LEADERSHIP
Meet the Director and the
NSE/NPE Leadership Council
Claudia Kechkian
AATSP Exams Director
Claudia Kechkian brings over thirty years of experience teaching in world language classrooms at all levels of education both in Argentina and the United States. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Alcalá (Spain) and is currently finalizing her doctoral research in Applied Linguistics, with a focus on the use of authentic materials, social media, and artificial intelligence in language learning. She also holds a B.A. in ESL from the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina and is a published author in the field of Medical Spanish.
Claudia has been serving the AATSP for over fifteen years. Moreover, she has actively contributed to the National Spanish Exam (NSE) as an exam writer and in scholarship selection committees as an NSCLC member. Additionally, she served as President of the AATSP-TX Brazos Chapter, where she focused on expanding chapter membership, facilitating professional development workshops, and supporting teachers with NSE administration. Under her leadership, the chapter received the 2023 Chapter of the Year Award and was named 2023 Best Chapter Website Finalist.
In addition to her role as AATSP Exams Director, Claudia collaborates with universities on professional development initiatives, and is the founder of Virtuolingua Consulting, where she provides world language consulting services to institutions, individuals, and companies.
Claudia Alfaro
Claudia is a passionate and dedicated bilingual educator with over 27 years of experience teaching in both Mexico and the United States. Highly skilled in creating inclusive, engaging, and culturally responsive learning environments. Certified in ESOL by the University of Cambridge and known for building strong, meaningful relationships with students, families, and school communities. She is especially enthusiastic about guiding upper-level students through advanced language learning while supporting their personal growth. She firmly believes that language opens doors—not only to communication, but also to understanding, empathy, and opportunity.
Claudia was named 2024 Spanish Teacher of the Year by the AATSP Kentucky Chapter. Her students have consistently excelled at the World Language Student Expo at the University of Kentucky, earning awards in multiple categories.
She is the founder of “Todos Somos Colegas,” a Catholic Spanish teachers’ collaborative created to connect educators, share resources, and enrich World Language instruction. She also serves as a voice contributor for the National Spanish Challenge through AATSP.
Margarita De León Viera
Margarita is a National Board Certified Spanish educator at West Career & Technical Academy in Las Vegas. A native of Gurabo, Puerto Rico, she brings extensive experience teaching Spanish at the high school level, including AP Spanish Language and Literature, and is committed to advancing linguistic proficiency and cultural understanding.
She holds a Master’s degree from Universidad Ana G. Méndez and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. She has served as an AP Reader for three years. Margarita was named Nevada’s World Language Teacher of the Year in 2023.
In addition to teaching, Margarita advises the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, Capítulo el Coquí and the National Hispanic Institute Club, serves as President of the Professional Language Association of Nevada (PLAN), and actively contributes to the promotion of Spanish language and culture through conference presentations and professional leadership.
Marilia Amat-Baralt
NSE/NPE LC
A native of São Paulo, Brazil, Marilia is a dedicated educator specializing in Spanish and Portuguese. With extensive experience in teaching Spanish language and literature at both the college and high school levels, she is committed to fostering a love for language in her students.
Marilia holds a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Universidade de São Paulo. She has over ten years of experience teaching AP Spanish Language and Literature and has served as an AP reader for the past five years.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Marilia sponsors the Spanish Honor Society and is an active board member of AATSP-TX Brazos, contributing to the promotion of Spanish language and culture within her Community.
Alondra Pacheco
NSE Writer & NSE LC
Alondra is a Spanish teacher at University School in Cleveland, Ohio. In 2018, she established her school’s chapter of Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica. A graduate of the University of Delaware, Ms. Pacheco serves as president of Ohio’s AATSP Chapter. She is also a National Geographic Certified Educator and has participated in the Youth Ambassador’s program as an Adult Educator.
Andrea Nazelli
NSE Writer & NSE LC
Andrea has 20+ years of teaching experience. She has taught K-12 as well as at the University level. Currently, she teaches 8th grade at a private school in the Metro Detroit area. She loves being creative in the classroom and looks forward to serving on the Leadership Council!
Rosa Bell
NSE LC & AATSP 2025 Past President
Rosa is Spanish teacher on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Bell has been awarded as Teacher of the year, Excellent in Teaching by the Hawaii Association of Language Teachers (2021). Rosa Bell is also the Hawaii State Director of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica (2021). Recently, Mrs. Bell created the virtual Professional Learning Community (PLC) Culture and Diversity group on FB, with her “cafecitos culturales.” Cafecitos Culturales are weekly episodes that Bell hosts to encourage teachers to incorporate culture in their language classes. As an educational consultant, Bell provides professional development courses for World Language educators.
OUR COMITTEES
Meet the
Writers’ Team
Brandon Fitzsimmons
NSE Writer
Brandon teaches Spanish to 7th and 8th graders at Sycamore School, an independent school for gifted youth in Indianapolis, Indiana. He also teaches Medical Spanish courses as an adjunct at nearby Butler University. A foreign language and geography nerd since his earliest years of childhood, he has spent time studying Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Turkish, Russian, and Swahili and travels avidly for both personal and professional fulfillment. Currently at over 60 countries visited, he has spent most of his time abroad in Ecuador, Hong Kong, and Italy. His frequent travels through Latin America have provided many vivid primary sources for NSE questions.
Marina Escámez Ballesta
NSE Writer
Marina is from Murcia, Spain, where she graduated with a bachelor in philology from the University of Murcia. In 2012 she moved to the United States and earned her M.A. in teaching Spanish and English from West Virginia University. She has been teaching Spanish since 2012, and has taught in West Virginia and the University of Virginia. Currently, she is the chair of the World Languages Department at the Steward School, in Richmond, Va., where she teaches Spanish since 2022. She is the Hispanic Honor Society advisor for her school chapter. When she is not teaching she enjoys paddle boarding, reading, traveling, and any type of work out.
Gelmis Cole
NSE Writer
A native of Barranquilla, Colombia, Gelmis Cole brings more than 25 years of experience teaching Spanish from Middle School to College level. Currently Gelmis teaches Spanish level 1 through AP Spanish Literature at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in Joplin, Missouri, where she has taught since 1998. Gelmis earned her Bachelor of Science in Spanish from Pittsburg State University. Outside of the classroom, Gelmis loves spending time with her husband of 31 years and her teenage twins, Nathan, and Sarah.
She also enjoys a good read.
Dr. Paola Arboleda-Ríos
NSE Editor/Proofreader
Dr. Paola Arboleda-Ríos is an Instructional Associate Professor and Graduate Director in the Department of Hispanic Studies at the University of Houston. She has more than 20 years of experience teaching Spanish at all levels and, as a certified translator, developed the curriculum for UH’s minor in English-Spanish translation. Dr. Arboleda-Ríos holds a Ph.D. in Spanish and Portuguese Studies from the University of Florida, with a specialization in Latin American literature and queer studies. Her research and teaching focus on translation as a tool for social justice and decolonization, cultural studies, cinema, and gender representation in media. In addition to her academic work, she is deeply committed to mentorship, fostering real-world learning opportunities through innovative service-learning projects.
Brandon Fitzsimmons
NSE Writer
Kim is a current Spanish teacher of levels 2 and 4, as well as Linguistics. She has been giving the National Spanish Exam to her students for 20 years and loves how it allows students to see what they’re capable of doing with the language. She serves as her school’s department chair where French students and Latin students also take their respective exams. In her spare time Kim enjoys CrossFit, reading & traveling, especially to Spanish speaking countries.
Dr. Célia Bianconi
NPE Co-Director of Test Development
Dr. Célia Bianconi is a Master Lecturer and head of the Portuguese Language Program at Boston University, where she teaches courses on Portuguese language and Brazilian culture. She holds a PhD in Educational Studies from Lesley University. Dr. Bianconi’s main research and publication are devoted to teaching and learning of Portuguese as a foreign language (PFL) in the United States. She has experience in Portuguese Teacher training funded by Startalk, a national professional development program for critical language teachers. She is the coauthor of: Brazilian Chronicles: The Reader, Third Edition.
Dr. Nilma Dominique
NPE Co-Director of Test Development
Dr. Nilma Dominique is a Lecturer and the Portuguese Language coordinator at the Global Languages Department at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT. She holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Alcalá (Spain). Her research focuses mainly on the teaching and learning of Portuguese and as a second language, language and culture, language and identity and sociolinguistics.
Dr. Dominique is co-editor of Microgeopolítica da Língua Portuguesa and author of La Comunicación Sin Palabras. Estudio Comparativo de Gestos Usados en España y Brasil [Communication without Words. A Comparative Study of Gestures Used in Spain and Brazil].
Kenneth Almeida
NPE Writer
Kenneth Andrew Almeida is the director of World Languages for the Shrewsbury Public Schools in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. His given name is the result of being the first American to Azorean immigrants. Portuguese is his first language and he learned English by watching Sesame Street in the early eighties. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and a Masters of Arts in Spanish from Worcester State University.
Kenneth holds professional licensure through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Portuguese and Spanish. He has done extensive work in curriculum writing. In 2021 he pioneered a Heritage Language program for Heritage speakers of Portuguese and Spanish. He has presented at various World Language conferences. His passion is his ancestral Azores Islands. He hopes to one day do research on the Azorean Diaspora and teach Portuguese at the University level.
Silvia Sollai
NPE Writer
Silvia Ramos Sollai has spent over 30 years teaching Pluricentric Portuguese, focusing on transferable skills. A key project involves synchronous sessions between US and Brazilian undergraduates. She tailors lectures to diverse audiences, encouraging global awareness and social justice. At Duolingo, Silvia aligned the English-to-Portuguese course with European language standards, ensuring cultural inclusivity. She also co-advised Master’s candidates and contributed to Portuguese curriculum development. As part of the Portuguese Acquisition Linkages (PAL) Project, she located 10,000 K-12 Portuguese students across the US. Silvia emphasizes equitable education as essential for diplomacy and dialogue in today’s world.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Our Partners
