Dr. Eliezer Hernández is a servant leader whose work is grounded in faith, justice, and the empowerment of historically marginalized communities. Born in Puerto Rico and raised in the South Bronx, he has dedicated his career to creating spaces where Black and Brown communities thrive. Guided by his commitment to God and community, he views leadership as a calling—one anchored in empathy, service, and an unwavering pursuit of equity.

Dr. Hernández began his professional journey as a Spanish teacher in the Auburn Enlarged City School District and went on to serve as a school board member for 15 years. His leadership path includes roles as Administrative Intern, Vice Principal, and Principal, and he notably served as the founding principal of a bilingual school in the Syracuse City School District.

His academic achievements include a bachelor’s degree in music, a master’s in education, and a doctorate in Executive Leadership. With more than 25 years of experience in education and community advocacy, he has served in a wide range of roles—from classroom teacher to district leader—consistently championing social justice and educational equity. His mission centers on equipping and uplifting leaders who are committed to transformative change.

Beyond his work in education, Dr. Hernández is an active civic leader. He serves as President of the Auburn Cayuga County NAACP, sits on the boards of the National Math Foundation and AADUNA, Inc., and previously served as President of the Auburn Enlarged City School District Board of Education. He is also President of the New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE) and a member of the Governor’s Central New York Hate & Bias Prevention Unit Regional Council.

As Founder and CEO of Authentic LeaderShift, LLC, Dr. Hernández brings together his educational expertise and faith-driven leadership to inspire personal and organizational transformation. A certified and licensed Maxwell Leadership Team Member, Facilitator, Speaker, Coach, Trainer, and DISC Behavioral Consultant, he provides tools and strategies that empower leaders to act with authenticity, intentionality, and purpose across nonprofit, educational, and civic sectors.

At the core of Dr. Hernández’s life is his devotion to faith, family, and service. Whether in the classroom, the boardroom, or the community, he remains committed to his calling: to lead with love, serve with humility, and inspire others to do the same.

Dr. Shirley J. Vargas brings extensive leadership experience to NYSABE as a former Delegate-at-Large and current member of the Board of Directors, where she is now serving her second term as Secretary. She is an educator, community leader, and proud wife and mother of four. She has dedicated over 20 years of her career to serving multilingual students and has held various roles in the learning community.

As Chairperson of the Department of World Languages at Westbury High School, she has been instrumental in delivering a Bilingual Program that is embedded in the school culture and established the SIFE and Home Language Arts program for English Language Learners to build strong literacy skills which transcends into other disciplines.

Her recent advocacy efforts include the development of extracurricular programs designed to empower Spanish-dominant students by enhancing their communication and public-speaking skills in their native language. Additionally, she serves as the NYS Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator for her district and as a Grant Advisor for the Nassau Community College Science and Technology Entry Program (NCC-STEP).

She proudly serves as a dedicated advocate for bilingual and multilingual education at both the secondary and higher education levels. As an extension to public school education, she serves as a member of the Executive Board for The Dream Foundation, a non-profit committed to providing scholarships and access to higher education or career pathways to immigrant students. Ms. Vargas’ extensive experience encompasses professional development and instructional practices in second language study, English Language Learners, bilingual education, and college-level language and media studies.

Dr. Vargas firmly believes that advocating for all language learners offers boundless opportunities to transform education. She is committed to being a voice for the needs of students, educators, and communities alike.

Lyda Ragonese is an educational leader and a passionate advocate for multilingual and multicultural education. She currently serves as the Supervising Director for the Department of English as a New Language, World Languages, and Bilingual Education in the Syracuse City School District. A proud Hmong-American from Laos and a fluent Hmong speaker, Lyda brings a powerful cultural and linguistic perspective to her leadership.

Lyda began her career in 1993 as an ENL teacher at Franklin Elementary and later at Frazer K–8 School. Since then, she has remained deeply committed to advancing equity and academic excellence for multilingual learners. She holds a TESOL certification from Le Moyne College, a master’s degree in Reading Education, and a Certificate of Advanced Studies (C.A.S.) in Educational Leadership from Syracuse University.

In her current role, Lyda has played a pivotal part in expanding and strengthening bilingual education programs districtwide. She has led the development of dual language pathways, designed culturally responsive curricula, and was instrumental in establishing the district’s New York State Seal of Biliteracy program. Her efforts have created opportunities for K–12 multilingual learners to continue studying and celebrating their native languages. She is also actively working to enhance the district’s Native American education program and to support multilingual learners’ access to—and success in—Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.

A former treasurer of the Syracuse Teachers Association, Lyda has been an advocate for educators as well as students, contributing to policy development and championing professional excellence. Her career is defined by an unwavering commitment to linguistic diversity, educational equity, and the empowerment of every learner.

Analy Cruz-Phommany serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for the Schenectady City School District, bringing nearly two decades of experience championing inclusive, high-quality instruction for multilingual learners and students with disabilities. She previously served as the Executive Director of Bilingual Education and World Languages for the Rochester City School District.

During her time in Rochester, Analy led the expansion of dual language and bilingual programs, developed data dashboards for multilingual learners, and built professional learning systems centered on inclusive, standards-based instruction. She strengthened access to interpretation and translation services, redesigned MTSS processes to better meet language acquisition needs, and advanced language-rich instructional practices grounded in culturally responsive and visible learning approaches. She also collaborated to increase multilingual learners’ access to Career and Technical Education.

Analy’s leadership is marked by her commitment to equity, collaboration, and honoring students’ cultural and linguistic identities. She has worked extensively with diverse stakeholders to create comprehensive language plans, develop responsive curriculum and assessment practices, and expand opportunities for multilingual learners across K–12.

She holds master’s degrees in educational leadership and TESOL, a bachelor’s degree in Childhood Education, and New York State certifications in School District and Building Leadership, Bilingual Education, TESOL, Childhood Education, and Early Childhood Education. She is also an alumna of the Cambiar Catalyst Fellowship, TNTP’s Village Systems Leader Cohort, and SUNY Cortland’s CURE Program. Analy remains actively engaged in statewide professional networks, including NYSABE, the NYS ELL Council, NYSALAS, and the Greater Rochester Latinx Roundtable.

Grounded in her own experience as a former multilingual learner, Analy believes lasting change is achieved through shared purpose and a commitment to ensuring every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to reach their fullest potential.

James Nieves Bermúdez grew up in Hatillo, Puerto Rico, and discovered his passion for teaching while still in high school. After graduating in 1996, he attended the University of Puerto Rico’s School of Education, majoring in Spanish. During his junior year, he participated in the prestigious Cordova Internship in Washington, D.C., working in the Office of the Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico and covering congressional hearings on education. He returned to Puerto Rico to complete his degree, earning the Medal of Excellence in Student Teaching before graduating in May 2002.

Shortly after, James interviewed with the Syracuse City School District and began his teaching career at George W. Fowler High School (now PLSA at Fowler). He taught all levels of Spanish, including Spanish for Spanish Speakers and Distance Learning courses. In 2009, he earned a master’s degree in Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture from Syracuse University. Throughout his teaching career, he served in numerous leadership roles, including department chair, building union representative, secretary of the Syracuse Teachers Association, and Coordinator of the Twilight Academy. He also served on the New York State Commissioner of Education’s Teacher Advisory Council. In 2013, James received the Educator of the Year Award from Nosotros Radio in Syracuse, NY.

James went on to complete a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership at SUNY Oswego. In 2014, he became Vice Principal of Westside Academy at Blodgett (now STEM at Blodgett), and in July 2018, he was appointed Principal of Seymour Dual Language Academy, where he continues to serve.

Mr. Nieves was President of the New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE) in 2023 and remains an active member of the NYSABE Executive Board.