Patricia Trejo is a Mexican-American from an immigrant, migrant farm-worker family of eight. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a Minor in Mass Communications from The University of Florida. Her Master’s Degree is in Educational Leadership, and she is currently a Doctoral student at Nova Southeastern University. Mrs. Trejo has been a servant leader in public education for 25 years, serving as a Teacher, Learning Team Facilitator, Assistant Principal, Principal, and District Program Planner. She has worked in Polk, Broward, and Palm Beach counties at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Mrs. Trejo currently serves as the Senior Director for ESOL in Polk County Public Schools, where she was born and raised.

In 2011, she served as the President of the Palm Beach County School Administrators’ Association, and in 2014 was named SECME Administrator of the Year. In 2016, Mrs. Trejo was the first Latina to be inducted into Auburndale High School’s Hall of Fame in Polk County, FL. In 2019, she was honored with receiving the Wings of Inspiration Award from the Florida Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, and was the recipient of the 22nd Annual Triunfo Education Award by the Palm Beach Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In March 2021, she was recognized and awarded for being an administrator that made an outstanding difference by the National Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents.

Currently, she serves as the President for the Florida Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents, a graduate of the ALAS Superintendents Leadership Academy (Cohort X), Co-Facilitator for the National ALAS Linking Latina Leaders Network, and one of South Florida’s 2022 Hispanic Women of Distinction honorees.

An advocate for educational equity and inclusion, Dr. Enrique Vela has served for over 20 years as a public educator in New York City, Orlando, and Palm Beach County.
Dr. Vela currently serves as a principal in Palm Beach County and works as an adjunct professor of Educational Leadership at Florida Atlantic University, where he collaboratively developed the new Leadership for Social Justice course. He currently serves on
the Florida ALAS Board of Directors in the capacity of Vice President.

Dr. Patricia Ordóñez-Feliciano was born in Nicaragua and her family immigrated to the U.S. when she was 17 years old. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Ph.D. in Global Leadership. She has served as a secondary math teacher, Instructional Specialist, Assistant Principal and Principal. She is currently the Director of Administration and Compliance for the School District of Palm Beach County, and an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Florida Atlantic University. She has also served as internship supervisor for students completing their Master of Education in Educational Leadership at various universities in the U.S. and co-facilitated the Linking Latinas Network events for the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents. She is a champion for Social and Emotional Learning. Her school was featured by the White House’s Be Best initiative in 2019. Dr. Ordóñez-Feliciano believes that creating a positive and supportive school culture as well as developing strong teacher leaders are key ingredients to school success. She encourages future education leaders to lead with their heart and always keep students’ needs in mind when making decisions.

Patricia Bolinger was born in New York, Bronx. Her parents immigrated from Barranquilla, Colombia 61 years ago. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Varying Exceptionalities and a Master’s degree in Reading Education with an endorsement in ESOL and Educational Leadership. Mrs. Bolinger taught High School from 2002 to 2015. She served as a Special Education Teacher, Reading Teacher, Reading Coach, and Dean of Students.

She currently serves as a proud Assistant Principal since 2015 for Broward County Public Schools. Her passion is helping the adult learner and all students make academic strides and is always seeking ways on improving the instructional curriculum. She builds pathways for the adult ESOL learner by implementing initiatives and creating courses to help them build their confidence and likelihood of entering a post-secondary educational college. She firmly believes in developing opportunities for adults, whether academically or professionally, so they can succeed in the workforce. In addition, her vision to help all students is her main objective providing on-going motivational support and believes ALL students have the right to education and a high-quality instruction.

She served as one of the Executive Board Members for South Florida ALAS as Secretary from 2014-2016. She advocates for students to be the best they can be providing them the resources to expand beyond the classroom and postsecondary programs.

Dr. Washington “Nino” Collado was born in the Dominican Republic in 1962 in small town called Jánico (Ha-Nee-Co). Dr. Collado was raised surrounded by educators. His mother, María Tejada, and seven of his uncles and aunts were teachers. After the death of his mother in 1970, Dr. Collado and his three sisters traveled to the United States to live their father in 1975. In New York, Dr. Collado began studying in NYC public schools in the 7th grade and went on to Franklin K. Lane High School, in Brooklyn, NY.

Dr. W. B. Collado is a lifelong learner and has obtained several college degrees:
• Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University, 2018,
• Educational Specialist from Florida International University, 2002,
• Master’s in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University, 1999,
• Master and Bachelor’s Degrees in Spanish from Queens College of the City
University of New York, in 1986 and 1990.

Dr. Collado began his career in education in 1986 in New York where he taught Spanish and English as a Second Language in New York City Public Schools. In 1992, he and his family moved to Florida and continued teaching at Miami-Dade Public Schools. In 1998, he moved to Broward County Public Schools’ Multicultural Department to write curriculum and conduct trainings for teachers and administrators on the contributions of Latinos, African Americans, and Women throughout the History of the United States.

Dr. Collado began his career in school administration as an assistant principal at Broward County Public Schools and was promoted to principal in 2005. He has served 17 years as principal at the middle and high school levels and past-president of the Broward Principals and Assistants Association (BPAA).

In February, 2021, Dr. Nino Collado received the distinction of Principal of the Year for Broward County Public Schools, the nation’s 6th largest school district. Dr. Collado is also an adjunct professor at Florida Atlantic University teaching courses on educational leadership.

Throughout his career, Dr. Nino Collado has devoted much of his time to teaching and orienting and has travelled to various countries and over 20 states as a motivational speaker on matters of school leadership and family engagement. He has also served as panelist at CNN Español, NPR (New York), Telemundo, Univision, and others. He has written over 100 articles for newspapers and magazines, including the Miami Herald and has also published four books:
• Parents, Don’t Forget your Homework (2009),
• Padres, no olviden su tarea (2004),
• Liderazgo y escuelas efectivas (2014).
• Beyond Conversations About Race (June, 2021)

Dr. Collado has received several honors and recognitions for his work in schools and communities. He is married to Carmen R. Collado for over 35 years and together they are proud parents of four boys: Mario, Alejandro, Miguel, and Victor.

Angel Gomez was born in Puerto Rico and grew up in Venezuela, moving to the South Florida area in 1984. He has three gorgeous children who are all the product of Broward County Public Schools (BCPS): Sami, Andy, and Jacob.

Angel graduated from the Broward County Public School system, received his bachelor’s degree in Secondary Math Education from the University of Central Florida, and acquired his master’s in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Angel graduated as a member of the first PROPEL (Principal Rapid Orientation and Preparation in Educational Leadership) Principal cohort in June 2013, a partnership between Broward County Public Schools and Florida International University.

He began his educational career as a Math Teacher and Student Government Association (SGA) advisor at Colonial High School in Orlando, FL. Angel consequently moved back to South Florida where he started in Broward County Public Schools as a Math teacher and SGA Advisor at Plantation High School, then moved to Coconut Creek High School as an Assistant Principal, and stopped shortly at West Broward High school as an Assistant Principal for one semester. Soon after getting to West Broward High School, Angel became the Principal at Piper High School in Sunrise. FL. Within the last few years, Angel successfully completed an internship as the Director for the BCPS Demographics and Student Assignments department within the division of Portfolio Services. He presently works in the School Board of Broward County Office of Legislative Affairs as the Governmental Affair Coordinator.

With a busy career, a bustling household and many community activities, Angel still found time to pursue public office. On January 2008 Angel Gomez was elected as a City Commissioner for the City of Weston where he served for 9 year as a Commissioner and Vice-Mayor. In 2014 Angel joined FL-ALAS and most recently served as the President of the organization until 2021.