Due to the current vacancy of the OABE President position, please enjoy hearing from our President-Elect!

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Dear OABE Members,

My name is Yuseli Freire, and I am very excited to serve the Oklahoma Association for Bilingual Education as the new President-Elect. It is an honor to step into this leadership role and continue advocating for bilingualism, multilingual learners, and the educators who support them across our state.

With eleven years of experience in education—as a classroom teacher, former Director of English Language Proficiency Assessments at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, and now as the Title III Coordinator, I am passionate about ensuring equity and opportunity for every student.

I hold a bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Oklahoma and a master's in Educational Leadership and Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. I am currently pursuing my doctorate at Southern Nazarene University, where my research focuses on the relationship between professional development, transformative learning, and instructors of Multilingual Learners.

As a former Multilingual Learner myself, I believe deeply that language is not just a tool—it is a cultural, emotional, and spiritual lifeline. Language preserves our stories, values, and traditions. When it is lost, we lose part of who we are; when it is nurtured, we empower future generations to stay connected to their roots.

As President-Elect, I am committed to building on OABE’s legacy by supporting educators, championing policies that elevate multilingualism, and creating spaces where all languages and cultures are celebrated.

Thank you for your trust and partnership. I look forward to serving you and working together to uplift our multilingual communities.

Warmly,
Yuseli Freire
President-Elect, OABE