Cynthia Elisa Martinez

Affiliation

Illinois State Board of Education

Biography

Principal Consultant at the Illinois State Board of Education Multilingual Language Development Department with over 15 years of experience in multilingual education, legal advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. I’m passionate about creating equitable systems for English learners and immigrant students across Illinois. My career spans bilingual special education, dual language immersion, and paralegal work supporting immigrant families. I’ve led nonprofit initiatives, supported state education programs, and studied international policy across Latin America and Europe. I believe bilingualism is a superpower, and I’m committed to building inclusive, culturally responsive educational spaces that reflect that. My journey in education began with humble roots, teaching ESL classes at community centers. From there, I found my voice as a mentor in DePaul’s Intercambio program, leading immersive dual language service-learning courses that celebrated cultural identity and language equity. This early work inspired a lifelong mission: to advocate for bilingualism, inclusive education, and the rights of English learners, especially those dually identified for special education services. As a bilingual special education teacher, I saw firsthand how education and policy intersect, and I’ve been committed ever since to building systems that protect, uplift, and empower multilingual students and their families. Today, I use every facet of my background to inform educational policy, build culturally responsive systems, and advocate for English learners and immigrant students across Illinois. I thrive at the intersection of policy, equity, and lived experience, and I’m always open to connecting and collaborating to build a more inclusive and multilingual future.