WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 28, 2022) – Dr. Joseì Medina, founder and chief educational advocate for Dr. Joseì Medina: Educational Solutions, will join the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) for its March online networking event– Linking Latina Leaders (L3). The free event held exclusively for ALAS members starts at 5:30 p.m. EST on March 1, 2022, and addresses the theme “The Importance of Sociocultural Competence in Serving Diverse Student Communities.” To register, visit https://bit.ly/L3Session. To become a member of ALAS and participate in this event, visit www.alasedu.org/membership.

“It is important for educators to affirm, embrace, elevate, and empower learners that come from various countries and who speak different languages, such as our Hispanic/Latino youth. Providing professional learning in this area will help educators make a significant difference in the lives of these students,” said ALAS Executive Director Dr. Maria Armstrong. “Dr. Medina has gained unique insight into this issue during his career in education and is supporting these goals in his consultancy work. We’re looking forward to having him join us on March 1 to share his expertise.”

Dr. José Medina is the founder and Chief Educational Advocate for Dr. José Medina: Educational Solutions. Prior to establishing the boutique consulting firm, Dr. Medina served as Research Scientist and Director of Global Languages and Culture at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) in Washington, DC. He has provided technical assistance, professional development, and job-embedded support to schools and districts across the United States and globally. He is also a former school principal and district leader who has served as an administrator/educator/advocate at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Dr. Medina is a co-author of the third edition and widely-used Guiding Principles for Dual Language Education. He is also the author of three bilingual poetry books.

The Linking Latina Leaders event will be co-facilitated by Patricia Trejo, administrative program planner for Hispanic/Latino studies at the School District of Palm Beach County in Florida, and Dr. Patricia Ordoìnez-Feliciano, Director of Administration and Compliance for the Department of School Transformation in the same district.

Linking Latina Leaders is one of several networking opportunities ALAS offers free to its members. It also hosts a major education conference in the fall, as well as vodcasts discussing issues in education, and other professional development opportunities throughout the year. For more information about ALAS, visit https://www.alasedu.org/.

About the Association of Latino Administrators & Superintendents (ALAS)

The Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents [ALAS] is committed to providing a perspective to all aspiring school and district administrators including superintendents through programs, services, advocacy, and networks rooted in Latino experiences and culture. ALAS has nearly 8,000 members across 18 state affiliates with several more states soon to be a part of the ALAS Familia. Our Vision, Mission, and Goals are to provide leadership at the national level that assures every school in America effectively serves the educational needs of all students with an emphasis on Latino and other historically marginalized youth through continuous professional learning, policy advocacy, and networking to share practices of promise for our students and the communities where we serve.

By the year 2026, Latino children will make up 30 percent of the school-age population. In the nation’s largest states – California, Texas, Florida, and New York- all of whom are ALAS State Affiliates– Latinos already have reached that level. It is of vital interest to invest in the education of every child, and the professional learning of all educators who serve Latino youth.