LAD23 Leading with Multilingual Mission:
Perspectives from Superintendents Across the Nation
Dr. Tony Sinanis (NECTFL) | Session 1
Superintendent, Schools of Herricks Public Schools, NY
Dr. Tony Sinanis is currently the Superintendent of Schools of Herricks Public Schools. Previously, Dr. Sinanis served as an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Assistant Superintendent for HR and building principal. Additionally, Dr. Sinanis received the 2014 New York State Elementary Principal of the Year Award. Dr. Sinanis has presented at both national and local conferences. He is also a published author, who has co-written three books, including the Amazon bestseller, Hacking Leadership. Tony’s proudest accomplishment is being Paul’s dad!
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John Boyd (PNCFL) | Session 1
Superintendent, Evergreen Public Schools, WA
Superintendent John Boyd is a passionate equity centered leader who serves as the Evergreen Public Schools superintendent. During his nearly 30-year career in education, he gained experience in teaching, instruction, multilingual education, and educational leadership.
Superintendent Boyd, who is fluent in Spanish, started his career as a bilingual paraeducator, taught English as a Second Language, and served as a principal at a Newcomer Center serving immigrant and refugee students. As principal at Chief Sealth International High School, he led the school to designations as an International Baccalaureate and International school. During his tenure, Chief Sealth became the physical home of the Confucius Institute of the State of Washington. In his time as superintendent in Quincy, a smaller rural district, he increased graduation rates, co-led a race and equity coalition, and implemented culturally-appropriate supports for multilingual learners and families.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, with a Business Emphasis, from the University of Montana, where he was a four-year member of the men's basketball team; a Master of Education from Western Washington University; an Administrative Licensure from Heritage University; and a Superintendent Licensure from Washington State University.
Superintendent Boyd and his wife, Annie Stewart, reside in Vancouver, WA.
Michael Matsuda (SWCOLT) | Session 1
Superintendent, Anaheim Union High School District, CA
Michael Matsuda is a nationally recognized 21st century educational leader known for innovation, entrepreneurship, and compassion. Since becoming superintendent in 2014, Mr. Matsuda has earned several accolades, including: one of twelve national “Leaders to Learn From” Award from Education Week Magazine, the “Visionary Education Leadership Award” from Cal State University, Fullerton, the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Administrator of the Year Award, and an honorary “Doctor of the University” from Chapman University. As an innovator, Mr. Matsuda has developed the AIME (Anaheim Innovative Mentoring Experience) program to create mentorships for over 15,000 high school students.
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Thomas W. Taylor, Ed.D., MBA (SCOLT) | Session 2
Superintendent, Stafford County Public Schools, VA
Dr. Thomas W. Taylor is Superintendent of Stafford County Public Schools, where he oversees 33 schools in Virginia’s eighth largest school district, serving more than 31,000 students and more than 4,300 full time employees. Stafford County Public Schools is a high-performing, majority-minority school district, where nearly half of the students participate in the federal free lunch program. Dr. Taylor is a Washington, D.C. native and has served as a social studies teacher, coach, and administrator in several Virginia school districts over the last 20+ years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Wesleyan University, a Master's in Educational Leadership and a Doctorate in PK-12 Education Policy from the University of Virginia, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the College of William & Mary. Dr. Taylor is an award-winning teacher, scholar, leader, and sought after speaker. He and his wife, Sue, are the proud parents of five children.
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Dr. Sandra Arreguín (CSCTFL) | Session 2
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Niles Township High School District 219, IL
Sandra Arreguín is a passionate educator with 20 years of teaching and leadership experiences. She started her career as a French and Spanish high school teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. Her educational leadership roles include world languages chair, high school bilingual/ESL/world languages specialist, high school assistant principal, and middle school principal.
As a Latine, multilingual, biliterate and bicultural educational leader, Sandra is dedicated to disrupting systemic inequities through humanization and liberation. This includes promoting multilingualism to honor students’ linguistic capital.
Sandra currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Niles Township High School District 219.
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Cheri Burke (NECTFL) | Session 2
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, CT
Cheri Burke is a passionate educator with more than 25 years of teaching
and leadership experience in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Currently,
she serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction
for Glastonbury Public Schools in Connecticut. Cheri has worked as a
classroom teacher, International Baccalaureate coordinator, literacy
consultant and elementary school principal. She has also served as an
adjunct professor at Saint Joseph University in West Hartford, CT to
support pre-service teachers.
Her work is always student centered with equity, diversity and inclusion practices at the forefront of her curriculum decisions. Cheri’s greatest joy is watching her four children play ice-hockey and spending time with a great book.
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