About Us

Dr. Woodson is a former principal of a high EL-enrollment Title 1 elementary school. A veteran in public education with over 35 years of service as a teacher, instructional specialist, and district-wide EL Program Director, Dr. Woodson holds graduate degrees in applied linguistics and has taught a range of courses at the elementary and secondary levels, including reading, Spanish, English as a Foreign Language, and exploratory courses in Japanese, French, Italian, and German. Dr. Woodson has also taught graduate courses in applied linguistics, English grammar, Spanish, foreign language teaching methods, and ESOL teaching methodology at several major universities in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. An expert in second language acquisition and district-level program administration, Dr. Woodson’s current efforts focus on creating equitable conditions for English learners in schools, English learner-centered school improvement strategies, and Baldrige-guided strategic planning.

Nina Khouri, a former Assistant Principal, has supervised the EL/World Languages and English departments and served a diverse community. As an educator for over thirty seven years, Nina had a variety of roles as a college adjunct English professor, EL teacher at the secondary level, district wide EL Coordinator, and school administrator. Having degrees in Teaching English as a Second Language, Nina is highly skilled in writing/implementing curriculum and assessments for ELs, assisting diverse students and their families in adapting to a new system of education, and training EL and content teachers in improving EL academic performance and social/emotional learning. Nina’s core beliefs center around equity and excellence in education, collaborative learning, and continuous growth.

Nina Khouri, a former Assistant Principal, has supervised the EL/World Languages and English departments and served a diverse community. As an educator for over thirty seven years, Nina had a variety of roles as a college adjunct English professor, EL teacher at the secondary level, district wide EL Coordinator, and school administrator. Having degrees in Teaching English as a Second Language, Nina is highly skilled in writing/implementing curriculum and assessments for ELs, assisting diverse students and their families in adapting to a new system of education, and training EL and content teachers in improving EL academic performance and social/emotional learning. Nina’s core beliefs center around equity and excellence in education, collaborative learning, and continuous growth.

Norka Padilla is currently an Instructional Specialist with International Admissions & Enrollment in the office of School Support and Wellbeing in Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland where she collaborates ensuring equitable access to standards aligned instruction and programming K-12. Previously she served as a Learning and Achievement Specialists supporting 24 leadership teams K-12. Norka has over 30 years of experience as an instructional specialist and teacher, designing and facilitating professional development nationally. She also enjoys consulting for state, national, public, and private organizations on standards-setting and policy. Norka is a Nationally Board Certified specialist in English as a New Language K-12 with two master’s degrees and administrative certification from Trinity College, McDaniel College, and the University of Phoenix. She also holds Educational Administrative I & II certification in Maryland.

Norka collaborates with several educational non-profit organizations as an Equity Commissioner for The New Teacher Center and is GLEAM badged for coaching school leadership teams for UnboundEd.

Norka was born and raised trilingual as a Guatemalan-Norwegian-American in Washington, DC, and is the proud mother of three young men. She and her husband live in Chevy Chase and enjoy traveling, urban walks, and hiking in nature.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/norka-padilla-edequity/

Ms. Sonja Bloetner is a twenty-eight year veteran in public education. In her role as a district level administrator, she supervises curriculum development, assessment development, professional development and school support to increase engagement and achievement for over 30,000 English Learners who are enrolled in Grades K-12. She works with her team to design, deliver and collaborate on districtwide professional learning projects for hundreds of teachers and administrators. Additionally, Ms. Sonja Bloetner is a co-founder of CREATE Solutions, LLC and has been providing consulting services for school systems and non-profit organizations. She and her team are passionate about shifting learning outcomes for diverse learners in the United States and in the global community. She recently completed an Urban Superintendent Academy program, sponsored by Howard University and the Association of Administrators and Superintendents (AASA) and is currently enrolled in a Education Policy Fellowship Program with the Institute of Educational Leadership in Washington D.C. She recently published two books: Formative Assessment Strategies for English Language Learners with Teacher Created Materials, Inc and Leading Success for Diverse Learners: Transforming the Matrix of Your School System.

Ms. Sonja Bloetner is a twenty-eight year veteran in public education. In her role as a district level administrator, she supervises curriculum development, assessment development, professional development and school support to increase engagement and achievement for over 30,000 English Learners who are enrolled in Grades K-12. She works with her team to design, deliver and collaborate on districtwide professional learning projects for hundreds of teachers and administrators. Additionally, Ms. Sonja Bloetner is a co-founder of CREATE Solutions, LLC and has been providing consulting services for school systems and non-profit organizations. She and her team are passionate about shifting learning outcomes for diverse learners in the United States and in the global community. She recently completed an Urban Superintendent Academy program, sponsored by Howard University and the Association of Administrators and Superintendents (AASA) and is currently enrolled in a Education Policy Fellowship Program with the Institute of Educational Leadership in Washington D.C. She recently published two books: Formative Assessment Strategies for English Language Learners with Teacher Created Materials, Inc and Leading Success for Diverse Learners: Transforming the Matrix of Your School System.

Jennifer Craft is the PreK-12 English Language Arts Director in a large diverse district in Maryland and a co-founder of CREATE Solutions, LLC. She supervises and provides leadership for districtwide curriculum development, assessment development, and instructional program planning as well as the implementation of literacy across the district. With over 25 years of experience in education, she has worked at the elementary, middle and high school levels in a variety of positions including being a Special Educator, ELL teacher, Reading Specialist, English teacher, and Staff Development Teacher. She is Nationally Board Certified in English/Language Arts in Adolescence and Young Adulthood. Mrs. Craft is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University where she teaches classes such as Differentiated Instruction and Inclusion, Cooperative Learning and Curriculum Design and Adaptations for Strategic Interventions. She has also served as a Reading Panelist for the National Assessment of Educational Progress to determine designations for post-secondary activities. Throughout her tenure in education, she has delivered presentations locally and nationally on the following topics: Literacy, Professional Learning Communities, Equity, Inclusion, Culturally Responsive Pedagogy and Curriculum, and Professional Development School Partnerships. She is currently pursuing her doctorate degree at Johns Hopkins University with an anticipated graduation date of May 2023.