Our Team

Dafny Irizarry
President
Dafny Joy Irizarry Ortiz is the founder and president of the Long Island Latino Teachers Association. A woman and educator with a passion for equity, justice, and inclusiveness. Read More
Julie Burgos
Vice-President
Julia Burgos is a Social Worker and an Educator. Julia retired as a Social Worker in the Brentwood School District after 28 years of service. Prior to working in Brentwood, Julia Read More
Michelle Marrone
Treasurer
Michelle Marrone graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Spanish Education from Manhattanville College in 2008. She continued her education at St. John’s University to pursue a Read More
Cecilia Avila Young
Secretary
Cecilia Avila-Young was born in Bogota, Colombia, immigrating to the United States as a young girl. She earned an M.A. from Columbia University, Teachers College and a Read More
Ricardo Campos
Scholarships and Internships Committe Chairperson
Ricardo Campos graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Spanish Education from St. Joseph’s College in 2012. He then Read More
Kelly Urena
Youth Programs Committee Chairperson
Born and raised in Queens, NY, Kelly Ureña fulfills various roles. In addition to being a mother, daughter, friend, sister, and mentor, she is an established educator, bilingual Read More
Jessica Gomez
Professional Development Committee Chairperson
Mrs. Jessica Gomez has been a teacher in the South Huntington Union Free School District for 15 years, teaching 5th grade at Maplewood Intermediate. She has taught using stand-alone Read More
Jennifer Lopez
Fundraising Committee Chairperson
Jennifer Lopez started her career as a special educator 28 years ago. She served as a bilingual special educator and was one of the first group of recipients of the Intensive Training Institute for a Bilingual Extension through Scholarship at Read More
Nicole Salgado-Acosta
Membership and Public Relations Committee Chairperson
Nicole Salgado-Acosta is of Ecuadorian descent but was born in the United States. Having bilingual parents, since childhood she was enrolled in English as a new language, ENL, classes. During Read More
Vicky Mejia
Board Member
Vicky Mejia spent the last 15 years of her time with Central Islip School District, coaching and mentoring teachers in grades 1-8. Prior to that she taught for 14 years in elementary school Read More
Fatima Lasso
Board Member
Fatima Lasso was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador where she graduated with a degree in Business Administration from the Military Polytechnical School. For several years in her Read More
Priscilla Zarate
Board Member
Priscilla Zarate served as Executive Director at the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) for two years, where she serviced over 150,000 English Language Learners in Read More
Lissetty Thomas-Johnson
Board Member

Lissetty Thomas-Johnson was born in the Dominican Republic and came to the United States at the tender age of 2 years old. With the support of her parents who worked in factories Read More