Dr. Kate Kinsella is an emeritus teacher educator from San Francisco State University where she addressed English as a Second Language scholarship and proven practices. As a teacher educator, Dr. Kinsella taught for a decade in the university’s Step to College program for first generation high school bilingual students. Her experiences and curriculum creation to support English learners for a successful first year in college greatly informed her development of English 3D, the first targeted English language development program specifically designed for long-term English learners.

She is currently the CEO of Dr. Kate Kinsella & Associates, an educational research, professional development, and consultancy firm dedicated to multilingual learner achievement. Her 30-year career focus has been equipping students from diverse economic and linguistic backgrounds with the advanced language and literacy skills to be truly high school and college ready.

Dr. Kinsella is the author of many professional publications and research-validated programs to support multilingual learners and striving readers, including READ 180 Universal, English 3D, Language Launch, and Academic Vocabulary Toolkit. She has served as the lead scholar and pedagogy guide on three recent U.S. Department of Education funded research initiatives to improve educational outcomes for K-12 English learners. She has served since 2020 as a lead investigator for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights on English learner equitable access to services, curriculum, and quality instruction. In Spring 2023, she will launch the first professional book in a series published by Corwin entitled Scholarly Interactions: Tools and Techniques to Engage Academic English Learners

Juliana Urtubey, NBCT has used her platform as 2021 National Teacher of the Year to advocate for a “joyous and just” education for all students, one that is inclusive and celebratory of all students’ identities, families and communities. A bilingual, first-generation immigrant, Juliana has worked throughout her teaching career to serve as a mirror for her school community, helping students to be proud of their identities and families, and to acknowledge their strengths and contributions to the community.

While teaching in Las Vegas, students gave her the nickname “Ms. Earth” for her efforts to beautify schools and unify the community through murals and gardens. With great pride, Juliana has coined the term “linguistically gifted” to honor the incredible linguistic gifts her students and their families contribute to our school communities. One of her greatest accomplishments is teaching linguistically gifted students to be confident readers, writers, and mathematicians who also care deeply about the wellness of their communities.

Juliana is a National Board Certified Teacher and holds a bachelor’s degree in bilingual elementary education and a master’s degree in special bilingual education from the University of Arizona. In September 2022, President Biden appointed Ms. Urtubey to the President's Advisory Commission on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics. She is a National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Board of Directors member and Teacher Fellow. Ms. Urtubey has been featured on the cover of People Magazine representing educators as the 2021 People of Year and on Telemundo’s 2022 Hispanic Heritage Celebration.

Since being announced as National Teacher of the Year in May 2021, Juliana has shared her “joyous and just” message with thousands of pre-service teachers, educators, and policymakers across the country – including at the White House and Harvard University– and through U.S. and international media, including Good Morning America, the TODAY Show, Univision, Telemundo, and Colombia’s El Pais, El Espectador, and RCN Noticias.

Juliana (HOO-lee-on-a ER-two-bay) lives in Arizona. She enjoys reading in Spanish and traveling, and has had the opportunity to teach in Ecuador, Mexico, Spain and Puerto Rico. She also enjoys tending to her collection of house plants and spending time outdoors, and she aims to visit all the National Parks.