My name is Megan Turner Baxter. I majored in Educational Studies and Spanish, which led to a wonderful and rewarding career as a teacher in Hillsboro, Oregon. I just finished my 23rd year! I began my career in a 5/6 elementary school class at a Title 1 school, where I used my linguistic skills every day to help parents and students effectively navigate the educational system. About 12 years ago, I moved to an ESL specialist position where I largely supported English Language Learners in small group settings. This position has morphed into a Bilingual Specialist in recent years, as our district has moved into dual language access for our Spanish bilinguals. I love my job! It’s never the same day to day, and empowering students and families towards academic excellence is something my team and I pride ourselves on! Bilingualism and multilingualism are a GIFT! I’m so grateful to be a part of our state and nation’s move toward multilingual empowerment!