Advisory Members

Nilda M. Aguirre, Ed.S., NABE

Currently the Executive Director for the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE), Nilda has a distinguished career as an educator, having served as a classroom teacher, administrator, and consultant. She has developed innovative curriculum embedded with best practices for ELs and strategies for Gifted and Talented ELs. Nilda is currently the executive director of the National Association for Bilingual Education. Prior to her work with NABE, Ms. Aguirre was the National Director for Project GOTCHA©, a Title VII, Academic Excellence Program awarded by the United States Department of Education for Gifted and Talented English Learners. She has designed and implemented professional development programs for school systems in the US, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, and Spain. Nilda has also authored numerous publications, including curriculum guides for various state education agencies, newspaper and magazine articles, and several book chapters. 

David Rogers, DLeNM

David Rogers supports the work of Dual Language Education of New Mexico-DLeNM whose mission is to promote the effective design and implementation of dual language education in New Mexico, and beyond.  A founding member of DLeNM, David is a respected national leader in the dual language community who works with regional and national partners.

David has been serving the bilingual community as an educator for over thirty-seven  years.  In 1996 David and his colleagues helped to organize the first La Cosecha Dual Language Conference, which is hosted by DLeNM, where David served from 1999 until 2022 as its first Executive Director.  

David is an advocate for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and has provided leadership support for advocacy groups like Transform Education New Mexico and NM Hispanic Education Advisory Council, and NCEL.  David has been recognized for his contributions by being honored with several awards – la Orden de Isabel la Católica, from the King of Spain (2013), Promoting Bilingualism award from the Association for Two-Way, Dual Language Education (2014), the Earl Nunn Recognition (2017) from the New Mexico Coalition for Educational Leadership and most recently the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce President’s award (2022). 

David is husband to dual language educator Rosie González-Rogers, and together they have four bilingual/multicultural daughters and call Albuquerque, New Mexico their home. 

Dr. Deborah Short, Academic Language Research & Training

Dr. Deborah Short founded Academic Language Research & Training, LLC, and provides professional development on SIOP, content-based English, and academic literacy worldwide. She co-developed the SIOP Model, directed research and evaluation studies regarding multilingual learners and their programs, and is a consultant to the US Dept. of Justice, Civil Rights Division. Publications include SIOP Model books for Pearson, The 6 Principles books for TESOL, and textbooks (Lift, Inside, Edge) for National Geographic Learning. She taught English in New York, California, Virginia, and DR Congo. She was TESOL International President for 2020-2021 and serves as an advisor to NAELPA and to Bridges to Academic Success. 

Dr. Julie Sugarman,
Migration Policy Institute

Julie Sugarman is Associate Director for K-12 Education Research at the Migration Policy Institute’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy. Her areas of interest include policies that support effective instructional programs for English Learners, school funding, federal education policy, and helping stakeholders understand key education policy issues. Previously, Dr. Sugarman was a senior research associate at the Center for Applied Linguistics specializing in dual language education and program evaluation. She earned her Ph.D. in second language education and culture from the University of Maryland, College Park.