Tanya Rosado-Barringer
Executive Director and Coordinator
Tanya Rosado-Barringer has been serving school communities for 18 years and is the Executive Director of the Mid-State Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network at OCM BOCES, supporting 126 districts and nine BOCES.
In this role, she provides technical assistance, professional learning, and strategic planning to strengthen academic programs for culturally and linguistically diverse students.
Tanya holds a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Hofstra University, an M.S. in TESOL Education from Lehman College, and an M.S. in Educational Leadership from Bank Street College. She is pursuing her Doctorate in Executive Leadership at LeMoyne College.
Tanya’s contributions extend beyond her current role, having served on various educational boards and task groups, including the NYSED Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages Content Advisory Panel.
She has been recognized as NYS TESOL Member of the Month and received the 2020 Senator Paul Simon New York State Friend of Foreign Language award from NYSAFLT.
Collette Farone-Goodwin
Resource Specialist
With 25 years of experience supporting English Language Learners (ELLs) and Multilingual Learners (MLs), she has a strong educational background in linguistics, world languages, and elementary education.
She has taught across K-12, college, and adult education, and is dually certified in ESOL, birth-2nd grade, and grades 1-6.
Recently completing a certificate of advanced studies in educational leadership for school building and district administration, her expertise includes the ELL identification process, NYSITELL/NYSESLAT administration and scoring, academic and linguistic demands, technical assistance, and organizing events like the Symposium on Emergent Multilingual Learners in Early Childhood and the PRHYLI celebration.
Dr. Sabrina Nudo
Resource Specialist
Dr. Sabrina Nudo is the newest addition to the Mid-State RBERN team, serving as a Resource Specialist at OCM BOCES.
She has been an influential educator since 1990, working across urban, suburban, and rural schools. She began as a middle and high school Spanish teacher, later teaching in a K-12 dual language program and transitioning to elementary education.
Sabrina's passion for language and learning led her to earn a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Rochester, and she has held leadership roles such as Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, Bilingual Coordinator, and Academic Director. Now an adjunct professor at SUNY Brockport, her dedication to supporting English Language Learners and Multilingual Learners remains central to her work.
Valéria Felizardo
Administrative Support
Valéria Felizardo brings 30 years of experience in administration, with a background in Human Resources in Brazil.
She holds a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education and a master’s in Human Resources Administration and Management. Currently, as Office Manager/Typist II at Mid-State RBERN, Valéria plays a key role in ensuring the efficient operation of the office, providing essential support to enhance overall productivity.
Yasmeen Coaxum
RBERNING Questions Podcast Host
Yasmeen Coaxum is an Adjunct Associate at Columbia University's American Language Program.
She holds an MA in Applied Linguistics and Language Acquisition from the University of Barcelona. Yasmeen’s background in radio and television production, consumer marketing, and event coordination in New York City brings a wealth of business experience to the language-learning field.
With over 15 years of teaching experience, she specializes in English for Academic Purposes and Business English, having taught in diverse settings across Japan, Turkey, Germany, Spain, and the United States.
Yasmeen is a regular conference presenter, including at Columbia’s ALP Winter Conference, the NYS TESOL Applied Linguistics Winter Conference, the JALT CALL Conference in Japan, and TESOL International. She recently served on the Executive Board of NYS TESOL as Vice President Conference-Elect, where she organized a statewide conference for TESOL professionals.
Her research interests include computer-assisted language learning (CALL), mobile-assisted language learning (MALL), vocabulary acquisition, and pedagogical grammar. Currently, she is focused on leveraging instructional technology, particularly through podcasting and video creation, to enhance student motivation and accelerate English language proficiency.
Karimah Adib
Community Engagement Specialist
Karimah is an alumna of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PRHYLI) and a committed advocate for community change.
Holding a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, she is passionate about ensuring equitable access to essential resources for all. Karimah brings experience from her work with the Cornell STEP college readiness program and her involvement in non profit initiatives with Hopeprint in Syracuse.
In her current role as Community Engagement Specialist, she inspires student growth by encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones through debate and public speaking. Outside of work, Karimah enjoys reading, lifting weights, and expressing her creativity through singing and songwriting.
ENL and World Language Council
The ENL and World Language (WL) Council plays a pivotal role as an advisory and instructional powerhouse, driving key initiatives that champion Bilingual Education, ENL, and World Language programs within the Mid-State RBERN region.
With a special focus on promoting the prestigious New York State Seal of Biliteracy, this council—comprised of educators and leaders from various roles—brings invaluable expertise to the table. Their collective efforts strengthen and expand Mid-State RBERN’s reach across 126 districts and 9 BOCES, ensuring innovative strategies and best practices make a lasting impact on schools across the region.
ENL COUNCIL
Deborah Wilson-Allam
Frankfort-Schuyler School District
ENL Teacher - High School
Deborah Wilson-Allam is an ENL teacher at Frankfort-Schuyler High School in Herkimer County.
Originally from Oneida, Deborah earned her BA in international relations from Bucknell University and her MA in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) from the American University in Cairo.
She first taught K-12 ENL in Cairo, Egypt, and then in Wisconsin and New York before becoming the coordinator of OCM BOCES’ Bilingual Education Technical Assistance Center (BETAC), the forerunner to today’s RBERN, in 2001.
Later, Deborah became an administrator in the Utica City School District, overseeing UPK, magnet schools, student services, and ENL services. In 2014, Deborah moved into the field of international education at Utica University, responsible for incoming international students, outgoing study abroad students, and faculty-led international programs. She also taught pre-service teaching courses in TESOL methodology.
She has one grown daughter and lives in New Hartford with her husband and three cats.
Katie Knapp
ENL Instructional Coach
Liverpool Central School District
Katie Knapp began her career in the Syracuse City School District, working with English Language Learners (ELLs) in grades 6-12.
She then transitioned to the K-6 level in the Liverpool Central School District, where she spent nine years, followed by a few years at Liverpool High School.
For the past two years, Katie has served as an ENL Instructional Coach for the district. Additionally, she has had the privilege of being a member of the ENL Council since its inception.
Samara Romo
Binghamton City School District
Collaborative Coach
Samara has served an educator in many states and settings, from teaching little ones and middle school, to now as an instructional collaborative coach.
She is a former ELL with a passion that lies in working with ELLs and their families, advocating for their needs and helping them adjust to their new surroundings. Samara is a mom to two awesome kids and she loves to dance!
Janet Staub
Syracuse City School District
ESL Facilitator for West Side Learning Center
Janet is an educator with 19 years of experience in the ENL field.
She has worked as a classroom ENL teacher, Language Assessor, Refugee Academic Coach, and is currently the ESL Facilitator for Adult Education at West Side Learning Center.
She is passionate about serving multilingual students and their families. Outside of the classroom, she is a mom to two amazing daughters, and she loves to travel and cook.
Dr. Susanna Cook
North Syracuse Central School District
ENL Teacher
Dr. Cook has taught ENL in the North Syracuse Central School District for fifteen years.
Prior to that, she taught middle school Spanish and fifth grade in Albany City School District’s Dual Language Program, as well as high school / college-level courses at Weedsport.
Working with multilingual learners and their families is Dr. Cook’s passion. There is something very, very special and unique about the connections made. Dr. Cook believes these connections are often at their most essential when newcomer families come into our district.
She relates, “For me, home visits are a great way to build relationships and get to know my new students and their households. Through home visits, I can determine if there are any acute needs in the home. It’s immensely rewarding to help families get connected to needed resources so that they can really take agency over their new lives in our community.”
WORLD LANGUAGE COUNCIL
Amie Dubos
Spanish Teacher
Tully JR/SR High School
Amie is a dedicated Spanish teacher with 18 years of experience, currently teaching at Tully Jr/Sr High School.
She has been a member of the World Language Council since its inception and serves as the department chair, mentoring new teachers and advising the International Club and Spanish National Honor Society.
Now in her second year as the Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator for Tully, she is committed to promoting language proficiency and cultural appreciation.
Outside of school, she enjoys spending summers camping and traveling with her husband and two sons. She is passionate about creating a classroom environment where students feel safe to take risks, make mistakes, and grow through their learning experiences.
Amanda Silva
Cincinnatus Central School District
French Teacher
Amanda holds both a BA and MA in French Education from SUNY Cortland.
She leads the local French Club, serves on the Teacher Center Policy Board, and acts as the district’s mentor teacher, supporting new educators in their professional growth. An active member of LECNY and NYSAFLT, Amanda is passionate about world language instruction and enjoys collaborating with colleagues to enhance language learning experiences.
Jessica Killian
Jordan-Elbridge Central School District
Spanish Teacher 9-12
Jessica discovered a passion for adolescent education during a semester abroad in Heredia, Costa Rica, where she volunteered at a high school administering English-speaking exams.
Following this experience, she began teaching grades K-6 at a Catholic elementary school near SUNY Geneseo, where she was a student. Over the years, her career has taken her to various locations across New York State, ultimately settling in Marcellus with her husband.
With over 15 years of experience teaching Spanish to students from kindergarten through high school, Killian’s favorite age group remains high school students.
She continues to deepen her knowledge of the Spanish language and the rich diversity of cultures it represents, inspiring her students to open their minds to the wider world.