Denise Saavedra was born and raised in the South Bronx and is a proud first-generation Mexican-American and former English Language Learner. Her experiences as a student in the New York City public school system shaped a deep commitment to educational equity and to ensuring every child feels seen, valued, and empowered. Over her 10-year career in New York City charter schools, Denise has served as an ELA teacher, instructional coach, and MTSS leader — always with a focus on building meaningful relationships with students, designing culturally responsive classrooms, and helping every learner develop confidence, critical thinking skills, and a genuine love of learning. Head to our blog to learn more about Denise and her work promoting inclusive practices at the middle school level.

Angie Torres grew up in Castle Hill, the Bronx, raised by a bilingual grandmother who navigated two worlds in two languages at a time when that was treated as a barrier, not a gift. That early lesson never left her. Today, as Director of Special Populations at United Charter High Schools, Angie leads network-wide Special Education and ELL compliance, literacy intervention, and professional development across three boroughs. She also serves as the network steward of UCHS’s Seal of Biliteracy program, expanding a school-based initiative into a network-wide movement that has honored more than 60 multilingual students in the last two years. Read our interview with Angie to learn from her strategic work supporting multilingual learners, including more on the Seal of Biliteracy.