Meet keynote speaker Dr. Lupita Hinojosa

Dr. Lupita Hinojosa was named Superintendent of Schools in January 2022, becoming the first Hispanic woman to hold the top leadership position in Spring ISD, which serves more than 34,000 students in a diverse community approximately 20 miles north of downtown Houston.

An experienced educational leader with more than 30 years in public education, Dr. Hinojosa joined Spring ISD in 2014 as the Chief Schools Officer and later served as the district's Chief of Innovation and Equity. 

As Superintendent of Schools for Spring ISD, Dr. Hinojosa was instrumental in implementing a strategic plan, Every Student – Every Teacher – Every Day: A Blueprint for Excellent and Equitable Outcomes, to help improve student achievement and ensure all paths aligned with the district's purpose of student success. Data from TEA indicates great gains in student achievement scores, thus closing the gaps between Spring ISD and statewide results.

Dr. Hinojosa spearheaded the launch of a new Momentum High School, which offers a path to graduation for students seeking an alternative to the traditional middle or high school experience. With smaller classes, personalized learning plans, accelerated credit recovery and career training opportunities, Momentum provides a path to graduation for students who may have become disconnected or disengaged in their traditional high school environment.

Dr. Hinojosa began her career in 1988 as an elementary bilingual teacher with the Houston Independent School District, going on to serve as an elementary principal, middle school principal, executive principal, school services officer, and as an assistant superintendent – a role in which she oversaw 114 magnet programs serving approximately 45,000 students. 

She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin, an Elementary and Bilingual Education Certification from the University of Houston, a Master of Education in educational leadership and management from the University of Houston at Clear Lake and a Doctor of Education in educational leadership from the University of Houston.

Meet featured speaker Natalia Abarca

With over 25 years of experience in educational program development and leadership, Natalia Abarca is passionate about advancing multilingual education and supporting diverse communities both nationally and internationally. Her professional journey has been centered around fostering inclusive, culturally responsive systems that elevate the quality of services for multilingual learners and their families.

As the leader and facilitator of the OCDE Multilingual Consortium, Natalia manages a network of highly qualified professionals dedicated to providing top-tier translation and interpretation services to Orange County schools and surrounding districts. In this role, she focuses on building capacity among multicultural staff and ensuring the successful implementation of systems that support educational equity.

In addition, Natalia is a licensed trainer for The Community Interpreter International and a Medical Interpreter, offering specialized training and consultations for organizations and individuals in need of interpretation services. She is also the primary contact for the OCDE Annual Interpreters and Translators Conference in Education, where she connects experts in the field to share best practices and address the evolving needs of the education sector.

Meet general session speaker Nestor Wagner

Néstor Wagner is a nationally recognized expert in interpreter training and a pioneer in leveraging technology to advance the field. He is the founder and director of the Southern California School of Interpretation, known for producing top-tier certified interpreters across legal, medical and immigration settings. With a Master's in Aeronautical and Astronautical engineering, Wagner brings a unique precision to interpreters education. He is also the visionary behind Knowi.ai, SCSI's innovative AI-powered platform designed to support and elevate language professionals. Through decades of leadership and technological innovation, Wagner has reshaped interpreter education across the United States for the modern age.