Leadership

President

I am from Mcallen, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley. I attended Texas A&M University in College Station where I received my undergraduate degree. I received my masters degree from Sam Houston University. I began my teaching career in Aldine in 2002. In 2006 I moved into the Bilingual Skills Specialist position and later in 2008 I moved into the Assistant Principal position here at Carter Academy.

President Elect

Vice President

Rosa is an Aldine ISD bilingual teacher with six years of experience working with prekindergarten students. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Brownsville, and a year later received her teaching certificate through an alternative certification program. Rosa was awarded the 2010-2011 SHABE teacher of the year, and was a finalist of TABE teacher of the year. She is currently a member of the leadership team on her campus and vice-president of SHABE. She believes that a solid education is essential to a successful life. Therefore, she strives to prepare students characterized by excellence and good character in both languages: English and Spanish. Eventually, she would like to become a Speech Pathologist.

Secretary

Xiomara Lopez is currently serving her fourth term as secretary for SHABE. This is her eighth year in education. She is currently working as the counselor at Major Elementary in Spring ISD. She obtained a BA in Psychology from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. After graduation, she decided to get her teaching certificate and become a teacher. She recently obtained her Master’s in Education with an emphasis in counseling. She looks forward to spending another year serving the students in Spring ISD.

Treasurer

Currently serving as the Treasurer, Gracie Guerrero has been involved with the Suburban Houston Association for Bilingual Education (SHABE) during the past eight years. She has served the organization as Vice President, President Elect, President, and Past President.

Gracie Guerrero has been an educator for eighteen years in the Aldine Independent School District. With the original intent of becoming an attorney, she graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science. Her path to teaching started in Region IV as an ACP candidate. The desire to impact students at a broader level led her to Sam Houston State University to pursue a Masters degree in School Administration. She taught Bilingual/ESL students in grades PK-6th before becoming an assistant principal. She served as an elementary school principal for four years before assuming her current position as Director of Multilingual Services in Aldine ISD.

The product of the Bilingual/ESL program, she understands the need for explicit and systematic instruction as well as the development of meaningful relationships with students. In addition to overseeing the Bilingual and ESL program that serves over 20,000 English Language Learners, Mrs. Guerrero coordinates the Homegrown scholarship program, collaborates with human resources in the recruitment of Bilingual/ESL teachers, and supports district initiatives to reduce the drop out rate. Her long-term goal is to work with parents, secondary schools, and students to strengthen the college readiness culture in her district.

Historian

Parliamentarian

Luis Lucio is the current parliamentarian of SHABE. He has experienced Bilingual Education first hand through his grade school education within the Aldine Independent School District. Through his understanding of the needs for linguistically diverse learners, he has become an advocate for their success. He believes and fights for bilingual education because he, as a student and teacher, has experienced the challenges to learn a second language and benefits of being fluent in two languages. Luis returned to his home district of Aldine after graduating from Sam Houston State University with a bachelor’s degree in Bilingual Education. Luis began his teaching career in Aldine ISD as a third grade bilingual teacher. He has since held various positions such as 4th grade teacher, 3rd and 4th grade skills specialist, and parent facilitator at the High School level. Luis returned to Sam Houston State to receive his master’s degree in Educational Leadership, facilitating his current position as Program Director for Bilingual/ESL Education at the district level in Aldine.

Past-President

Steve Guerrero was the SHABE President for the 2010-2011 term and has been involved with the organization as an active member and as Aldine ISD representative. He started his career in Aldine ISD as a bilingual teacher and is currently the Dean of Students at Scarborough High School in HISD.

Steve invites all educators at all levels to visit any of the varied events that SHABE holds throughout the year, like our SHABE Welcome Back Breakfast to see what the organization is all about. He believes SHABE is a great way to network professionally, get meaningful professional development, and to serve as an advocate for bilingual/ESL education.

District Representative

Yolanda J. Martinez serves as SHABE District Representative for Aldine ISD. She graduated with Bachelor degree in Bilingual Education from the University of Houston-Downtown following with a Masters in Educational Administration from Sam Houston State University. Yolanda began her career in 2006 as a Bilingual Paraprofessional at Dunn Elementary AISD. She is presently a Bilingual Pre-K Teacher at Norma Garcia-Leza EC/PK Center, and has participated as a Response to Intervention Teacher at Conley Elementary for grades K – 4th. Yolanda entrusts that through SHABE she will develop a broader network in her community to become a better advocate for Bilingual Educators and as a result be of better service to the children and colleagues of the suburban Houston area.

District Representative

Juan Santos serves as SHABE District Representative for Aldine ISD. He graduated with Bachelor degree in Bilingual Education from the University of Houston-Downtown following with a Masters in Educational Administration from University of Saint Thomas. Juan began his career in 2003 as a Bilingual Paraprofessional at Patterson Elementary in Houston ISD. He is presently a Assistant Principal at Orange Grove Elementary. Juan is a proud product of Bilingual Education.

District Representative

Founder

Diana García Marion graduated from Stephen F. Austin State University with a B.A. in Elementary Education and Spanish in 1970. Her first teaching position was fourth grade at Oakwilde Elementary (now known as Worsham Elementary) in the Aldine ISD. Concerned about reading difficulties that her students encountered, she pursued a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Houston. After five years in Aldine, she accepted a position as an instructor at Stephen F. Austin University while working to design a new bilingual education certification program for the Education Department. After one year, she returned to Houston to pursue her teaching career and start the bilingual program in the Cypress-Fairbanks I.S.D. She remained in Cy-Fair for thirty-six years, serving as the first bilingual teacher and first bilingual/ESL Coordinator in the district. She retired in January 2011.

Diana García Marion has been an advocate for bilingual students, teachers and parents.Her greatest claim to fame is having given birth to a bilingual teacher (her daughter Michelle) and having taught six first grade students who later became bilingual teachers. Her love for the students that she taught is evident in the warm connections she maintains with her ex-students and parents.

Realizing that the teachers needed to be organized as a strong unit, she helped found the HAABE organization for the greater Houston metropolitan area and then founded the break-away SHABE organization to serve the needs of teachers in the outlying suburban areas of Houston. Her dedication to bilingual education is recognized annually by SHABE through the presentation of the “Diana García Marion Citizenship Award.”