Interview with Sandra Vargas, 2026 President of NYS TESOL
Back to BlogInterview with Sandra Vargas, 2026 President of NYS TESOL
02/27/2026
by Katie Leven and Dr. Sandra Vargas
Katie:
Today I’m sitting down with our 2026 President of NYS TESOL, Sandra Vargas! We have gotten to know each other through NYS TESOL’s Annual Conference and I was lucky enough to previously interview her on my podcast episode1 on Performance Level Descriptors. I wanted to take this opportunity to get to know her even better and her motivations for becoming the president of this prestigious association. Thank you for joining me in the hopes of better understanding your work and aspirations as the 2026 President of NYS TESOL.
Sandra:
Thank you Katie for putting this blog piece together and for your support to our prestigious association.
To our members, it is an honor and privilege to serve as your president and collaborate with such wonderful educators.
Katie:
And it’s my great honor to get to chat with you today! You have been such a welcoming and encouraging person at NYS TESOL from my first conference! What inspired you to join NYS TESOL and eventually step into a leadership role?
Sandra:
I have always been inspired to collaborate with like minded educators. My doctoral mentor, Dr. Matilde Garcia- Arroyo was an instrumental piece in inspiring me to join NYS TESOL. As a former president of PR TESOL herself, she always instilled in me that as a researcher I had the responsibility of contributing to the field by actively being involved in professional associations that would bridge research, practice and collaboration. Through her examples, I learned to see that professional service is a meaningful way not only to build community, but to share knowledge and most importantly, to advocate for Language Learners.
Stepping into a leadership role was not an easy decision, I was actually nudged by our past president Dr. Christine Seebach who believed in my passion for the students and families I serve. This leadership role comes with a lot of responsibility and dedication. As a passionate advocate of language learners, I saw this role as an opportunity to continue collaborating, strengthening our professional community, and advocating for language learners and the teachers who are at the forefront each and every day.
Katie:
Speaking of the journey that brought you to this point, how did you develop the vision guides your work as president?
Sandra:
The vision that guides my work as president is near and dear to my heart. My vision is deeply rooted in collaboration, recognizing that meaningful and sustainable progress emerges from shared experiences and collective effort. I have done research on the influence of collaboration on ELL academic success, so I would love to continue strengthening collaboration among educators, administrators, and community members to further support our language learners.
If you would like to read more about my research2, feel free to access the link in the footnotes or send me a personal email and I will email you a copy.
Katie:
Wow! What an important goal! I’m sure that ties in with what you hope to achieve during your presidency! What do you see as your short-term and long-term goals?
Sandra:
During my presidency, some short term goals are to provide as many opportunities as possible for educators to engage in professional learning webinars, and increase our association’s social media visibility. A long term goal is to continue encouraging and strengthening collaboration among members statewide to create sustainable partnerships. With sustainable partnerships, I hope we can continue increasing membership for this prestigious association.
Katie:
That’s wonderful! How do you define NYS TESOL’s role in supporting teachers and multilingual learners?
Sandra:
As per the New York State Education Department Blueprint forEnglish Language Learner/Multilingual Learner Success (2014), “All teachers are teachers of English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners”. Therefore, NYS TESOL's role in supporting teachers is to continue its collaboration and disseminate knowledge to “ALL” teachers across “ALL” contents. By strengthening our collaborative and advocacy efforts we are building shared responsibility resulting in the success of our students. Within NYS TESOL’s role, we will continue to elevate our vision to advocate, advance, and enrich TESOL education and professionalism statewide.
Katie:
What educational principles or values guide your decisions as a leader?
Sandra:
The educational principles and values that guide my decisions as a leader are deeply rooted in integrity, equity and collaboration. I am a firm believer in Vygotsky's (1978) Social Learning Theory which is grounded in how people learn from one another in social contexts within the social environment.
Katie:
That makes a lot of sense leading an organization that brings so many together for the benefit of multilingual learners! How do you believe NYS TESOL should advocate for multilingual learners statewide?
Sandra:
NYS TESOL should continue to advocate for MLLs statewide by maintaining abreast of current research, practices and policies that shape education. We should continue to advocate for educational equity by sharing knowledge and demonstrating our commitment to language access. It is essential for NYS TESOL members to be included in decision-making spaces, where their expertise and lived classroom experiences can contribute to shaping educational policy and practice.
Katie:
What role should all educators (not just ENL teachers) play in supporting ELLs?
Sandra:
I have spoken much about “shared responsibility”. Supporting ELLs and MLLs is a shared responsibility among all educators, families, administrators and stakeholders. I see collaboration as an opportunity to collectively address language access, and position our learners to thrive in academically rich language environments.
Katie:
Yes! All learners succeed when they are in supportive academically rich language environments. How have recent shifts in education influenced your leadership priorities?
Sandra:
Recent shifts in education have reiterated the fact that we must be ahead of the game with current research and actionable next steps. In a world that is changing every second, as a leader, my priority is to always lead with compassion, integrity and commitment.
Katie:
What changes do you believe are most important for our field in the next few years?
Sandra:
I believe there needs to be ample opportunities for language access. This can be addressed by creating additional programs to support ELLs/MLLs. Furthermore, teacher preparation programs need to be restructured to provide rigorous coursework and practical experiences to support all aspiring teachers with the necessary skills to support linguistically and culturally-diverse learners.
Katie:
I can see a benefit to including the rich history that has made our country what it is! What legacy do you hope to leave as president of NYS TESOL?
Sandra:
As president of NYS TESOL, I hope to leave a legacy of collaborative and sustained leadership where teacher voices are heard, and where meaningful access and success for ELLs/MLLs are elevated across New York State and beyond!
Katie:
Sandra, thank you so much for sharing your journey, your vision, and the passion that drives your leadership. It has been truly inspiring to learn more about the purpose behind your work and the future you envision for NYS TESOL.
Sandra:
Thank you, Katie. It has been a joy to reflect on this journey with you. I am grateful for your thoughtful questions and for the meaningful work you continue to contribute to our association. NYS TESOL thrives because of dedicated educators like you—and like all our members—who believe in the power of collaboration, advocacy, and community.
To everyone reading, thank you for your ongoing commitment to multilingual learners and to the advancement of our field. I am honored to serve as your 2026 president, and I look forward to continuing this important work together. Let us continue to uplift one another, share knowledge generously, and create the transformative learning environments our students deserve. I hope to see you all out at our Annual Conference this year at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge on Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st. Our theme is: Many Hands, One Purpose: Partnering for Multilingual Learner Success.
Katie:
Thank you, Sandra. We are so excited to see all that you will accomplish this year, culminating in that special conference And to our readers—I hope you stay connected, stay inspired, and stay engaged with NYS TESOL as we continue learning, and advocating for educators and multilingual learners across New York State.
Footnotes:
1. Episode 29 (17 minutes) of the Intentional TESOL podcast was entitled “Performance Level Descriptions with Dr. Sandra Vargas” It is available to listen through Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/29-performance-level-descriptions-with-dr-sandra-vargas/id1690665520?i=1000648895120 and Spotify at https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/katie-leven/episodes/29--Performance-Level-Descriptions-with-Dr--Sandra-Vargas-e2gtp3m/a-ab2cinp
2. Dr. Vargas-Ortega’s research can be accessed: https://www.proquest.com/openview/f903544ed0b00f676d997c0b80432e22/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
by Katie Leven and Dr. Sandra Vargas
Katie:
Today I’m sitting down with our 2026 President of NYS TESOL, Sandra Vargas! We have gotten to know each other through NYS TESOL’s Annual Conference and I was lucky enough to previously interview her on my podcast episode1 on Performance Level Descriptors. I wanted to take this opportunity to get to know her even better and her motivations for becoming the president of this prestigious association. Thank you for joining me in the hopes of better understanding your work and aspirations as the 2026 President of NYS TESOL.
Sandra:
Thank you Katie for putting this blog piece together and for your support to our prestigious association.
To our members, it is an honor and privilege to serve as your president and collaborate with such wonderful educators.
Katie:
And it’s my great honor to get to chat with you today! You have been such a welcoming and encouraging person at NYS TESOL from my first conference! What inspired you to join NYS TESOL and eventually step into a leadership role?
Sandra:
I have always been inspired to collaborate with like minded educators. My doctoral mentor, Dr. Matilde Garcia- Arroyo was an instrumental piece in inspiring me to join NYS TESOL. As a former president of PR TESOL herself, she always instilled in me that as a researcher I had the responsibility of contributing to the field by actively being involved in professional associations that would bridge research, practice and collaboration. Through her examples, I learned to see that professional service is a meaningful way not only to build community, but to share knowledge and most importantly, to advocate for Language Learners.
Stepping into a leadership role was not an easy decision, I was actually nudged by our past president Dr. Christine Seebach who believed in my passion for the students and families I serve. This leadership role comes with a lot of responsibility and dedication. As a passionate advocate of language learners, I saw this role as an opportunity to continue collaborating, strengthening our professional community, and advocating for language learners and the teachers who are at the forefront each and every day.
Katie:
Speaking of the journey that brought you to this point, how did you develop the vision guides your work as president?
Sandra:
The vision that guides my work as president is near and dear to my heart. My vision is deeply rooted in collaboration, recognizing that meaningful and sustainable progress emerges from shared experiences and collective effort. I have done research on the influence of collaboration on ELL academic success, so I would love to continue strengthening collaboration among educators, administrators, and community members to further support our language learners.
If you would like to read more about my research2, feel free to access the link in the footnotes or send me a personal email and I will email you a copy.
Katie:
Wow! What an important goal! I’m sure that ties in with what you hope to achieve during your presidency! What do you see as your short-term and long-term goals?
Sandra:
During my presidency, some short term goals are to provide as many opportunities as possible for educators to engage in professional learning webinars, and increase our association’s social media visibility. A long term goal is to continue encouraging and strengthening collaboration among members statewide to create sustainable partnerships. With sustainable partnerships, I hope we can continue increasing membership for this prestigious association.
Katie:
That’s wonderful! How do you define NYS TESOL’s role in supporting teachers and multilingual learners?
Sandra:
As per the New York State Education Department Blueprint forEnglish Language Learner/Multilingual Learner Success (2014), “All teachers are teachers of English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners”. Therefore, NYS TESOL's role in supporting teachers is to continue its collaboration and disseminate knowledge to “ALL” teachers across “ALL” contents. By strengthening our collaborative and advocacy efforts we are building shared responsibility resulting in the success of our students. Within NYS TESOL’s role, we will continue to elevate our vision to advocate, advance, and enrich TESOL education and professionalism statewide.
Katie:
What educational principles or values guide your decisions as a leader?
Sandra:
The educational principles and values that guide my decisions as a leader are deeply rooted in integrity, equity and collaboration. I am a firm believer in Vygotsky's (1978) Social Learning Theory which is grounded in how people learn from one another in social contexts within the social environment.
Katie:
That makes a lot of sense leading an organization that brings so many together for the benefit of multilingual learners! How do you believe NYS TESOL should advocate for multilingual learners statewide?
Sandra:
NYS TESOL should continue to advocate for MLLs statewide by maintaining abreast of current research, practices and policies that shape education. We should continue to advocate for educational equity by sharing knowledge and demonstrating our commitment to language access. It is essential for NYS TESOL members to be included in decision-making spaces, where their expertise and lived classroom experiences can contribute to shaping educational policy and practice.
Katie:
What role should all educators (not just ENL teachers) play in supporting ELLs?
Sandra:
I have spoken much about “shared responsibility”. Supporting ELLs and MLLs is a shared responsibility among all educators, families, administrators and stakeholders. I see collaboration as an opportunity to collectively address language access, and position our learners to thrive in academically rich language environments.
Katie:
Yes! All learners succeed when they are in supportive academically rich language environments. How have recent shifts in education influenced your leadership priorities?
Sandra:
Recent shifts in education have reiterated the fact that we must be ahead of the game with current research and actionable next steps. In a world that is changing every second, as a leader, my priority is to always lead with compassion, integrity and commitment.
Katie:
What changes do you believe are most important for our field in the next few years?
Sandra:
I believe there needs to be ample opportunities for language access. This can be addressed by creating additional programs to support ELLs/MLLs. Furthermore, teacher preparation programs need to be restructured to provide rigorous coursework and practical experiences to support all aspiring teachers with the necessary skills to support linguistically and culturally-diverse learners.
Katie:
I can see a benefit to including the rich history that has made our country what it is! What legacy do you hope to leave as president of NYS TESOL?
Sandra:
As president of NYS TESOL, I hope to leave a legacy of collaborative and sustained leadership where teacher voices are heard, and where meaningful access and success for ELLs/MLLs are elevated across New York State and beyond!
Katie:
Sandra, thank you so much for sharing your journey, your vision, and the passion that drives your leadership. It has been truly inspiring to learn more about the purpose behind your work and the future you envision for NYS TESOL.
Sandra:
Thank you, Katie. It has been a joy to reflect on this journey with you. I am grateful for your thoughtful questions and for the meaningful work you continue to contribute to our association. NYS TESOL thrives because of dedicated educators like you—and like all our members—who believe in the power of collaboration, advocacy, and community.
To everyone reading, thank you for your ongoing commitment to multilingual learners and to the advancement of our field. I am honored to serve as your 2026 president, and I look forward to continuing this important work together. Let us continue to uplift one another, share knowledge generously, and create the transformative learning environments our students deserve. I hope to see you all out at our Annual Conference this year at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge on Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st. Our theme is: Many Hands, One Purpose: Partnering for Multilingual Learner Success.
Katie:
Thank you, Sandra. We are so excited to see all that you will accomplish this year, culminating in that special conference And to our readers—I hope you stay connected, stay inspired, and stay engaged with NYS TESOL as we continue learning, and advocating for educators and multilingual learners across New York State.
Footnotes:
1. Episode 29 (17 minutes) of the Intentional TESOL podcast was entitled “Performance Level Descriptions with Dr. Sandra Vargas” It is available to listen through Apple Podcasts at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/29-performance-level-descriptions-with-dr-sandra-vargas/id1690665520?i=1000648895120 and Spotify at https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/katie-leven/episodes/29--Performance-Level-Descriptions-with-Dr--Sandra-Vargas-e2gtp3m/a-ab2cinp
2. Dr. Vargas-Ortega’s research can be accessed: https://www.proquest.com/openview/f903544ed0b00f676d997c0b80432e22/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750&diss=y
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