Doha
Karlie is the EAL Coordinator at the American School of Doha with international experience in the UAE, China, Korea, Thailand, and Saudi Arabia. Her focus is on leveraging Universal Design for Learning to foster inclusive, collaborative practices that amplify the strengths and assets of multilingual learners.
Rena Brown
Multilingual Learner Support, Stamford American International School
Rena focuses on supporting Multilingual Learners across all grade levels at Stamford American International School. She is passionate about designing and implementing comprehensive EAL programs with her team of EAL teachers. With over 12 years at the school, she has taught elementary, middle, and high school and developed pathways for MLLs while supporting teachers, teaching assistants, school leaders, and parents.
erica Colindres
Additional Language Teacher, Colegio Maya
Erica Colindres is the English as an Additional Language teacher at Colegio Maya in Guatemala. She is passionate about supporting multilingual learners and helping them thrive. Erica joined the MLRC Community Council to collaborate, learn from others, and share ideas to better serve multilingual students.
Karina del Castillo
Clinical Psychologist and Regional Leader, International Schools Partnership (iSP)
Karina del Castillo is a Clinical Psychologist and Regional Leader in Multilingualism for iSP. With Indigenous, European, and South American roots, and two children holding four passports, she champions inclusive, multilingual education that celebrates diversity, fosters empathy, and inspires global citizenship.
Matt Hajdun
School Head, Primary School at Atlanta International School (AIS)
Matt is the Head of Primary School at Atlanta International School (AIS). Matt has previously worked in Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, and Honduras. He has served diverse learning communities in roles ranging from classroom teacher, EAL teacher, instructional coach, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Assistant Director of Learning for Language Development.
Ruth Hinchliffe
Elementary EAL Coordinator, Stamford American International School
Ruth is the Elementary EAL Coordinator at Stamford American International School. She leads a large EAL team that implements an ecological teaching model, emphasizing collaboration, co-planning, and responsive scaffolding to meet diverse learner needs. Ruth works closely with SSD leads to design and sustain inclusive pathways for multilingual learners with exceptionalities, ensuring equitable access to both language acquisition and content learning. Her leadership focuses on building teacher capacity and celebrating the strengths of a multilingual student community.
Jacob Huckle
Head of Multilingual Learning & Language Development, Dulwich College Suzhou
Jacob Huckle is Head of Multilingual Learning & Language Development at Dulwich College Suzhou in China, where he also teaches EAL, English, and Theory of Knowledge. He is working part-time on a Doctorate in Education (EdD) at the University of Bath, researching multilingualism and intercultural understanding in international schools.
Jessica Jones
ES Grade 4 ELL Specialist, Concordia International School, Shanghai
Jessica Jones is an international educator passionate about building collaborative relationships that nurture multilingual ecosystems. She is a contributing member of the MLRC Language Policy Working Group and is learning how to develop language policy that advocates for inclusive practices across her school. She is also actively engaged in an action research project with her team, studying research on collaboration and applying it in practice to design approaches that honor every student’s linguistic resources. She has teaching experience in the United States, Singapore, and China.
Elizabeth Kent
Language Learning Coordinator, American Nicaraguan School
Elizabeth Kent works at the American Nicaraguan School as the Language Learning Coordinator. She enjoys working at schools with a collaborative community and creating student centered, place-based and culturally responsive programs and curriculums. Elizabeth has taught in Japan, the United States, and Nicaragua.
Archna Luther
Grade 4 EAL Teacher, American Embassy School
Archna believes in an asset-based approach to support students in English language acquisition. She recognizes the cognitive load our young language learners bear in learning a new language and learning IN a new language. Archna strives to equip them with a toolkit of strategies and build their repertoire of English language skills in order to steer their academic learning forward.
Kristen MacConnell
Elementary Principal, American School of Barcelona
Kristen MacConnell serves as Elementary Principal at the American School of Barcelona. With over 20 years of experience in schools across Spain, Chile, and the U.S., she is passionate about partnering with students, teachers and families to create joyful, supportive learning experiences for every child.
Luke Olley
EAL/French Language Specialist, Victoria Shanghai Academy
Luke Olley is an EAL/French language specialist. He has taught in the U.K., the U.S.A., Australia, Singapore, and mainland China, where he has developed research-driven curricula tailored to the specific needs of each school. He is now EAL coordinator at Victoria Shanghai Academy, one of Hong Kong’s leading IB schools.
Françoise Raoult
EAL Team Leader and Teacher, Beijing City International School
Françoise is a passionate educator with over 17 years of experience in additional language education (French and English). She is dedicated to supporting language and literacy skills for multilingual learners using evidence-based strategies. Since 2020, she has been working at Beijing City International School as an EAL teacher, coach, and team lead. Her responsibilities focus on strengthening Tier 1 instruction, data-driven instruction, and leading professional development. Françoise has her BA, BEd, MEd in leadership and is completing her second Master of Education in Reading Science. She will begin her post-graduate studies in EAL at the University of Oxford later this year.
Mariz Jean Solano
EAL Coordinator, Kyoto International School
Mariz Jean Solano is an international school teacher and EAL Coordinator from the Philippines who is committed to advancing linguistic justice in education. Having personally experienced the limitations of English-only policies within her country, she pursued her bachelor’s degree at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and her master’s degree at the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo. This academic journey gave her the opportunity to explore both local and international perspectives on language instruction. Her work focuses on collaborating with educators and researchers to challenge linguistic hegemony, promote inclusive practices, and prevent the erasure of cultural identities through language. She looks forward to being with like-minded people to promote multilingualism and celebrate multiculturalism.
Megan Vosk
Educator, Vientiane International School
Megan Vosk teaches the Middle Years Program, Individuals & Societies, and English Language Acquisition at Vientiane International School, Laos. Originally from New York, she brings over fifteen years of international school experience, having taught in Abu Dhabi, Seoul, New Delhi, and Vientiane. A passionate advocate for best practices in middle schools, Megan serves on the Board of Trustees for the Association for Middle-Level Education (AMLE). She is dedicated to fostering student self-advocacy skills, supporting multilinguals through Universal Design for Learning, and creating inclusive classrooms.
Iryna Zhurenko
Head of EAL, International School of Beijing (ISB)
An educator with 20 years of experience in the classroom and curriculum and teacher leadership, Iryna Zhurenko currently serves as a Head of EAL at the International School of Beijing. She holds educational qualifications in English Language and World Literature, Educational Psychology and Educational Leadership. Being quadrilingual, she is passionate about working with multilingual learners and strives to elevate the embrace of multilingualism throughout the school community.
Shafali
Multilingual Learner Specialist, American Embassy School
Shafali is a multilingual learner specialist who is dedicated to fostering equitable learning environments. She has served on the virtual review panel for the 2020 edition of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework. Her work is featured in the book Co-Planning, co-authored by Andrea Honigsfeld and Maria, and she occasionally shares her insights through articles published in TIEOnline.
