Dr. Michelle Yzquierdo
Senior Educational Consultant
We are devastated to share that our dear friend and colleague, Michelle Yzquierdo, passed away on August 10th after a tragic car accident.
Our hearts are shattered, and our prayers are with her two boys Kai and Karsten, her dear husband Carlos, and countless loving family members and friends across the nation. She will always be remembered for her dynamic personality and presentations, her infectious humor, and her deep love for the immigrant community and multilingual learners.
Michelle’s lifelong dedication to serving newcomer students led to her doctoral work and the subsequent publication of Pathways to Greatness for ELL Newcomers: A Comprehensive Guide for Schools and Teachers.
She will be so deeply missed, and we hope to carry her legacy forward in our profound commitment to multilingual education.
Dr. Michelle Yzquierdo became a very popular and sought-after speaker because of her knowledge and engaging and enthusiastic presentation style. She has presented at the local, state, national and international levels on a variety of topics related to cultural intelligence, best practices for English-learners, effective support for newcomers, and numerous trainings addressing state/federal accountability and compliance.
Dr. Yzquierdo’s experience included high school science teacher, new arrival team, where she taught students from all demographic groups, including ELs and first-year immigrant ELs, science department chair, peer facilitator, instructional specialist, and educational program specialist. Dr. Yzquierdo had received numerous awards and honors including commendations from the Texas House of Representatives, and fellowships in both Switzerland and Swaziland.
Dr. Yzquierdo held an undergraduate science degree from Texas A&M University, a master’s degree in organizational management from the University of Houston, and a doctorate degree in diversity and immigrant studies from Lamar University where she researched the factors contributing to the success of immigrant students. As the child of an immigrant, an educator, and a researcher, Dr. Yzquierdo had seen first-hand what it takes to support a diverse student population so they may see success. She had dedicated her career to providing other professionals with appropriate and necessary research-based strategies and tools. Dr. Yzquierdo lived in Houston, TX with her husband, Carlos, and sons, Kai and Karsten. She is the author of the book, Pathways to Greatness for ELL Newcomers: A Comprehensive Guide for Schools and Teachers, released in December of 2017.
