The ELAR/SLAR team is vibrant, exciting and professional.  Find out more about each of them below!  New profiles being added regularly. 

Amy Avina

Amy is currently a Doctoral Candidate at Abilene Christian University.  Her Masters and Bachelors's degree in Education are both from the University of Texas at El Paso.  Amy taught Pre-K Dual Language at La Fe Preparatory School and has been at the Service Center for 11 years.  She holds a teaching certificate as an EC-4^th Generalist with an ESL endorsement. Amy states that the best part of education is, "getting the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of students, because these students are our future.  I feel blessed to be able to help teachers the way Region 19 helped me when I was in the classroom. I love helping teachers be the best educators they can be."  Amy would love to be a part of an Early Childhood Department focused on cognitively challenging curriculum and the incorporation of dual language.  During her spare time, Amy enjoys being with her loving family and participating in church activities.

Favorite Quotes:

• “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” Mother Teresa of Calcutta
•  “Education is the most powerful tool you can use to change the world.” Nelson Mandela
• “Teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning.”

Maria Casas

Linda Caudillo

Linda received her BA in American Literature and MA in Rhetoric and Writing studies, both from the University of Texas at El Paso.  A huge factor in her decision to join education was the love and passion her parents held for the American school system, to the point of leaving their home town in Chihuahua, Mexico to give their four children the opportunity to study in the states.  In 2005, Fabens ISD gave Linda her first shot at teaching.  She taught there for 13 years citing the beautiful scenic drive and amazing community.  During her time there, she taught Junior and Sophomore English.  She also spent time as the GT Coordinator, class sponsor, and credit recovery monitor.  Her special skill is, "telling people I love to garden.  I really am extremely good at killing plants."  She spends her summers at home with her two daughters and husband watching bad TV and reading anything involving Edgar Allan Poe or Kurt Vonnegut.  Her vision for her future includes publishing her yet to be finished book on rhetoric.  

Favorite Quotes:

• "Your education is one of the few things no one can take from you." Ricardo Ramirez (her father)
• "I became insane, with long intervals of horrible sanity." EAP
• "Lack of understanding requires education; resistance requires a rhetor to pull out all the oratical stops." Sharon Crowley Toward a Civil Discourse

Cynthia Martinez

L

Silvia Zacarias

Silvia Zacarias has been an educator for over 17 years.  Her educational experience includes being a Bilingual Generalist EC-4th grade teacher at a Bilingual campus, Instructional Specialist at a Dual Language campus, National and International Educational Presenter, and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas at El Paso. Silvia has also participated as a Texas Resource Review Instructional Materials Quality Designer with the Texas Education Agency. Silvia was also a TEKS Resource System Curriculum Writer and Reviewer for the latest Kindergarten ELAR/SLAR TEKS. She is currently a Biliteracy Cohort Leader for the Texas Reading Academies under House Bill 3. Silvia is fluent in English and Spanish and is currently a PhD student with the New Mexico State University. Currently, Silvia works at the Education Service Center Region 19 as a Professional Development Consultant in Early Childhood and an Adjunct Professor at New Mexico State University.