Meet the Diversity & Equity Office

D. Balón  |  L. Walsleben  |  M. Mack  |  ELL Teachers  |  HSL staff

 

Dr. Daniello G. Balón, Director
802-864-8494 (direct)  |  802-865-5332 (main)  |  dbalon@bsdvt.org

Dr. Dan Balón joined the Burlington School Diatrict in 2008. He has served as Director of Diversity & Equity for the Burlington Schools and recently has been appointed district Equity Officer for Employment and Retention. He brings to this role his knowledge and many professional lessons as a classroom teacher, administrator, equity director, leadership educator, published researcher, supervisor, counselor, advocate, and change agent. Before moving to Vermont, Dr. Balón was faculty member and administrator in small and large, complex education systems in Northern California, Washington DC, Seattle, and most recently Maryland. He is a trained and experienced facilitator of intergroup dialogues, study circles, diversity education workshops, and difficult conversations on sensitive topics related to: group conflict, oppression, social equity, and community advocacy. Dan completed his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, College Park in Education Policy, Administration, and Leadership.

Dr. Balón is also founding president of Barkada Consulting Network LLC, a social change and leadership development training organization, serving clients and organizations nationally. He is a certified trainer of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI®). Dr. Balón maintains his adjunct faculty appointments, teaching graduate education courses that help prepare future educators for an increasingly multicultural world. Among other presentations, Dan recently keynoted the Social Equity Scholarship Fund luncheon in Spring 2009 to encourage Burlington and other Vermont leaders to consider the role of cultural competence in effective leadership. He also serves on several community and advisory boards in the Burlington/Chittenden County area and nationally.

Downloadable bio   |   SevenDays article


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Dr. Linda Walsleben, Coordinator for ELL and Home School Liaison Programs
802-865-5856  |  lwalsleb@bsdvt.org

Linda Walsleben has worked in the field of language education for over 20 years as teacher, consultant, specialist and now as coordinator of the ELL (English Language Learner) and Bilingual/Bicultural Home School Liaison program for the Burlington Schools. Her interest in language education was sparked when she lived and studied abroad as a high school and college student. Linda holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Vermont, as well as degrees in Teaching English as a Second Language and Social and Philosophical Foundations in Education.


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Mercedes Mack, Equity Education Specialist
802-316-7122 (direct)  |  802-540-0175 (office)  |  mmack@bsdvt.org

Recently employed in Washington, DC, Mercedes returns home to Burlington. Mercedes is helping to establish the new Equity Resource Center in her role as an AmeriCorps*VISTA member. Read More


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English Language Learner (ELL) Teachers

ELL Teacher pictures and information

Kristen Bingel
Sue Blethen
Heidi Brown
Sarah Carroll
Sara Crothers
Beth Evans
Amanda Gustafson, Content Specialist
Zhihang Hao
Christine Howley
Jill Jacobelli
Susan King
Ervina Kuckovic
Amy Limoge
Kathy McLean, Content Specialist
Nancy Nadel
Mark Nigolian
Mary Kay O’Brien
Amy O’Shea
Jennifer Quavelin
Chaska Richardson
Lynda Siegel
Rebekah Thomas

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Bilingual/Bicultural Home School Liaisons (HSLs)

HSL staff pictures and information

Mohamed Abdi, Maay Maay
Jeanine Bunzigiye, French, Swahili, Lingala
Son Do, Vietnamese
Nimo Girreh, Somali
Abdullahi Hassan, Maay Maay
Hassan Kulow, Maay Maay
Madhu Neupane, Nepali (Bhutanese)
Aline Niyonzima, Kirundi
Nijaza Semic, Bosnian

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Updated November 14, 2009