Language and Legacy: A Conversation with Montserrat Garibay

In this episode of The ASSETS Podcast, Dr. Jobi Lawrence welcomes back Montserrat Garibay, former Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director of the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) under the Biden-Harris administration.  Together, they explore the State Seal of Biliteracy and its impact in recognizing multilingual proficiency, as well as the role of programs like BESO in supporting and uplifting multilingual learners. From her beginnings as an undocumented immigrant to her leadership in education and labor, Montserrat's story is one of resilience, advocacy, and transformation.  This conversation highlights the importance of linguistic equity, educational policy, and celebrating diverse voices in our schools.