Executive Board
2026 NYS TESOL Executive Board
Dr. Sandra Vargas-Ortega has accumulated nearly two decades of experience in the field of language education, with professional practice spanning across New York City and Puerto Rico. She holds a Doctorate in Second Language Acquisition Research, a Master’s degree in teaching English to Speakers of other Languages (TESOL), a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education and an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science.
Over the years, she has engaged in numerous leadership roles, including fostering collaborations between district and charter schools and spearheading professional development initiatives. In addition to her current role as English as New Language educator, she serves students and families from diverse cultural backgrounds, offers guidance and mentorship to novice educators, researches current TESOL practices and delivers professional development. Dr. Vargas-Ortega has had the honor of contributing her expertise to one of the largest educational systems within the United States, a position which she has fulfilled for the past fifteen years with considerable dedication and a strong sense of professional distinction and commitment.
Furthermore, she holds an adjunct professorship at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, her alma mater, where she teaches undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. She also serves as a co-director on doctoral dissertation committees. One of her greatest passions is to disseminate knowledge to individuals aspiring to become language educators and researchers in the field of language acquisition. She is dedicated to the continuous enhancement, enrichment, and advancement of TESOL education, and is a firm believer in collaboration and the many ways it supports academic achievement, particularly language acquisition.
Contact Sandra at pres@nystesol.org
Nicole Bell is Coordinator at Mid-West Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network, which serves English language learners and bilingual education programs in New York state. Previously, she was a professional development specialist at Mid-West RBERN. Nicole has classroom experience both as a music educator and English as a New language teacher. Nicole is very committed to family engagement practices with multilingual learners and their families. She continues to spend her summers working with the Oswego Migrant Education summer program as lead teacher/program coordinator. Additionally, her interest areas include culturally responsive teaching, bilingual techniques in the classroom, the Latinx student experience, and migrant education. Nicole is a lifelong learner with an undergraduate and master's degree from Nazareth University and is currently pursuing her Ed. D. in the leadership for diverse learning communities program at Molloy University, where her dissertation is focused on equitable family engagement of Latinx students. Nicole loves ALL things conferences and is excited to be a part of the planning for the next few years.
Contact Nicole at pres-elect@nystesol.org
Sonal started as an immigrant from India and migrated to Queens, New York in the mid 1980s. She is a product of the NYC school system and a linguist as she speaks 5 languages. She is fortunate to have explored various career paths such as working in the corporate world as a product developer, co-owner of a chain of salons in New York City and she opened a catering firm in Europe. The journey of life has taught her the lesson of self advocacy and she feels this is deeply ingrained in her beliefs and how she inspire others. She believes that one must always work towards improvement and growth. Taking calculative risks and creating a community helps direct us towards greater success.
Sonal's education includes a bachelors degree in Fashion Marketing and International trade from Fashion Institute of Technology, Masters degree in TESOL from Adelphi University, an advanced degree in School Based Leadership certification from College of New Rochelle and is currently working towards her school district administrator coursework at Mercy College.
Sonal has been in the education field since 2007 and serving the English Language learner community since 2009. She has worked across K-12 classrooms and is passionate about uplifting them from where they are. She instills strong values of higher education and helps other aspire to soar beyond their comfort zone as growth lies at the edge of discomfort.
Her personal life has greatly impacted her professional career. She has been fortunate to start her educational journey in New York City schools under a full scholarship from the State. She served inner city students and the international network of schools as an ENL educator. Sonal raised her daughter as a single mother which enabled her to teach in Long Island, Dutchess County and Westchester County school districts. While her husband worked on his medical practice internationally, she was able to share her best practices via professional development in private schools, collaborate with IB schools and advise on State school policy work in Gujarat, India. She has worked as an adjunct at Hunter College within the Curriculum and Teaching department along with providing professional development across districts in Westchester County and Dutchess County. Since 2019 she has been closely affiliated with NYS TESOL volunteering my time during annual conferences to support various outreach work from the network.
As an educator she aspires to create the best opportunities of success for ELLs through the implementation of effective and inclusive academic programs, an academic environment which fosters growth and assimilation all while keeping the heritage advantage of our ELLs. She truly believes that rich cultural diversity represented by ELLs, their stories and life experiences have so much value which inspire passion for success.
Sonal believes her commitment to providing education rights and her love for advocacy fans the fire of bringing justice and voice where it's needed. She has faith that together as a community we can help our students and families harness success with the right exposure and guidance.
Contact Sonal at vpadvocacy@nystesol.org
Katie Leven is a wife, mom and itinerant ENL (English as a New Language) teacher with 19 years of experience in Western New York. She lived in Argentina and has traveled to 12 different counties. She currently works through BOCES (Board of Cooperative Education Services) to provide Stand Alone and Integrated ENL services to K-12 students. In her free time, she provides professional development to teachers of MLLs (multilingual learners). In 2023, she was named ENL Teacher Leader of the Year by the RBERN West! In 2024, she received the Marie and Richard Baecher Teacher Leadership Award from NYS TESOL. You can listen to her podcast, The Intentional TESOL, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! She brings a variety of experiences and a ton of research to support any teacher who wants to learn more about language acquisition strategies and balanced literacy! She'll show you how to work smarter, not harder together for the benefit of ALL your learners!
Contact Katie at vpcommunications@nystesol.org
Mary Sandoval is a dedicated educator with 17 years of experience, committed to ensuring multilingual students receive an equitable, comprehensive, and culturally responsive education. She currently serves as the K-12 ENL Instructional Coach for the Shenendehowa Central School District, supporting teachers in their learning and implementation of best practices to enhance multilingual learners' success. Her language and literacy teaching experiences span across grades K-12 and also at the undergraduate level in TESOL teacher preparation programs. Mary holds advanced degrees from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the University at Albany, enhancing her expertise in leadership and literacy.
Outside of her professional roles, Mary can be found traveling with her family, cheering her children on at hockey and figure skating, and snuggling with their mischievous puppy. She looks forward to connecting with educators within the NYS TESOL community to drive meaningful progress for multilingual learners.
Contact Mary at vpconference@nystesol.org
A dedicated leader in education and social justice, Marisa Aiello is a distinguished professional with over 28 years of experience in education, driven by a profound commitment to empowering English Language Learners and championing social justice.
Her extensive career spans all grade levels—from Kindergarten through College—and she has demonstrated impactful leadership as a coordinator and student advocate. A testament to her unwavering dedication, Marisa has cultivated expertise in creating organized and equitable learning environments where all students can achieve success. Marisa's academic journey reflects a commitment to continuous growth, featuring a Master of Arts in TESOL and dual Master of Science degrees focused on administration and staff development.
She is currently a doctoral candidate at Molloy University, finalizing her Ed.D. in Diverse Learning Communities and Social Justice, with a focus on advancing research on educational disparities, particularly in special education. Recognized for her leadership, Marisa has successfully conducted professional development sessions for educators across New York State on topics ranging from innovative teaching strategies to the integration of technology. Her deep expertise, passion for equity, and proven leadership make her an invaluable asset to the educational community.
Contact Marisa at vpconfelect@nystesol.org
Dr. Christine E. Seebach, a native New Yorker and staunch multilingualism advocate, with 26 years in the field of education. Her tenure spans New York City and suburban K-12 districts, and colleges, where she excelled as a teacher, professor, and linguist. Specializing in high school Spanish and elementary and adult ESL, she’s empowered learners at all levels. Dr. Seebach’s global engagement includes an internship in Caracas, Venezuela, and studies at the Universidad de Salamanca, Spain. She volunteers with the TESOL International Association. She’s been President of NYS TESOL, and is a board member of the New York State Council of Educational Associations (NYSCEA). Academically, she holds a Bachelor’s in Spanish Secondary Education, a Master’s in TESOL K-12, post Master’s certificate in School Building and District Leadership, and a Doctorate in Education. Committed to enhancing education with ease, empathy, equity, excellence, empowerment, enrichment, and enjoyment, Dr. Seebach’s mantra guides her work.
Contact Christine at vpfinance@nystesol.org
Dr. Toussaint is a dedicated TESOL professional and educational leader with over a decade of experience serving English Language Learners (ELLs) in New York State. Born in Sri Lanka and arriving in the United States at the age of 11, she brings a deeply personal understanding of the multilingual learner experience. Her journey from ELL student to educational leader has fueled her commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive practices in education.
Dr. Toussaint holds a Bachelor of Science in K–12 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages/Childhood Education from Roberts Wesleyan University, a Master of Education in Higher Education – Educational Leadership from Liberty University, and a Doctor of Education in Curriculum & Instruction from Liberty University. She has served as an ENL teacher, instructional leader, and building/district-level administrative intern, engaging in initiatives that advance multilingual learners’ success.
Throughout her career, she has designed and facilitated numerous professional development sessions for faculty at the district and building levels, focusing on language acquisition, scaffolding instruction, culturally responsive pedagogy, and integrating language objectives into content instruction. She has provided training for teachers at both elementary and secondary levels, modeled effective co-teaching practices, and coached colleagues in evidence-based strategies that promote ELLs’ academic and linguistic growth. She has also organized events celebrating multilingualism, bringing together educators, families, and community members to foster collaboration and awareness.
Dr. Toussaint serves as a district-level committee member representing ELL families, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making and advocating for equitable policies and practices. In this role, she collaborates with community partners to support newly arrived immigrant families, guiding them through educational systems and connecting them with essential resources.
She actively participates in study groups, book studies, and panel discussions to exchange best practices and encourage professional collaboration. She mentors colleagues at various stages of their careers, promoting capacity building and reflective practice. Working closely with both building- and district-level administrative teams, Dr. Toussaint contributes to initiatives that enhance instructional quality, improve systems of support for multilingual learners, and strengthen family engagement.
She has worked alongside district leaders to improve coordination of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, address equity in resource allocation, and promote culturally responsive instructional practices. Her leadership also extends to equity and inclusion committees, district-wide communication planning, and supporting hiring and retention practices for administrators from diverse backgrounds.
Guided by the belief that each child can learn and thrive, Dr. Toussaint approaches leadership with integrity, transparency, and a collaborative spirit. Her work reflects a steadfast dedication to empowering multilingual learners and equipping educators with the skills, strategies, and mindset to help them succeed.
Contact Dilini at vpmembership@nystesol.org
Dr. Seongshin Kim is Associate Professor and Chair of TESOL, Bilingual Education, and Teaching Literacy at Touro University. She holds a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction with a TESOL specialization from Kansas State University and has over twenty years of experience in teacher education. Over the course of her career, she has taught a wide range of TESOL courses for PreK–12 teachers, including TESOL methods and materials, second language acquisition, theory and practice of multicultural/bilingual education, applied linguistics, TESOL assessment, and child development in cultural contexts, both in the United States and abroad. Dr. Kim has developed multiple TESOL programs across institutions and has taught English overseas as well as TESOL to PreK–12 teachers in rural Midwestern schools and the New York City metropolitan area. She previously served as Dean of Education at Concordia College New York and as a technical support specialist at a federally funded Equity Assistance Center focused on ESOL and diversity.
Dr. Kim serves as Vice President of Outreach for NYS TESOL, where she builds partnerships among PreK–12 schools, higher education, community organizations, and multilingual families. Her professional passion is empowering teachers to more effectively serve multilingual English language learners so they can thrive in school and beyond.
Contact Dr. Kim at vpoutreach@nystesol.org