Genesis Aguilar Chavez

Affiliation

Poder Pedagogy LLC

Biography

Génesis Aguilar Chávez (ella/ she/ her ) is an educator, trainer, consultant, and speaker with over a decade of experience working in and with schools. Her work focuses on comprehensive professional development and program supports for dual language teachers & leaders that explicitly addresses racism and colonialism and literacy best practices based in bilingual education research. Génesis identifies as Latine-American, being born and raised in Maryland and coming from a familia Hondureña that immigrated to the U.S. in the 80’s. When she entered Head Start only speaking Spanish and coming from a low-economic background, she was labeled an “English Language Learner” (ELL) and a “Free And Reduced Meals” (FARMS) recipient. Like many students with this background in traditional monolingual classroom settings, she struggled academically and her family was not able to support her in the ways the school thought valuable. These experiences gave her the perspective that is often missing in discussions of improving academic and social outcomes for Latine students. Génesis holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Science in Teaching and Leading for Equity from McDaniel College.