Hello!

I'm kiina dordoni

I believe in our collective capacity to serve our children.

I’ve enthusiastically supported administrators and teachers with high quality professional and program development for over 15 years as an educator. 

I was an administrator for six years in the Morris School District in Morristown, NJ - first, as an assistant principal in the high school where I co-constructed our Newcomer Program for students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE), and then, as the Director of ELL/Bilingual Programs for the entire district that serves 1,300+ Multilingual Learners (MLs). 

I’ve facilitated district-wide professional development and conference workshops for administrators and teachers on multiple topics including Sheltered English Instruction (SEI), Teaching in bilingual classrooms, Culturally Responsive Teaching, Multicultural Education, Teaching for Social Justice, Restorative Practices, New Teacher Academy and Classroom Management in order to develop our collective capacity to support multicultural and multilingual learners. 

After serving six years in the United States Navy, I entered the profession of esteemed educators as a Teach for America corps member in 2008 and developed the Spanish program in the charter school where I started teaching. I was a teacher for 10 years prior to being an administrator, teaching Spanish, Social Studies, and Bilingual Language Arts to students across all grade levels K-12.

I am thrilled to now utilize my experience and expertise in a consulting capacity to support educators across various school districts to improve programs that support multilingual and multicultural learners.

We lift as we climb. When we do better, our kids do better.

The traditional greeting among the Maasai tribe in Africa asks, “and how are the children?” When we prioritize the needs of the children who we are entrusted to serve, we all thrive. When we see language as a bridge rather than a barrier, and differences as windows rather than dividers, we all thrive. And what I value the most is that the children, our children, are well. 

What I bring to the table is a wealth of experience, a knowledge of multilingual/multicultural education, rigorous pedagogy, and a brain that can synthesize everything in my tool belt to meet the specific needs of your team. Tailoring programs and professional development is my thing! 

I know that this is challenging work and I am here for it. Let me help you improve your program, train your team, and reduce your stress.

Action-Oriented

I understand that educators feel a sense of urgency when it comes to our children, and so I focus on actionable items that you can implement right away. I believe in both/and - we can engage in both the deeper “why’s” and the practical application of high-quality strategies.

Collaborative

I combine my experience and attention to detail with the attributes of your district to get the results you want. Understanding the big picture and having a strategic approach ensures that the work we do is relevant and enduring.

Exceptional

Knowledge, experience, and competence are vital, but so is kindness! I value integrity, hard work, growth, and compassion.

Credentials

  • Founder • Lift As We Climb Consulting, LLC; 4/23-Current

    Director of ELL/Bilingual Programs K-12 • Morris School District; 7/19-6/23

    Assistant Principal and Supervisor of ELL/Bilingual Department • Morristown High School; 9/17-6/19

    Middle School Spanish and Social Studies Teacher • South Orange Middle School; 9/13-6/17

    Spanish Teacher • University Heights Charter School; Newark, NJ • 8/08-6/13

    Teacher of English as a Foreign Language • Instituto Americano; La Paz, Bolivia • 07/06-11/06

    Spanish Teacher Assistant• Virginia Wesleyan College; Norfolk, VA • 08/05-12/05

    United States Navy • 11/97-11/03

  • Anticipated Doctor of Education • Urban Education Leadership Program • Teachers College Columbia University, 2027

    Master of Arts in Bilingual/Bicultural Education • Teachers College Columbia University, 2017

    Master of Arts in Educational Leadership • Montclair State University, 2017

    Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and International Studies • Virginia Wesleyan College, 2007

  • Presenter NABE Spring Conference 2024

    •Beyond Decoding: Language Comprehension in the Spanish Bilingual Classroom

    •They’re ALL Ours!: Building Administrative Capacity to Serve Multilingual Learners

    •Talkin’ Like Wypipo (White People): Intersections of Race and Power in Language Instruction

    ——

    Presenter NYSTESOL Fall Conference 2023

    •They’re ALL Ours!: Building Administrative Capacity to Serve Multilingual Learners

    ——

    Presenter NJPSA/FEA/NJASCD Fall Conference 2023 - Making Excellence Happen

    •Leading from the Middle: Building Administrative Capacity to Serve Multilingual Learners

    ——

    Presenter NJTESOL/NJBE Spring Conference 2023

    •Lift Every Voice: Strategies to Increase Speaking Engagement

    •Leading from the Middle: Building Administrative Capacity to Serve Multilingual Learners

    •Talkin’ Like Wypipo (White People): Intersections of Race and Power in Language Instruction

    ——

    Presenter NJTESOL/NJBE Spring Conference 2022

    •Leading Toward an Antiracist and Culturally Responsive Community

    •Writing Language Objectives and Teaching for Language Development

    ——

    Presenter at Montclair State University’s Office of Equity and Diversity Social Justice Conference 2017

    •Creating Inclusive Spaces in Racially Diverse Classrooms

    ——

    Presenter at MSUNER Summer Conference 2016

    •Restorative Practices and Student Behavior

    ——

    Executive Board Member NJTESOL/NJBE 2023

    National SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Project Leader 2019

    New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) 2017

    Teach for America Corps Member: Newark Region 2008

    ——

    Recipient of Facing History and Ourselves In-Depth Program Grant 2016-2017

    Recipient of Montclair State University Network for Educational Renewal (MSUNER) Action Research Project Grant 2015

    • Chair of NJTESOL/NJBE’s Countering Anti-Black Racism (CABR) Committee - 2024

    • Trained as National SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) Project Leader - 2019

    • Led Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professional development for 300+ school district & partner school administration, teachers, and staff

    • Founded Alliance of Black Educators in the Morris School District

    • Co-facilitated transgender policy development

    • Organized student forums and panel discussion on race

    • Designed hiring practices that align with district’s Equity and Inclusion Policy

    • Presented at Montclair State University’s Office of Equity and Diversity Social Justice Conference - 2017

    • Presenter at NJTESOL/NJBE Spring Conference:

      • Leading Toward an Antiracist and Culturally Responsive Community 2022 & 2023;

      • Leading from the Middle: Building Administrative Capacity to Serve Multilingual Learners 2023;

      • Talkin’ Like Wypipo (White People): Intersections of Race and Power in Language Instruction 2023