2026 IABE Conference Keynote Speakers

Thursday Keynote – Sarah Dollah-Said, Founding Director, Language & Equity Programs

Sarah Dollah-Said brings the kind of keynote presence that is equal parts grounding and catalytic, the yes, we can do this spark paired with a clear, practical path forward. With extensive professional experience as an educator, instructional leader, and advocate for multilingual learners, Sarah has spent years working alongside teachers, schools, and districts to strengthen culturally sustaining practices and equitable systems for students and families.

Her work is rooted in real classrooms and real communities, blending powerful storytelling with concrete strategies educators can apply immediately. Expect a keynote that affirms the heart of our work, challenges us to think more deeply about language, identity, and belonging, and sends us forward with renewed purpose, clarity, and actionable next steps for our classrooms and school communities.

Policy Fellow, Teach Plus, Breathe For Change, Assistant Principal, Curriculum Developer, Educational Contributor (EL Education, Open Up Resources, English Learner Portal, Confianza)

Pamela Broussard is a multilingual educator and advocate who unpacks empowering strategies to enhance student engagement while building student independence and confidence.

Drawing from her work with Leading ELLs, Pamela shares practical insights that promote collaboration, resource-sharing, and hands-on learning among educators. She exemplifies a strong commitment to inclusion and encourages both new and experienced teachers to diversify instructional resources and approaches to better support multilingual learners.

Pamela’s work comes from years of classwork as she offers actionable strategies educators can immediately bring back to their classrooms.

Award-winning speaker, Consultant, Trainer. Teacher of the Year,  HEB Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient,  Specialist: Newcomers, SLIFE, Multilingual students.

2025 IABE Conference Keynote Speakers

Francisco Jiménez emigrated with his family to California from Tlaquepaque, Mexico, and as a child, he worked in the fields of California. He is currently the Fay Boyle Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures and served as Director of the Ethnic Studies Department at Santa Clara University from 2000 to 2005. Having received his B.A. from SCU and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Latin American literature from Columbia University under a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, he has served on various professional boards and commissions, including the California Council for the Humanities, Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (WASC), the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Santa Clara University Board of Trustees and the Far West Lab for Educational Research and Development. He has published and edited several books on Mexican and Mexican American literature, and his stories have been published in over 100 textbooks and anthologies of literature.

Adrian Mendoza began his journey in education teaching English learners (adults and children) in Monterrey, Mexico, more than 12 years ago, where he discovered his passion for education. When he moved to Texas to teach 5th Grade in a bilingual classroom, he understood the importance of the language and the culture to inspire students to become contributing members of our society.

Adrian previously worked as an Instructional Math Coach in San Marcos CISD, and has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Texas State University. His commitment has led him to innovate in education, and his present action research project is about the importance of building mathematical growth mindset communities.

Adrian has provided Professional Development to educators for over 5 years in Bilingual Education, Math, Science, Technology, and Student Engagement, working with teachers and parents in the United States, Mexico, and Costa Rica.

2023 IABE Conference Keynote Speaker

Newcomers, Pre-Literate Secondary Students, Long-Term English Learners

Educators will explore interactive and engaging learning strategies which maximize English Language Development as students learn academic content. There is a distinctive thread woven throughout Dr. Salva’s sessions of a growth mindset belief that with effort and targeted strategies, all English Learners are able to accelerate their learning despite challenges they may have faced.

* Practical classroom strategies for supporting older English learners who are newcomers, both those who are pre-literate as well as for those multilingual learners who are literate in their primary or multiple languages

* Strategies, techniques and scaffolds for raising up and propelling learning for long term English learners (LTELs)

* An opportunity for an online spring book study