Dr. Araceli Ibarra Roman, principal of Valley Vista Elementary School, and Monica Caballero Licona, teacher at Harborside Elementary School, were recognized at the San Diego County Office of Education’s Leadership in Biliteracy Symposium on Friday, May 1, for their leadership in biliteracy.

Dr. Ibarra Roman is guided by the core principles of dual language education and has enhanced the program’s structure at Valley Vista to ensure that all language learners excel in literacy across both program languages. Under her leadership, Valley Vista achieved the highest growth in CAASPP ELA scores in the district last year. Beyond her work at school, Dr. Ibarra Roman contributes to the district’s Biliteracy Committee, where she continues to advance opportunities for multilingual learners throughout the district.

Ms. Licona is a 4th grade teacher at Harborside Elementary School and brings language and learning to life for her students. She taps into her native language to create an engaging and purposeful learning environment. Ms. Licona’s passion for students learning other languages is at the heart of her teaching philosophy, and this shapes her classroom environment and her advocacy for language learning at a broader level. Ms. Licona serves on the district’s Biliteracy Committee and advocates for biliteracy programs and instructional best practices.

Congratulations to Dr. Ibarra Roman and Ms. Licona for being this year's Chula Vista Elementary School District’s honorees!