The Mid-State Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBERN) at OCM BOCES

Mid- State RBERN, funded by the New York State Education Department's Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL), is dedicated to enhancing instructional practices and educational outcomes for English Language Learners (ELLs) and Multilingual Learners (MLs) across the Central New York region.Working in close partnership with the New York State Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL), we offer no-cost professional learning, technical assistance, on-site consultation, and resources tailored to the diverse needs of our districts and schools.We aim to create equitable educational opportunities that promote academic excellence for all culturally and linguistically diverse students.
As part of New York State’s network of eight RBERNs, we collaborate to deliver a coordinated system of high-quality resources, training, and information dissemination across the state. This collective work aims to strengthen educators, families', and communities' skills, knowledge, and competencies in supporting ELL academic success. Our core services encompass multiple areas critical to ELL education, including student identification and placement, quality program implementation, leadership in ELL education, researched-based instruction, assessment, staff qualifications, parental engagement, and the coordination of resources and support services.
The Mid-State RBERN service area includes 126 school districts within the BOCES regions of Broome-Tioga, Cayuga-Onondaga, Jefferson-Lewis, Madison-Oneida, Oneida-Herkimer-Madison, Onondaga-Cortland-Madison, Oswego, Tompkins-Seneca-Tioga, and the Greater Southern Tier. We serve public, charter, and nonpublic schools identified by OBEWL as requiring additional assistance to meet federal ESSA benchmarks to assess and enhance student performance and school effectiveness. Our mission aligns with New York State’s commitment to elevating all students to meet high standards. Through our commitment, we strive to increase ELL and ML student performance, reduce dropout rates, and raise graduation rates, ultimately ensuring ELLs and MLs thrive in inclusive, academically enriching environments.
Dr. Sabrina Nudo

Executive Director and Coordinator

Dr. Sabrina Nudo

Dr. Sabrina Nudo is an educator with over 30 years of experience in education.

She began her career as a Spanish teacher and later taught and served in leadership roles in a K–12 dual language school in Rochester, NY. She earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership: Program Evaluation from the University of Rochester and also teaches as a summer adjunct at SUNY Brockport.

Sabrina currently leads the Mid-State RBERN Team in providing professional development, technical assistance, and collaborating with educators and district leaders who support programs for English Language Learners and Multilingual Learners.

Collette Farone-Goodwin

Resource Specialist

Collette Farone-Goodwin

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.

Office Manager / Typist II

Jeni Fields

Jeni brings years of experience across education and research fields, with an academic background in Social Sciences and a Master’s degree in Human Resources(HR) from the University of Scranton. She has extensive experience in the retail industry, where her work has been closely tied to HR functions and people-focused strategies. Curious and globally minded, Jeni enjoys traveling and discovering new cultures in her free time.

NEW - Yasmeen Coaxum

RBERNING Questions Podcast Host

Yasmeen Coaxum

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.

Resource Specialist

Kimi Sisskind

Kimi is a dedicated educator with 20 years of experience supporting English Language Learners (ELLs) and Multilingual Learners (MLs). Her work has centered on serving diverse student populations, including newcomers, refugees, and Students with Interrupted Formal Education (SIFE), with a strong commitment to equity and access in education.

For 12 years, Kimi taught secondary ENL students in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), where she served as a Department Chair, leading program development and supporting fellow educators in delivering effective, culturally responsive instruction. She also coordinated a Newcomers Program, designed and implemented systems to support students’ academic, linguistic, and social-emotional transition into U.S. schools.

In addition to her classroom and leadership roles, Kimi contributed to FCPS’ ESOL Instructional Services for eight years, where she developed English Language Development (ELD) curriculum aligned with researched-based practices, Virginia State Standards, and WIDA language proficiency standards.

Throughout her career, Kimi has focused on creating inclusive, student-centered learning environments, advancing language development, and equipping educators with the tools to support multilingual learners at all stages of their academic journey.