All directors and
members of the CATESOL Education Foundation hope to foster its mission
by wisely and prudently determining ways to assist English Learners in
their education, and by helping teachers and the general public
understand more clearly the situation that English Learners find
themselves in: they have many positive points including fluency in
more than one language and skills in negotiating between cultures.
These and other skills and attitudes should be fostered in their
development to become bilingual, biliterate and multicultural members
of our society. It is our mission to help them integrate into American
society and benefit not only themselves but society as a whole.
Dan Fichtner, President, has been involved in CATESOL since the
early 1980s and has served on the Board as Secondary Chair and
President. He has also worked state and local conferences, serving on
various committees. He is continuing to fulfill his campaign promise
of starting an Educational Foundation to help provide educational
opportunities to teachers of English Learners and to inform the
general public about their strengths and needs.
G. Vittoria Abbate-Maghsoudi, Secretary, has dedicated over 35
years to the fields of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages
(TESOL) and Intercultural Education. During these years she has taught
and administered ESL/EFL and intercultural training programs in both
the private and public sectors. A member of TESOL and CATESOL since
1975, Vittoria most recently served as CATESOL Adult Level Chair in
2007-2008 prior to joining the CATESOL Education Foundation Board of
Directors in 2008.
Don Sillings, Treasurer, Don has served as Treasurer for one
year. Don also serves as the Treasurer for CATESOL and has previously
served as the Treasurer for the Orange County Chapter of CATESOL. He
has been a member of CATESOL since 1999. He brings close to 20 years
of experience in the accounting field, most of which was spent in a
foundation setting. He has been expertly managing the financial
operations of the Foundation and has been looking for ways to help
increase donations.
Barbara Ishida, Vice President, has taught ELD for many years
in both California and Japan. She is currently a high school ELD/English
teacher in Modesto City Schools and has also worked as a site and
district English Learner Coordinator. She has been active in CATESOL
for the past eight years since the formation of the Yosemite Chapter
in her hometown by serving on the committee/board in various
capacities to organize chapter events. Her current position on the
CATESOL Board is Secondary Level Chair.
Karen Dennis, Director at Large, has actively served as
President of this Foundation for its first two years, and on the
CATESOL Board as President, Community College Level Chair,
Co-coordinator of the Pre Conference Institutes, and Treasurer of the
LA Regional Conference.
Belinda Braunstein, Liaison to CATESOL, currently is the
President of CATESOL. She has also served on the CATESOL Board as IEP
Level Chair, Chapter Council Chair, and as a Chapter Coordinator. Her
guidance is helping the 2010 state conference meet its goal of
providing ESL teachers opportunities which further their professional
expertise and promote appreciation of diverse linguistic and cultural
backgrounds, becoming more aware of the issues in the education of
English Learners.
