LatAm Conference
Meet The Presenters
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Patricia Escobar
Patricia is a psychologist with an MSEd in Curriculum Design and over 14 years of experience at CNG, where she spent the last four years serving as the Gifted and Talented Coordinator for Middle and High School. In this role, she developed and led initiatives to support advanced learners and collaborated with teachers to create meaningful enrichment opportunities. Additionally, she has guided high school students in their transition to college, helping them understand their individual learning profiles to identify the best academic and personal fit. Passionate about student growth and well-being, Patricia is dedicated to fostering environments where learners can thrive both academically and personally.
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Anabella Goshen
Anabella Goshen has over 20 years of experience supporting students through the college application process. Dedicated to guiding young people as they navigate academic choices and future opportunities, she has helped countless students achieve their educational goals. A lifelong learner herself, Anabella is passionate about mentoring, fostering student confidence, and encouraging personal growth alongside academic success.
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Dr. Priscilla Bade-White
Dr. Priscilla Bade-White has worked in education for over 20 years, bringing extensive expertise to both teaching and leadership roles. She earned her Master’s degree in Inclusive Special Education and her PhD in School Psychology. Her specialty areas include assessment, MTSS, giftedness, social-emotional learning (SEL), and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Passionate about building equitable systems of support, Dr. Bade-White is dedicated to advancing practices that foster the academic and personal growth of all learners.
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Larissa Watson
With over 20 years of experience in international education, Larissa Watson specializes in student support and enrichment, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and program development. Her work focuses on designing equitable, inclusive, and responsive systems that meet the needs of gifted and talented learners. Throughout her career, she has collaborated with schools and educators across diverse cultural contexts to create learning environments where all students can thrive. Larissa is committed to empowering teachers with the tools and strategies to recognize and nurture high-ability learners while fostering a culture of inclusion and innovation.
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Michael Vera
Born and raised in New Jersey, Michael Vera has over 20 years of teaching experience. He holds a Master’s degree in Childhood Education and Special Education-Childhood from NYU, an Education Specialist degree from the University of Kentucky, and a Gifted & Talented graduate certificate from the University of Connecticut. His teaching experience includes leading an Elementary School G&T program, co-teaching in Preschool and Elementary School, serving as a 5th grade homeroom teacher, and providing Learning Center support for K–8 students both in New York City public schools and internationally.
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Ceci Gomez-Galvez
Ceci is a dedicated collaborator, coach, and advocate committed to empowering educators to create equitable and inclusive learning opportunities for multilingual learners. Born and raised in Guatemala City, Ceci grew up in a bilingual household where languages were equally cherished, a value deeply instilled by her family. Drawing inspiration from her upbringing and extensive experience in international schools, Ceci now leads educators in designing programs that prioritize culturally responsive teaching and ensure equitable access for all learners. Passionate about fostering meaningful change in education, Ceci combines expertise with empathy to champion practices that celebrate linguistic and cultural diversity.
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Cecilia Quintanilla
Cecilia Quintanilla is a neurodivergent educator, advocate, and musician from Cochabamba, Bolivia, dedicated to empowering neurodivergent and gifted individuals and their families. After her children were identified as gifted and twice exceptional, she discovered her own neurodivergence at age 34, deepening her commitment to inclusion. She founded YBNeuro, supporting over 150 families across Latin America, Spain, and the U.S. Cecilia teaches in a Spanish immersion preschool and promotes equity for BIPOC and neurodivergent students.
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Alesandra Rodriguez
Alesandra Rodriguez has over ten years of experience in Montessori, gifted, and bilingual education. She is currently an adjunct instructor for Early Childhood Education. Alesandra has a Master’s Degree in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education with an endorsement in Special Ed. She is passionate, dedicated, and committed to advocating for the identification and programming of gifted and talented students in underrepresented populations and with multiple exceptionalities.
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Seth Jaeger
Seth Jaeger is an international educator, gifted program coordinator, and researcher specializing in gifted Third Culture Kids. With experience across the U.S., Colombia, Ukraine, Russia and Morocco, he combines practical leadership with scholarly insight. His work focuses on intellectual resilience, transcultural giftedness, and inclusive enrichment models. Seth holds a doctorate in educational leadership and presents globally on innovative approaches to gifted education in diverse, high-mobility contexts.
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Adriana Vergara
Adriana Vergara is a clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience in private practice. She has served as a consultant on psychoeducational projects with educational institutions, government agencies, and NGOs. She holds an MSc in Child Development and Early Intervention, as well as an MSc in Gifted Education and Talent Development. Adriana is certified in attachment-based models, including Circle of Security and VIPP-SD, and is an IFMHC by the UFS. She is also a certified SENG group facilitator, a specialist in perinatal psychology from AUB Barcelona, and a specialist in legal and forensic psychology.