FACE STAFF TEAM

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM

RUBÍ FLORES
Director, Family & Community Engagement

About Rubí

Rubí Flores, M.A.

Rubí Flores, M.A., has extensive expertise working with English Learner and Dual Language Programs. She has served as a bilingual teacher, ESL specialist, dual language teacher, dual language instructional Coach, program coordinator and biliteracy curriculum developer. She has worked in schools across Texas, Oklahoma, El Salvador and recently California.

Rubí earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Bilingual Education from Texas State University and a Master’s Degree in Bilingual and Bicultural Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a cohort member of the Proyecto Maestría leadership development program through the University of Texas.

Rubí holds a Multiple Subject Teaching credential with a bilingual teacher authorization in California and Texas. She has presented her work with dual language programs and biliteracy instruction at NABE, TABE, Adelante! Dual Language Conference, and at multiple district level sites. Her current work focuses on developing teacher capacity, coaching, authentic methods for biliteracy instruction, teacher Spanish academic language development and effective English language development strategies.

YAZMIN BASTIDA
Family & Community Engagement Specialist

LAURA DÍAZ
Coordinator, Family & Community Engagement

About Laura

Laura Diaz

Laura Díaz is a dedicated and compassionate professional driven by a lifelong passion for learning and achievement. With over 18 years of experience as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist, Laura has been instrumental in training parents on family involvement and supporting districts and schools in enhancing bilingual programs to foster academic success among students.

A graduate of Universidad Iberoamericana with a Law Degree, Laura’s educational foundation complements her extensive practical experience in the field. Her role extends beyond her legal qualifications, as she has actively engaged in curriculum design and development programs and is an integral part of the Multilingual California Alliance Project (MCAP) and English Learner Legacy and Leadership Institute (ELLLI). Laura has honed her expertise through specialized training in Bilingual GLAD Strategies, Migrant Education, EL Roadmap, LCFF/LCAP, Parent Involvement, and Technology Programs, equipping her to offer comprehensive support to Districts and Parents.

Laura’s influence extends beyond the local level, having worked with the San Bernardino City School District (SBCSS) and participated in their Family Engagement Network (FEN) meetings, LEAD Summit team, and Call to Action Stakeholder efforts. Her reach is vast, with presentations developed for prominent organizations throughout California, including the State Parent Advisory Committee (SPAC), Parents Anonymous Conferences, State Migrant Parent Conferences, CABE, Binational Parent Institute, Reading Rally at California State San Bernardino, California Parent Leadership Conference, Multilingual Recognition, California Technology Assistance Program, Technology Leadership Network, Loyola Marymount University, San Diego University, the Multilingual California Alliance Project (MCAP) and more.

MARIA MOJICA
Family & Community Engagement Specialist

DALIA PADILLA
Family & Community Engagement Specialist

About Dalia

Dalia Padilla

Dalia Padilla was born in Sinaloa, Mexico and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from the Autonomous University of Sinaloa, which provided her with a solid foundation to understand and address international issues and challenges faced by migrant communities. She began her professional journey at the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix, Arizona where she worked to help many families obtain essential Mexican documents.

One of the most notable facets of Dalia’s life, is her volunteer work. For more than nine years, she has been an active volunteer at the district, county, and state level, advocating for initiatives that encourage parent involvement and support students’ academic and personal success. Her tireless dedication to this cause led her to be recognized as “Parent of the Year” in 2017, an award given at the state level in the Migrant Program.

In 2019, Dalia became a facilitator for the Project 2INSPIRE program, where she promotes leadership development among parents at the state level. This program empowers parents to understand the United States education system and become actively involved in scholastic committees. Her work at Project 2INSPIRE has helped create a strong community of support that benefits both schools and families, contributing to students’ academic success. Dalia Padilla is an inspiring example of how a committed person can make a difference in the lives of others through her dedication, passion, and empowerment in the communities she serves.

GRICELDA PÉREZ
Family & Community Engagement Specialist & International Partner Liaison

About Gricelda

Gricelda Perez

Gricelda Pérez, attended the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac, Plantel La Piedad, in Michoacán, Mexico, and received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She has a diploma in Accompaniment and Family Counseling from the same University; in addition to other varied courses and training. She worked as a teacher, giving classes to high school-age youth at the Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Michoacán, Ecuandureo Campus. Prior to this, she served as comptroller of the aforementioned Campus. She also served as Administrative Director in the H. Ayuntamiento de Ecuandureo, Michoacán.

For 16 years, she has coordinated the educational programs offered to the Spanish-speaking community through CABE’s (California Association for Bilingual Education) Plazas Comunitarias Program. Gris has given informative workshops for the community on adult education and others focused on issues of great importance to immigrant students and families in schools and school districts in California. Her current work focuses on educational training and community leadership serving and liaising with CABE’s international partners.

VERÓNICA TAFOYA
Family & Community Engagement Specialist

About Veronica

Veronica Tafoya

As an early childhood educator with more than 15 years of experience, Veronica Tafoya has been dedicated to the growth and development of children and their families. Veronica started her education career as a paraeducator while working her way through college at California State University San Marcos, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in human development with an emphasis in counseling. After college, she entered the field of early childhood education as a state funded preschool teacher for the Cajon Valley Unified School District. Once Veronica transitioned out of the classroom, she used her knowledge of human development and passion for teaching to become an early education coach and trainer at the San Diego County Office of Education. In this role she used her abilities to identify and cultivate the strengths and potential of others to build capacity in adult learners to improve outcomes for children and families. Over the span of her career, Veronica has had the unique opportunity to educate, collaborate, and learn from children and their educators. In her current role as a Family and Community Engagement Specialist with the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE), Veronica has the honor to facilitate families as they build community, knowledge, and partnerships with each other and the school system.

KAREN UMERES
Family & Community Engagement Lead Administrative Assistant

AMÉRICA URIARTE
Family & Community Engagement Specialist

MARIÁ VALENCIA
Coordinator, Family & Community Engagement

About Maria

Maria Valencia

Maria Valencia hails from Michoacan, Mexico, and spent her early years growing up between Mexico and Arizona. She takes immense pride in being a bilingual, biliterate, and bicultural mother to her four sons, all of whom have successfully graduated from dual language school programs.

Ms. Valencia’s academic journey led her to Cal Poly Pomona University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Business Administration, with minors in both Spanish and Human Resources. Her extensive background in the field of interpreting and translation is further enhanced by her successful completion of the 40-hour Community Training for Interpreters and Translators for healthcare providers and community workers.

Over the past three years, Ms. Valencia has served as the Family and Community Engagement Contract Coordinator for CABE and Multilingual Language Solution, overseeing the contracts of the FACE and the interpreting and translation department within the organization. Prior to assuming this role, she dedicated over fifteen (15) years as a Parent Specialist, offering invaluable support to families and communities. During this time, she took the lead in organizing a series of workshops under initiatives such as Project 2INSPIRE, Support for Immigrant and Refugee Students (SIRS), and Newcomers. These workshops are designed to empower individuals and immigrant communities, emphasizing Ms. Valencia’s steadfast commitment to the cause of bilingual education.

In addition to her primary occupation, Ms. Valencia has embraced a leadership role within her community, leading impactful Capacity and Community Building leadership training sessions across various school districts and communities. These sessions cover a diverse range of topics, including health, women empowerment, and children/youth classes. Her dedication to nurturing the development of future leaders has been a wellspring of inspiration for many.