Leadership Team 2018-2019

German Suarez

President - Maria Dunbar - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Maria's experience as an educator spans over 15 years in the classroom in the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Maria is a ESOL World Language District Support Teacher with Atlanta Public Schools, supporting the Dual Language Immersion, World Languages and ESOL programs. Maria holds a BA in Speech Communications, a MS in Training and Development, and an EdS in Leadership. She is presently pursuing a PhD in Second Language research from The Inter American Univeristy of Puerto Rice in Ponce. Maria ia a first generation American of Haitian and Dominican decent. She speaks English, Spanish, and French.

Vice President - Christian Valdez - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Christian’s story begins in Atlanta, GA, being born in October 1990. His family’s roots stem from Guanajuato, Mexico. Christian was a first generation undergraduate and graduate student at Georgia State University, 2009 and 2017 respectively.
Christian holds a bachelor’s of science in criminal justice and a master's of education in early childhood education. He is currently a 1st grade dual language immersion teacher at Garden Hills Elementary School in Atlanta.

Secretary - Andrea Flores - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Andrea Flores was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga from an immigrant Mexican family in 1991. She graduated from Clayton State University with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology in 2012. After working in a behavioral health office and pre-k classroom, Andrea attended Georgia State University and graduated from the Urban Accelerated Certification & Master Program with a Masters in Education. Currently, Andrea works as a Dual Language Immersion Spanish elementary school teacher working with 6 years of experience in the classroom.

Communications Director - Germán Suárez - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Germán Suárez is a former ESOL and Spanish high school teacher native from Colombia. Germán holds a Bachelor in Computer Science, a Masters in TESOL, and an Specialist in Educational Leadership. After transitioning to program administration Germán has worked as Title III/ESOL, Intensive Language (Newcomers), District Digital Curriculum, World Languages, and Title IC Migrant program administrator. Germán is currently the supervisor of the World Languages Department which includes bilingual education programs.

Treasurer and Higher Education Liaison - Cathy Amanti - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cathy Amanti received her BA in Elementary Bilingual Education, her MA in Cultural Anthropology, and her PhD in Language, Reading, and Culture, from the University of Arizona. She worked for 21 years for Tucson Unified School District in Tucson, Arizona as a bilingual education teacher, assistant principal, coordinator of the Language Acquisition Department, and project manager in the Department of Student Equity. Currently, Dr. Amanti teaches ESOL and Dual Language Immersion methods at Georgia State University. She has written and presented on the Funds of Knowledge research project, teaching English language learners, bilingual education, educational technology, and school discipline. She recently completed a co-edited volume entitled Critical Perspectives on Teaching and Learning English Around the Globe, which is a compilation of original qualitative research studies that focus on the experiences of English language learners and teachers in various parts of the globe. Amanti’s research interests include second language acquisition, bilingual education, bilingualism and biliteracy, globalization and education, and the intersection of race, language, and power.