Voting is open November 24th to December 1st for all current WAESOL members.
Renew or become a WAESOL member to vote.
Scroll down to view candidate bios and then use the link in the email you receive from WAESOL to vote.
Candidate Bios:
President:
Rosemary Colón, Mukogawa U.S. Campus, Spokane
Rosemary Colón is an ESOL educator at Mukogawa U.S. Campus. She has grown her experience over the last 7 years teaching in university and community settings in the Spokane area where she currently resides after having spent most of her life in the Bay Area, California. Rosemary is an advocate not only for MLs, but for education by taking an active interest in policy and advocacy, learning and sharing how educators can build their support for students and communities. She hopes to continue to develop the advocacy arm of WAESOL with another term in leadership. ¡Sí se puede!
Treasurer:
Kathryn Kemble, Spokane Community College
Kathryn is the current interim treasurer for the WAESOL board, and is seeking to continue her role as treasurer.
Kathryn is currently an English Language Instructor at Spokane Community College where she works with adults in the refugee and immigrant community. Kathryn has experience in curriculum design for non-profits and higher education with a focus in English for Specific Purposes. She also has volunteer teaching experience with various organizations in the Spokane area where she worked with international students, refugees, and immigrants ranging from beginner to advanced English proficiency levels. Kathryn is a graduate from Eastern Washington University where she received a B.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language.
Recording Secretary:
Wing Shuen (Alice) Lau, Seattle Pacific University
Wing Shuen Alice Lau, Ph.D., is a lecturer at Seattle Pacific University and SUNY Cortland. She also teaches English Language Acquisition classes at Renton Technical College and Highline College. Her most recent research integrates culturally responsive practices and social-emotional learning to strengthen multilingual learners’ literacy development and promote equitable instruction.
She has served as the Board Secretary since 2023 and has been an officer of the WAESOL Conference planning committee for the past three years. She is committed to supporting multilingualism and multiculturalism
Board Member-at-Large:
Cara Galbraith, Longview School District
Ms. Galbraith has been an educator in the US and abroad for over 20 years. She holds a MA in Russian Language, a K-8 Teaching Certificate with endorsement in English Language Learners and a Certificate in TESOL. As an educator and trainer, she loves working with multilingual learners and dedicated teachers.
Ms. Galbraith served as a Member at Large for the WAESOL Board in 2025. In her spare time, Ms. Galbraith likes spending time with family, being outside, kayaking, playing pickleball and laser engraving.
Krissy Wilcox, Spokane Public Schools
Krissy has served for 4+ years on the WAESOL Board, mostly in the Treasurer position. She is an ELD Teacher at Shadle Park High School in the Spokane Public School District where she has worked for twelve years. Krissy’s passion for teaching students who are new to English and the U.S. shows in many ways, one of which is her love of learning new ways to teach her students. She is dedicated to helping WAESOL continue the tradition of offering training and support to other ELD teachers throughout the state.
Lauren Beven, Whatcom Community College, Bellingham
Lauren is a compassionate, collaborative instructor for multilingual language learners. She currently delivers in-person courses for immigrant and international college students at Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, hybrid courses for K-12 students in Okinawa, Japan, and online courses for adults in Washington State. Lauren is an advocate for student-centered learning and asset-based pedagogy, and she specializes in pronunciation, speaking and listening.
Since 2017, Lauren has contributed two WAESOL Conference workshops and one published article to WAESOL Educator. She is also a peer editor for WAESOL Educator. As a member-at-large, Lauren hopes to offer her years of experience in the classroom and as a professional contributor to WAESOL.
Yvonne Oronoz-Williams, WCEPS
Yvonne Oronoz-Williams, a seasoned educator and presenter, serves as the Vice President of Educator Engagement at WCEPS, where she spearheads initiatives to empower educators and foster collaboration with Local Education Agencies (LEAs). Her work is deeply rooted in understanding and aligning with the goals of schools and districts, ensuring impactful outcomes for all learners with an emphasis on multilingual learners.
Yvonne also leads a team of 35 highly skilled coaches who support schools across the country in implementing WCEPS programs, providing tailored guidance and fostering lasting growth. Yvonne’s personal and professional journey is a testament to resilience and passion. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, she moved to the United States at age 5, her experiences as an English language learner shaped her commitment to a positive impact in the field of education. With over 30 years in the field, Yvonne has worked with diverse student populations across all grade levels.
Marjeta Bejdo, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Dr. Marjeta Bejdo is a multilingual educator located in Seattle, Washington. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education with English Language (EL) and Special Education endorsements from Elmhurst College (now Elmhurst University) in 2017. She then pursued her Master’s degree in Teaching and Learning with a focus on Experiential Learning at Clemson University, and graduated in 2019. In 2024, she completed her Doctorate in Leadership in Education at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Dr. Bejdo is committed to promoting equitable education for multilingual students. Her research focuses on increasing teacher self-efficacy and community involvement to support literacy development for multilingual students.