My name is Rhonda Hittenberger Ortiz. My calling in life is to build bridges of understanding, communication, and mutual respect. I’ve been fortunate to stand in diverse settings and connect with remarkable people who seemed different at first—only to discover shared interests, common experiences, and similar values that make differences fade.

Growing up in a multicultural, multilingual setting led me to dedicate my career to supporting English learners in schools. I’ve spent 30 years in education advocating for students as an EL, Spanish, and French teacher; leading as the English Learner program director of the biggest public school district in my state; as a high school counselor; and as a state instructional coach. I bring practical tools and insights to help educators create more excellent, inclusive classrooms. My aim is simple: empower educators to build bridges that welcome every student.