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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Becky Moulton is an experienced educator, presenter, and FM-IFLT trained teacher coach. She discovered Comprehensible Input in 1998 and has been honing her craft ever since, attending and presenting at top conferences like CI Summit, FM-IFLT, MIWLA, Mitten CI, and CIMidwest. She loves working with teachers to build their skills and expand their CI/ADI practice so they can return to their classrooms with more confidence and joy. Becky’s teaching style echoes her personality. She’s creative, caring, positive, and enthusiastic about learning and teaching. Becky is passionate about reading, creatively engaging students, and integrating music and culture into lessons.

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. Get a sneak peak of what you can expect from Justin's storyasking Spotlight here.

Diane Neubauer 杜雁子, taught Mandarin Chinese for 10 years in elementary, middle, and high schools before completing her PhD in Foreign Language and ESL Education at the University of Iowa in 2022. She is Clinical Assistant Professor of Multilingual Education at the University of Louisville, teaches Chinese online, and facilitates language teacher training. She is especially interested in how language teachers can facilitate students’ comprehension of target language, engagement in classroom learning, & development of intercultural competence. Check her YouTube channel (search her name) for language learning (sometimes featuring her flock of backyard chickens!).

Emily Ibrahim, PhD has taught Spanish to learners of diverse ages and proficiency levels and thrives in the elementary classroom, where she uses stories and art to bring language alive. Her doctoral research focused on foreign language learning in children with Down syndrome, and she is passionate about including students with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the language classroom. She believes all children can acquire a second language and empowers other language teachers to make learning accessible to students of all ages and abilities through her writing, illustrating, presenting, and coaching.

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.

Susan Underwood Bio coming soon!

Holly Taylor Bio coming soon!

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 President of Teacher’s Discovery. 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.”