Supporting Students with Learning Differences in the Literacy Classroom

About the Presenters

Alestra Flores Menéndez is the Director of Multilingual Initiatives at Amplify. She brings over 20 years of experience as an educator across diverse contexts. Alestra has served as a literacy coach with Kamehameha Schools Literacy Instruction and Support and as a college English instructor at UC Berkeley and San Quentin Prison. She has designed science- and literacy-integrated curricula at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science, where she authored differentiated instruction supports for students with special needs, multilingual students, and students needing additional challenge. Alestra has a long history of advocacy for empowering all students to reach their full potential, including multilingual students and students with special needs. She has demonstrated her dedication to educators and students by providing instruction and professional development all over the U.S. and in Latin America. Alestra’s professional pursuits are grounded in the belief that literacy development is a lifelong endeavor and the most impactful way to change lives.

Gregory Trieste is a teacher and Senior Product Specialist for Amplify Education specializing in science and math. He is a passionate educator, having taught in public, private, and charter schools. His academic and research focus has been on teaching diverse learners and students with neurodiversity. Gregory believes that learning differences are assets, not deficits. Gregory believes that all students can succeed in STEM, regardless of their background or learning style. He is also an advocate for persons with disabilities and delivers workshops on making the classroom, workplace, and world more inclusive to all abilities. Gregory has presented at both the NSTA and NCTM national conferences. While at Amplify, Gregory founded Limitless, a resource group for employees with visible and invisible disabilities.