Sara V. Niño is an educator with 18 years of professional experience. Sara is an experienced K-12 general and special educator specializing in the educational experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse students with and without disabilities. She is currently an invited lecturer in the Teaching Bilingual/English Learners with Disabilities Graduate Certificate Program at Lasell College in Newton, Massachusetts. Previously, Sara served as the English Learner (EL)/Special Education Coordinator for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education where she supported districts across the Commonwealth in meeting the needs of bilingual English learners (ELs) with disabilities. Additionally, she managed the development of state regulations and guidelines regarding English Learner Parent Advisory Councils and participated as a consultant in other initiatives related to parent engagement.
Sara is also a Ph.D. student at the University of Massachusetts, Boston in the Urban Education, Leadership, and Policy Studies Program where her research emphasis is on education policy and the learning experiences of multilingual learners with and without disabilities. She enjoys being outdoors, learning new things, and spending time with family and friends.