COORDINATION TEAM
Educator and entrepreneur, repping the Keyz for sure…
Julian Hill (aka Señor Hill)
Co-Founder, Lead Creative
Julian (he/they) is a former Spanish teacher in Compton, CA, and a native of Kankakee, IL. They have worked with youth since high school in a number of roles - day camp counselor, after-school program recreation coordinator, tutor and mentor. Julian has studied Spanish abroad in Spain and Guatemala, backpacked through almost all of Central and South America and has advised several Spanish-speaking worker cooperatives and other companies. Yo Hablo allows Julian to mix his passion for music (former violist, occasional poet) and his love for teaching and empowering youth.
Patrick Senat
Co-Founder, Lead Strategist
Patrick Senat (he/him) has always believed in the power of education. Senat graduated from Wesleyan University where he co-led the Traverse Square after-school center, an education enrichment program for K-12 students. After graduating college in 2008, Patrick taught World History and English to high school students in Southern California. Later in 2015, Patrick would return home to Brooklyn and serve as an appointed member of his Community Education Council in the New York City Department of Education, the largest school district in the nation. Yo Hablo allows Patrick to champion language acquisition in a culturally responsive way.
Community organizer, educator, futurist - keeping Brooklyn on the map.
Advisory circle
Ms. Vicki Jones (she/her) is a veteran educator from Augusta, GA She has taught Spanish in the state of Georgia for thirteen years. She is a graduate of Georgia Southern University with a bachelor’s degree in Modern Languages and a minor in Africana Studies. Vicki has completed educational volunteer services in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Puerto Rico. Ms. Jones also creates curriculum, assessments, and several other professional developments for educators. And finally Ms. Jones also specializes in urban Spanish education. And she is dedicated to the expansion of languages for today’s youth.
Dallas Rico (he/him), a TV Writer, taught high school Spanish for over a decade, both on the West Coast and the East Coast, in public and private schools. Though he has left the classroom to pursue a career in TV writing, he is still very much passionate about Education. Yo Hablo allows Dallas to continue to encourage students to learn Spanish and, in a way, to relive his teaching days.
Argenys Taveras (he/him) is a career educator. He has taught youth in and out of school, focusing on the most underserved youth. Most recently, he taught Spanish for two and half years in New Orleans while also assisting Spanish-speaking students in their linguistic development. Argenys has always seen bilingualism as a bridge between communities, especially Black and Latino communities. He comes to this work with an eye for cultural relevance, academic rigor, and accessibility at all skill levels.
Alexandra Thomas (she/her) received her Doctorate in Education from the Curriculum and Teaching department at Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds an M.S. in Childhood Education from Lehman College and a B.S. in International Affairs from Georgia Institute of Technology. Alexandra is the Founder and Director of Atlanta Teaching and Learning Lab, which provides professional learning opportunities for teachers. Before starting ATL Lab, Alexandra was a Professional Development Consultant at The Center for Technology and School Change at Columbia University specializing in curriculum design and interdisciplinary pedagogies. She worked in New York City Public Schools over the course of 10 years as a teacher, professional development coach, and researcher. She is passionate about social justice education and helping learners develop into critical thinkers.
