2013 Hilos Summer Institute

Institute Staff

Herman Martínez, Ph.D., & Patricia Martínez, M.A. Herman and Patricia Martínez of Alamosa, CO, have each enjoyed forty year professional careers working with students and families at all levels of education in their native San Luis Valley; both are Adams State University Alumni. Their involvement in the cultural and performing arts has expanded their participation in the development of creative avenues for youth, particularly in Mexican Folk Music and Dance. Founders of the Guadalupe Dancers in Pueblo, CO, and El Grupo Folklórico - Semillas de la Tierra at Adams State University in Alamosa, CO in the early 1970’s; they have seen both groups continue to realize long-lasting success. Co-founders of ANGF (Asociación Nacional de Grupos Folklóricos), Herman and Patricia helped create Conferences/Festivals for students to experience instruction in Mexican Folk Dance and Music Traditions, and cultural exchange opportunities at an international level with faculty and instructors from Universities and Cultural Arts Centers throughout Mexico and the United States. Their involvement with Hilos Culturales for the past 12 years has centered on showcasing the community folk music and dance traditions of the last 400 years, unique to the Upper Río Grande region of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado. Through collaborations, Herman and Patricia have developed initiatives generating opportunities to recognize and appreciate the mosaic of Indio/Hispano cultural heritage through workshops, lectures, exhibits, conferences and performances.

Sarah Manzanares, a native of the San Luis Valley, has over 29 years of experience in the classroom, teaching at the Elementary through University levels. Her classroom experience includes teaching in rural school districts with high populations of students living in poverty. Sarah is fluent in English and Spanish. She taught at Centennial Elementary School for 13 years, as well as in a Dual Language School for 10 years in the Boulder Valley of Colorado. In addition to her classroom experience, Sarah worked as a school psychologist for six years in the rural San Luis Valley in Colorado. As an adjunct professor at Adams State University, Sarah has taught in the Graduate School of Education with a focus on programs geared to meet the needs of second language learners. Her experience in educational consulting includes work with teachers and administrators, incorporating effective instructional strategies and educational equity in classrooms with high numbers of second language learners across the state and nation. Sarah has worked with teachers to provide classroom strategies in sheltered instruction in order to make content more accessible and comprehensible to all students. As an independent educational consultant, Sarah has led professional development and academic coaching programs in Colorado districts at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. Sarah has a BA and an MA in Elementary Education, Secondary Education and Spanish as well as post graduate work in Educational Psychology. Her studies in her doctoral program at DU have provided Sarah with a strong background in psycho-educational assessment and a good understanding of Special Education issues. Sarah has a passion for diverse, equitable, multicultural and multilingual educational opportunities for all students K-12 and beyond.

Lillian Gomez, Title V Grant Director, is a native of the San Luis Valley. Born, raised and educated in the San Luis Valley, she understands the strengths and challenges that Latino students bring to higher education. Lillian holds a B.A., M.A., Reading. Endorsement, ESL/Bilingual Endorsement. Lillian has extensive experience in education, beginning her career as a teacher in the Alamosa School District. During her tenure with the Alamosa Schools she assisted the Title VII Desegregation Director in the implementation of the Alamosa Desegregation Plan. Her experience in education also includes: ESL instructor, Title VII Desegregation Parent Liaison, classroom teacher, reading instructor, math instructor, National Coalition for Equity in Education (NCEE) Core Staff/Consultant, consultant to the Colorado Department of Education Language Acquisition and Assessment Units, Director of Bilingual Education/Federal Programs, and District Director of Bilingual/Multicultural with the Alamosa School District. At Adams State University, Lillian began as a Visiting Assistant Instructor. Her experience at ASU also includes: Director of the Teacher Quality Enhancement Grant, and Director of the CCHE Improving Teacher Quality Grant. Ms. Gomez is currently the Title V Director that administers the implementation of 3.4 million dollar grant that has been awarded to Adams State University in 2010. The Title V grant is focused on meeting the academic need of students that have lack of access and opportunity in higher education. Lillian has a great passion and commitment to the education of all students. Her advocacy for diversity and equity in education for students who have, historically, faced barriers in having their academic needs met, have been the principal driving force in her professional career.

Anna Torello, Project Specialist with Title V at Adams State University, holds a BS degree in Business/Administration and Accounting and BA/Management Information Systems. Among her many strengths, Anna balances change and continuity while encouraging creative thinking. She is focused and persistent in her completion of projects and goals and has extensive experience in customer service. Anna is able to design and implement strategies which support team members’ potential and ethical standards. Her computer skills include an excellent working knowledge of Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, QuickBooks, Lacerate, Go-Systems, Radixx, Apollo, and Sabre. Some of her current responsibilities include a number of grant administrative functions such as planning, organizing, budget management and management of professional development events. She operates the campus-wide accounting system, Banner, and is trained in FERPA student rights and privacy acts federal policy. Anna has participated in and provided support to the ASU CELT Working Group in promoting equity.