Our Team
Emily Bivins, Ed.D.
Co-founder, Emily Bivins, is the former principal at Frank Porter Graham Bilingüe, an elementary dual language (English-Spanish) school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She has been a principal for fifteen years in dual language schools. She has previously been a central office administrator and primary teacher in several rural and suburban areas of North Carolina. She holds a BA in from Wake Forest University, a masters from Elon University and UNC-Chapel Hill and a doctorate from UNC-Chapel Hill. She has contributed to several books and is an active blogger about dual language leadership. She has led and served on several AdvancedEd review teams to support quality school initiatives.
She believes that quality dual language schools can and will demonstrate that the achievement gap can be closed in the United States. Since there is little support in many districts for dual language and programs are often isolated, she wants to collaborate and network with other programs to demonstrate the success of dual language.
She is married with three children, all of whom have attended the dual language schools she led. She enjoys reading, boating and being outdoors.
She believes in education being the equalizer in our society. Every learner deserves to have the highest quality experience for learning. In her PreK-12 public school experience, she has been a teacher, a school administrator and a central office administrator. She has coached teachers and administrators, analyzed data, engaged stakeholders and provided leadership for the school improvement planning process. She has written and evaluated various standards based curricula, with particular attention to second language learners. Her experience with professional development and evaluation covers a wide range of topics from standards and content, assessment, social emotional learning and research based instructional strategies. She has also had experience teaching online and blended learning at the collegiate level with a specialist in bilingual education and equity.
Guest expert educator, Mery Suárez, has been an educator since 2000. After receiving her Bachelor’s in Modern Languages from Incca University in Colombia, she worked as a K-12 bilingual teacher in several schools. She simultaneously worked as a professor at Javeriana University in Bogota while she acquired a Specialization in Applied Linguistics from La Gran Colombia University.
In 2008, she moved to Chapel Hill, NC where she began her journey in Dual Language as a first grade teacher. She was fortunate to be enrolled in the Dual U program where she learned how to best support her biliterate, bilingual, and multicultural students. After she obtained her Master’s Degree in TESOL from Greensboro College in 2011, she accepted a role as a bilingual interventionist. In 2013, she returned to Colombia in order to learn about the International Baccalaureate Inquiry Program while working at the English School for two years. In 2015, she returned to the CHCCS district and became an instructional coach for dual language teachers. Currently, she is working as a senior team lead at Valverde Elementary School where she uses her knowledge about biliteracy and effective instruction for language learners to teach her 4th grade students and support other teachers in the district.
Jillian La Serna, Ed.D.
Co-founder, Jillian La Serna, is an educator and researcher whose specialty is dual language education and social justice in K-12 schools. Her professional experience includes working as an elementary teacher in California, a first grade dual language teacher in San Diego, an English teacher in Peru, a bilingual reading interventionist in North Carolina, a dual language school principal, and an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has 13 years of experience in dual language education and research.
Originally from California, La Serna earned a BA in Liberal Studies and an Elementary Teaching Credential with a Cross-cultural, Language, and Academic Development Certificate from California State University, Sacramento She later earned her Masters of School Administration and Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from UNC-Chapel Hill. Her research centers on culturally relevant teaching practices in dual language classrooms and anti-racist school leadership.
Having learned Spanish at a late age, La Serna understands the value of building bilingualism, biliteracy, and cross-cultural appreciation at a young age. From being a dual language principal and finding support in self-created DL leadership, cross-district, PLC groups, La Serna understands the need for DL leadership support, collaboration, and mentorship. With Contigo Ed., she is most looking forward to working with principals and district leaders.
La Serna enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, both who have grown up in a bilingual home and attended dual language programs. She loves reading, camping, and movies.