Over a 30-year span, Dr. Cruz has established a distinguished career as a teacher and education leader. Since joining Questar III in 1998, Cruz has served in a number of leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer / Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of School Improvement and BETAC Specialist. She began her career as a teacher in Puerto Rico and her education experience ranges from K-12 schools to universities in New York State and Puerto Rico. Cruz holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and a master’s degree in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology from the State University of New York at Albany. In addition, she holds a master’s degree in Bilingual Education and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and English from La Universidad del Turabo in Puerto Rico.

Ms. Meredith Rivet is a passionate and purpose-driven educational leader and coach with the NYSED OSE MTSS-I Center. With over 23 years of experience in K–12 education, she has served as a classroom teacher, reading academic intervention specialist, teacher leader, district support and school administrator in rural, suburban, and urban schools. Meredith is dedicated to building inclusive, responsive systems where every student can thrive. She brings a proven record of driving instructional excellence, leading cross-district initiatives, and creating sustainable frameworks that improve outcomes. Known for her visionary leadership, data-informed decision-making, and commitment to culturally responsive practices, Meredith deeply believes in the power of strong teams and the limitless potential of every learner. She looks forward to collaborating with school communities to strengthen outcomes for administrators, teachers, students, and families across New York State.

Ms. Díaz is a multicultural native Spanish speaker who grew up with immigrant parents, giving her a deep appreciation for language, culture, and diversity. She earned her first B.A. in Communications from Marist College and is currently pursuing her second B.A. in Spanish, with a concentration in Hispanic Literature and Culture at SUNY Albany.  Although new to the field of education, she brings years of experience in hands-on training, mentor–mentee programs, and teamwork dynamics. She is passionate about using her background and skills to support English Language Learners (ELLs) and Multilingual Learners (MLLs), while also engaging with their families. She looks forward to fostering connections, promoting bilingualism, and celebrating the cultural richness of her community.

Kelly Aldinger (she/her) is a Resource Specialist for the Capital District’s Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (RBERN) and a TESOL adjunct professor at Siena University, where she prepares pre- and in-service teachers pursuing ESOL certification through a systemic functional linguistics lens and a content-based language instruction approach. Previously, Kelly served as an English as a New Language educator across rural, suburban, and urban settings and has contributed to dual language and transitional bilingual programs, including inclusive special education settings. Kelly holds a Master’s degree in TESOL from Clarkson University and a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Linguistics from the University at Buffalo. Kelly is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Education in School Building and District Leadership at Hunter College, a program centered on collaborative leadership that builds collective capacity to improve and sustain outcomes for historically marginalized students, particularly multilingual learners, through a structured literacy and language-focused lens. A dedicated advocate for multilingual learners, Kelly’s mission is to build collective capacity among educators and school systems to create more inclusive and responsive environments.