Meet Our Team

Dr. Rocio del Castillo
Principal Consultant

Rocio has dedicated her professional career to being an advocate for educational equity. She began her career as a school psychologist in Peru. Her rich and diverse experience includes serving for over 20 years in both public and private school systems. She has received numerous awards and accolades for her work in the special, general, bilingual, and dual language education settings. Rocio has initiated and implemented dual language programs in multiple public school districts and has a passionate commitment to educational equity and social justice.

Dr. Julia Stearns Cloat
Principal Consultant

Julia has dedicated her professional career to public schools and the development and continuous improvement of teachers. She began her career as an elementary school teacher and received awards for her work in student services. Julia spent 25 years serving in Unit School Districts in roles including Literacy Specialist, Instructional Coach, RtI/MTSS Coordinator, Curriculum Director, and Assistant Superintendent. Her areas of expertise and passion include educational equity, literacy, curriculum development, instructional coaching, and RtI/MTSS.

Dr. Kimberley Kennedy
Consultant

Kim has been an award winning bilingual educator (Spanish/ English) for over 25 years from PK-12 to university levels. She has worked as a bilingual and special education teacher, as well as an instructional coach, literacy specialist, and tenured university professor. Kim’s work spans a deep understanding of emerging bilingual learners’ experiences in public education and addresses ways to differentiate instruction across the content areas for emerging bilingual learners. Kim has over 20 publications in renowned journals (e.g., Journal of Latinos in Education, Bilingual Research Journal) and books (e.g., Teaching Reading in Spanish; Generating Transworld Pedagogy).

Nancy Herrera
Consultant

Nancy has been in the education field for the past 20 years. She has specialized in Early Literacy and Dual Language. She was a Special ED Teacher, Dual Language Teacher, Reading Specialist, Dual Language Instructional Coach, and Administrator. For the past 6 years Nancy is a National Dual Language Educational Consultant. She provides professional services for districts in the Dual Language field. She also provides PD for the resources in Spanish and English.

Araseli Rodríguez
Consultant

Araseli is a bilingual educator, reading specialist, but most importantly, a life-long learner. She is a devoted professional that has dedicated her career to teaching bilingual students. For almost 20 years, Araseli has worked with students from a low income background and parents to bring representation and equity to the students that she works with. Araseli’s diverse experiences in public education have given her an expertise in the areas of curricular and instructional best practices for Multilingual Learners, paired with an understanding of the process of teaching reading in Spanish.

Araseli is also the author of the book PROUDLY BILINGUAL ORGULLOSAMENTE BILINGÜE, which focuses on the bilingual brain and all the intricate ways it makes sense of both Spanish and English in a child friendly manner. Having an author visit your school is a great way to get kids excited about reading and writing! Contact Via Educational Consulting to learn about having an author, Araseli Rodríguez, visit your school or district.

Yesenia Sánchez
Consultant

Dr. Yesenia Sánchez is a true champion of educational equity and excellence, dedicating her career to enhancing opportunities for all students. Her journey began as a bilingual second-grade teacher in a school with a high percentage of academically disadvantaged students, instilling in her a deep commitment to creating a better future for all. With a diverse experience spanning over 17 years, she has made a profound impact on school systems. Notably, through her leadership in developing robust dual language programs that bridge educational gaps and celebrate cultural and linguistic diversity. Furthermore, her steadfast commitment to leadership development and coaching has been instrumental in nurturing the next generation of educational leaders.

Dr. Sánchez’s unwavering dedication has significantly improved academic programs and curriculum development, leading to improved school ratings and graduation rates. With her roots in Mexico and a wealth of educational experience, she brings a uniquely diverse perspective to her work. Yesenia tirelessly advocates for the success of every student, serving as an inspiration to those who believe in the transformative power of education.

Nick Perez

Nicolas began his entrepreneurial career, as a freshman in high school, by founding a viral e-commerce brand that was acquired by his partner’s parent company after several years of successful operation. This led to being selected as a Future Leader in Business by The University of Illinois at Chicago, a keynote speaker for the Leadership Institute, and multiple time national award winner in the area of marketing. The last few years he has operated an educational children’s camp as well as consulted for brands including Office Max, ReMax, and Jeep. He is a lifelong learner pursuing degrees in Marketing and Spanish Society & Culture. His professional goal is to serve as a role model and advocate for minorities and the underrepresented.

Olivia Cloat

Olivia is a highly skilled artist and graphic designer. Early in her career, she worked mostly in learning environments. She was fulfilled by tutoring and helping children learn life skills to help them succeed both in and outside of the classroom. Today, her work in creating the brands used by Via Educational Consulting and El Camino Spanish Classes blends her commitment to providing equitable access to quality education with her love of design. Olivia’s design style embraces vibrance and color. She is currently pursuing a degree in graphic design, which she hopes to use to make the world just a little prettier.