The Team

JJ Morgan is the Conference Coordinator for Voces Digital and the CI Summit. JJ has experience teaching, blogging, presenting, curriculum writing, and coaching. She is an all-around language acquisition nerd who believes that knowledge is power and loves learning. She has a BS in Spanish Language and Culture, an MA in Second Language Acquisition, and several graduate certificates. She is a 2021 AATSP Indiana HS Spanish TOY and IFLTA 2021 HS Spanish TOY. Additionally, JJ is a 2022 Indiana University Decoding the Disciplines Fellow and a 2023 NEA Foundation Global Learning Fellow.

Andrea Schweitzer has over 21 years of experience teaching middle school Spanish. After her first four years of frustrating, unproductive, traditional textbook teaching, she was about to leave the profession when TPRS and Krashen's "Input Hypothesis" were made known to her. This opened the door to a whole new approach that helped bring joy and visible proficiency gains to the classroom. Since then, she has continually striven to learn more about SLA and best practices for nourishing students with the engaging comprehensible (and comprehended!) input that they need to move along their individual paths to proficiency. She's grateful to the amazing teachers in the CI community from whom she's had the privilege to learn and with whom she continues to grow.

Darcy Pippins is a National Board Certified Spanish teacher with over 27 years of experience teaching at all levels. She earned her bachelor's in Spanish and her master's in education from the University of Oklahoma. Darcy is a respected presenter, coach, Comprehensible Input teacher, and leader in her field. In 2014, she started an elementary Spanish program at Norman High School, which has only grown, with now 55 high school students teaching Spanish at elementary schools in her district. This elementary Spanish program won the ACTFL Global Engagement Initiative Award in 2016. Other awards include OFLTA's Best of Oklahoma in 2019, SWCOLT's Secondary Excellence in Teaching in 2017, the Southwest Regional World Language Teacher of the Year in 2016, and Oklahoma World Language Teacher of the Year in 2015. She was also a finalist for ACTFL's National Teacher of the Year in 2016. She had the honor and pleasure of writing an article with Dr. Stephen Krashen about her students' successes taking the AP® Spanish exam with only ADI for four years prior.

Erica Peplinski-Burge is a passionate Spanish teacher and neuroscience enthusiast with over 18 years of experience teaching students from kindergarten to eighth grade. She was named MIWLA's 2020 “Teacher of the Year” and regularly presents at major conferences like the CI Summit, ACTFL, and Central States. Erica co-founded Mitten CI and has co-authored a chapter on language acquisition and a Spanish reader about monarch butterflies. She has consulted for Encyclopedia Britannica and various language curricula and helps create curriculum and professional development events for Voces Digital and school districts nationwide. Erica's mission is to inspire teachers with brain-friendly methods that make language learning joyful for students.

Gary DiBianca has been a high school Spanish teacher, trainer/consultant/coach, author, AP® reader, and chaperone for more than a dozen international trips since 2003. He has presented on acquisition- and brain-based strategies, big picture planning and unit design, the 21st Century World Language Standards with pre-AP® vertical alignment, the inclusion of topics of diversity in curriculum,and other topics with regard to proficiency and culture. Gary's current projects include working as a writer for Voces Digital's series Nuestra historia, serving as a member of the OFLA Professional Development Committee, and writing on his blog: My Mosaic of World Language Teaching.

Bess Hayles has taught French in the Kansas City area for over 18 years, using almost exclusively ADI skills throughout that time. She is excited to be joining the CI Summit for another conference. Ask her about teaching IB with ADI, Saturday Night Live, the Chiefs, or her love of clapping.

Keith Toda has been teaching Latin for over 20 years and currently teaches and serves as the World Language department head at Parkview High School in Lilburn, GA. A self-professed recovering grammar-translation teacher, Keith has been implementing Comprehensible Input and Acquisition-Driven Instruction in the Latin classroom since 2013 and regularly writes about his experiences on his blog Toda-lly Comprehensible Latin. He is always looking for new, innovative ways for the delivery of Comprehensible Input and Acquisition-Driven Instruction and of higher-level thinking. Keith enjoys long walks on the beach at night. Get a sneak peak of Keith's inspiring story and see why he's a powerhouse in the world of language education here.

Laurie Clarcq is originally from Rochester, NY, and after earning several degrees and teaching in nine different schools, she now lives (and still teaches!) in Fort Worth, TX. She feels blessed to have worked with teachers and students around the globe. According to Laurie, “Educators, especially language educators, have the ability to tilt the global community towards peace. By appreciating the worth and work of our colleagues, we can change the profession. By honoring the heart, the imagination, and the spirit, using language, we can change our classrooms. By championing our students' confidence, curiosity, and insight, we can change the world.”

Cécile Lainé is an accomplished French teacher dedicated to growing alongside her students and supporting fellow educators. With extensive experience across various educational settings—elementary, middle school, high school, and adult learners—she specializes in teaching for proficiency and intercultural competence through storytelling, personalized instruction, and comprehension-based strategies. As the author of several language-learner books and co-author of the monthly publication Le Petit Journal Francophone, she provides accessible and engaging content for learners worldwide. Beyond the classroom, Cécile is deeply committed to supporting, mentoring, and collaborating with World Language teachers, while continuing her own learning journey.

Eric Richards is a German teacher, department chair, author, and presenter. He is a 2021 ACTFL National Teacher of Year finalist and he has authored multiple ADI/CI readers and resource books for the World Language classroom. Eric also authored the Level 1 and 2 stories for Voces Digital's German curriculum. Eric's professional articles have appeared in national publications, such as Edutopia, Education Week, and The Language Educator. Eric presents on topics that help educators facilitate language acquisition, engagement, and community in the classroom. His students enjoy a vibrant program, where they have the opportunity to travel abroad and experience culture firsthand.

Justin Slocum Bailey is head over heels about helping teachers and learners succeed with less stress and more joy. A veteran language, music, and martial arts teacher, Justin has published several articles and book chapters on language teaching, trained teachers in 38 U.S. states, and given workshops, courses, and keynotes in Mexico, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and China. Raised in Vienna, Austria, and translated to Michigan via Vancouver and Los Angeles, Justin is unwavering in his belief that there is a left sock and a right sock and that all humans can learn another language.

Wade Blevins is a citizen of Cherokee Nation and has taught Cherokee for the five for over 20 years. His grandfather, Dolphus Blevins was a first language Cherokee speaker and boarding school survivor. Reclaiming his language is an important part of both honoring his grandfather and healing the generational trauma that boarding school and colonization have inflicted upon the family.

AnneMarie Chase has been happily teaching high school Spanish in northern Nevada for the past 18 years and often teaches the World Language Methods course at the University of Nevada, Reno. Not only is she a passionate CI teacher, she's also the product of CI instruction! Her high school teacher was an early adopter of TPRS and was instrumental in igniting her love for language and culture. AnneMarie is armed with a master's in teaching Spanish and seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm. When she's not teaching or traveling, you'll find her blogging about her classroom adventures and misadventures at www.senorachase.com. Get a sneak peak of AnneMarie's spotlight presentation on assessments here.

Mira Canion is an energizing presenter, author, photographer, stand-up comedienne, and Spanish teacher in Colorado. She has a background in political science, German, and Spanish. She is also the author of the popular novellas Piratas del Caribe y el mapa secreto, Rebeldes de Tejas, Agentes secretos y el mural de Picasso, La Vampirata, Rival, Tumba, Fiesta fatal, El capibara con botas, Pirates français des Caraïbes, and La France en danger et les secrets de Picasso, as well as teacher's manuals.

Adriana Ramírez is a Colombian author, Spanish teacher, and teacher trainer. She teaches all levels of Spanish, from beginners to IB students, using comprehensible input methodologies. She regularly coaches other teachers and presents workshops in Canada, the United States and Europe. She also has a double major in Psychology, a degree in Clinical Psychology and a master’s in education. She has a great passion for sharing the beauty of her country and her people with the world; you can see this love in all of her published novels. You can find her in IG at @veganadri, adrianaramirez.ca, and her YouTube channel: Teaching Spanish with Comprehensible Input.

Marie Daphney Joseph is the Marketing Specialist at Voces Digital. Marie has a passion for crafting impactful campaigns and connecting with our growing audience of educators. With a keen eye for design and a flair for storytelling, Marie excels at developing captivating marketing materials and fun and engaging social posts and emails. As a native speaker of Haitian Creole, she also brings a unique perspective to her role at Voces and the CI Summit, knowing the challenges and rewards of learning a second language.

Kris Warshefski is the Lead Developer and General Manager at Voces Digital. With years of experience in software and website development and a passion for helping educators, Kris focuses on creating dynamic and user-friendly digital solutions that enhance the language learning and teaching experience. Kris is known for his eagerness to listen, as well as his logical and clear-sighted solutions, dedication to the company's mission, and commitment to continuous improvement. He is also known for what people call his “toe-shoes.”

Erin Almeranti serves as the Curriculum Director and General Manager at Voces Digital. With a deep passion for developing impactful learning experiences, Erin oversees the design and implementation of language curricula that meet the evolving needs of students and educators. With a belief in the power of storytelling and a background in ELA, creative writing, and anthropology, Erin hopes to orchestrate the creation of meaningful and effective educational content that inspires lifelong learning and travel. Erin is passionate about the Voces mission, which is “to make voices more accessible and comprehensible for learners, teachers, and people around the world.”