Briana Avendano-Gonzalez selected Pacific Region ISS for Multilingual Learners

Department of Defense Education Activity Director for Student Excellence, Ms. Lois Rapp, is pleased to announce the selection of Ms. Briana Avendano-Gonzalez as Instructional Systems Specialist for Multilingual Learners within the Pacific Region. 

Ms. Avendano-Gonzalez brings extensive experience in teaching multilingual learners, both within and outside of DoDEA. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in multilingual education, she has administered educational programming and ensured the diverse needs of multilingual learners are met with tailored and effective strategies.

Ms. Avendano-Gonzalez’s passion for multilingual education is driven by a profound belief in the power of language to bridge cultures and foster understanding. 

“I have witnessed firsthand how multilingual education can transform students' lives, providing them with the skills and confidence to thrive in a globalized world,” Ms. Avendano-Gonzalez said. “This passion motivates me to continually seek innovative approaches and best practices to support multilingual learners and their educators.”

Ms. Avendano-Gonzalez holds a Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Grand Canyon University (2020-2022) and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with an ESL Endorsement from the University of Northern Colorado (2002-2006). 

Her professional journey includes roles such as both a fourth grade teacher and Multilingual Learner Program elementary teacher at DoDEA SHAPE American Elementary School in Mons, Belgium (2019-2025), an English Language Development (ELD) elementary K-5 teacher at Bacon Elementary in Fort Collins, Colorado (2017-2019), an ELD elementary K-5 teacher at Leroy: An IB World School in Northglenn, Colorado (2007-2017), and a third grade teacher at Highland Elementary School in Pierce, Colorado (2006-2007). 

Committed to ongoing professional development, Ms. Avendano-Gonzalez consistently seeks opportunities to expand her knowledge and skills to better serve multilingual learners and support teachers in implementing research-based instruction for multilingual learners. Her mentoring philosophy centers on empowering educators with the skills and confidence they need to excel in their roles.

Collaboration with stakeholders is a cornerstone of her approach to improving the Multilingual Learner Program. She has worked closely with various stakeholders to integrate state-of-the-art technology and innovative methodologies into the program, leading to the development of cutting-edge instructional practices that are both effective and engaging for multilingual learners.

Ms. Avendano-Gonzalez is excited about the opportunity to bring her passion for multilingual education to the Instructional Systems Specialist role at DoDEA Pacific.