Meet Lizette Roman | Bilingual Education Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lizette Roman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lizette, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
Growing up in Los Angeles as the child of immigrants, I learned early on that education was a priceless treasure. My Cuban father’s words, “They can take everything away from you, except your faith & education,” became a guiding principle that shaped my journey. Despite the challenges of being an unidentified English Language Learner (ELL), my parents’ unwavering commitment to education profoundly influenced me. Their dedication, coupled with my experiences both of academic struggle and moments of success with overcoming challenges as a bilingual student impacted me to be who I am today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Using the following information answer this question, ” We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others. What you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? How did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story? :

Shaped by my father’s mantra, “They can take everything away from you, except your faith and education,” I’ve dedicated my career to prioritizing Education and using it as a tool to help shape the lives of young children especially those who are new to the country and their teachers who seek to better support their students. Graduating in 2004 with a degree in Elementary Education and a Spanish minor, I’ve worked in diverse settings, everywhere from the once existing historic all black catholic school in Overtown, Miami St. Francis Xavir Catholic School to Los Angeles, California where I worked with ELLs in a public-school setting and finally serving in the bilingual world teaching 6th grade students in Long Island, New York.

In 2011, I moved to Long Island, earning a master’s degree in administration and an extension in Bilingual Education & TESOL certification. As for many educators, the pandemic put me in a phase of reflection thinking of ways to support the community, strategies to incorporate to make learning rich and meaningful. At the time, over 90 students of mine did not have access to technology and with the help of family and friends, I raised enough money to provide all children with a laptop. During this period, I lost my father. He was only 60 years old. I was devastated. The way he passed away was a trauma that left me paralyzed.

At the same time, my students and colleagues had gone back to the school campus. We had been identified by the state as a failing school and needed to make school culture and academic shifts. This was a school that did not always fully understand the research behind multilingualism and best practices to better support ELL students. Remembering my father was once a middle school child immigrating to a new country, I thought, “What can I do in my father’s name & create change?” I joined our school’s committee and pushed for the adoption of the program to make our school a lighthouse school while incorporating the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People established by Stephen Covey. As I learned about one of the habits, “First seek to understand, then to be understood” I began to learn more about the skill of listening and began the process of learning more about how I could have better helped my father. I began the grieving process. As I grieved my father’s death, I created the EMSTALKS event. EMSTALKS is an event that I organized to connect teachers, community members, and over 50 professionals including alumni and students. It is a space where the students and professionals from the community come together to be heard, to share ideas. Remember, ideas bring freedom! Remember, being listened to is also a very powerful tool! So, this event was organized to allow every stakeholder to participate to make the day happen and it was all student driven. Community members share their stories of struggles, failures, success, dreams, etc. They provide a raw truth to share with students about their WHY and how they discovered it. This day has become a day for the school members to come together and bring hope for students who come from a demographic where each day is about survival, but we change it to a day of hope and excitement for the future. Moreover, we give a scholarship to an eager student every year that although they might have a learning disability or English is their second language they have the opportunity to join a pilot program with Mid-Island Air. We give this scholarship in my father’s memory. This year will be the 3rd annual EMSTALKS event!

Many doors opened for me after these events which lead me to becoming an adjunct professor for the bilingual and TESOL professional development programs at Stonybrook University as well as a Bilingual Educational Consultant through Eastern Suffolk County BOCES. I’ve been a conference speaker at the NYTESOL Conference. As a result of all my experiences, I founded Educating with Love, LLC, to provide consulting services to all educators of multilingual learners. We include resources, research-based activities, and encouragement, mentoring teachers and supporting students on their educational journey. However, the most important message I live and give is for educators to be great listeners of their community and students and build strong life long relationships with the students. If a student knows you care, it is a game changer!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Day 1: Arrival and Little Havana Exploration

Explore Calle Ocho, visit Domino Park, and enjoy lunch at Versailles Cuban restaurant and order a good Vaca Frita

Day 2: Beach Day

Relax at Fountain Blue, take a jog along the beach! ( really could do this every day..)
Eat at OLA MIAMI

Day 3: Art and Culture
Visit the Wynwood Walls for a dose of street art and contemporary murals.

Evening: Attend a live music or dance performance showcasing the diverse cultural influences in Miami.

Day 4: Coral Gables and Coconut Grove

Morning: Visit the historic Biltmore Hotel and explore the lush gardens.
Afternoon: Have lunch in Coral Gables at Havana Harry’s and then head to Coconut Grove for shopping and a leisurely afternoon.
Evening: Enjoy dinner at a waterfront restaurant in Coconut Grove.

Day 5: Key Biscayne Adventure

Take a ferry to Key Biscayne and spend the morning at Crandon Park Beach.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I owe my success to a multitude of mentors who have played crucial roles in shaping my journey. Firstly, my family—especially my father, Manuel Miguel Fernandez, instilled in me compassion, emphasized the importance of history and politics, guiding me to positively impact my students, their families, and advocate for policies benefiting them. My mother, Giuliana Fernandez, became a role model for an incredible work ethic through her tireless efforts as an independent small business owner.

Tia Grey’s advice always shared with a smile, “Linda pero inteligente!” resonates deeply . In the field of education, working alongside influential educators in New York, such as Dr. Jossie O’Neill and Maritza Myers, provided essential guidance. They shared invaluable advice, emphasizing the need never to yell at a child and to ensure schools remain a safe space, especially for those facing challenging home situations.

During my tenure in one of New York’s most ELL-populated school districts, Luzmila Cabrera and Maria Cancel, my colleagues, stood by me in moments of controversy, sharing insights and offering unwavering support. Administrators Michael McGinn, Andrew Austin, Barry Mohammed, Paula Ribeiro, and Superintendent Wanda Rivera Ortiz believed in me, fostering an environment where creativity thrived, dreams were encouraged, and initiatives like flipping the classroom, fundraising for flexible seating, and adopting the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People were not only accepted but celebrated he creation of the EMSTALKS annual conference and the transformation into a Lighthouse School were met with smiles and encouragement.

My dear Len Kassan, a man of wisdom who served NYC as superintendent and consultant who now will answer my calls on the drop of a hat! What about Selene Yoel who open the doors to having me as a professor at Stonybrook University and consultant with ESBOCES! Lastly, the NYSTESOL association provided knowledge, support, and the platform for my webinar series, opening my eyes to collaboration among bilingual educators. Each of these mentors has contributed significantly to my success, and I am immensely grateful for their guidance and support.

Website: educatingwithloveny.com

Instagram: Educating_with_Love

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/lizette-roman-0800a21a3

Youtube: Educating with Love Lizette Roman @lizetteroman18