Our Advisors
Medley is advised by leaders in the field of multilingual learning and language education.
Tim Boals, Ph.D
Founder and Senior Principal Investigator, WIDA
Tim Boals is the Founder and a Senior Principal Investigator at WIDA. He holds a Ph.D. in curriculum from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an emphasis in the education of multilingual learners. His background includes language education, educational policy, curriculum, and Spanish language and literature.
As Senior PI, Tim is responsible for thought leadership initiatives at WIDA. He also serves on the leadership team and is an advisor to the WIDA Executive Director, Jenni Torres. In his role directing thought leadership, Tim convenes researchers and policy makers to discuss current topics in serving multilingual learners and how WIDA can further develop language standards, assessments and resources to meet the needs of the field.
Tim's research interests involve the interplay between content and language learning for multilingual learners across the language acquisition continuum and the effects of standards on classroom practice for these learners. He has collaborated on articles about re-conceptualization of academic language and the evolving construct of English language testing, the books "Multilingual Learners and Academic Literacies" and "Formative Language Assessment for ELLs," and a book chapter on supporting multilingual learners with special needs. Current writings and presentations include the topic of opportunity to learn for multilingual learners and what is required to ensure high quality academic environments for these students.
Tim has presented at international, national and regional conferences on the challenges facing multilingual learners and how schools and educators can better meet their needs.
Piedad Kaye, Ph.D.
Director of Bilingual/ESL Education, Mannheim District 83
Devoted, resourceful, bi-lingual and bi-literate educator with proven ability to: seek out solutions to academic challenges and raise student achievement; implement and supervise innovative programs; lead teams of teachers in improving instruction; align instruction with objectives; coach and mentor teachers in creation and implementation of units and lessons; develop an environment that creates open communication with colleagues, students and the community; ensure culture and climate that encourages continuous and collaborative communication.
Piedad believes that a Bilingual Curriculum Director is the instructional and organizational leader in the school community. She believes that it is her responsibility to assure that all the adults in the school work together for the benefit of the students. She believes in a balance of consensus and management to maximize staff efforts for students in our care. Piedad models high professional standards and expects the same from those she leads. She believes that teamwork, peer coaching and a shared vision will strengthen the school community.
Margo Gottlieb, Ph.D.
Co-founder and Lead Developer, WIDA
Margo Gottlieb holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy Analysis: Evaluation Research and Program Design, valuing her career as a language teacher and coordinator, bilingual facilitator, director of assessment and evaluation, and consultant to school districts, states, publishers, governments, universities, and organizations. Additionally, she has been a Fulbright senior specialist in assessment and evaluation, recognized by TESOL International Association's 50@50 "as an individual who has made a significant contribution to the TESOL profession within the past 50 years," and inducted into the inaugural Hall of Fame of Multilingual Education by Summit K12. Having traveled extensively, Margo has keynoted and presented in Asia, Central America, Europe, Indonesia, the Middle East, North America, the Pacific, Singapore, and South America, as well as across the United States.
Margo's publications include more than 100 articles, white papers, briefs, monographs, handbooks, guides, technical reports, chapters and assessments. Her latest of 20 books include Academic languaging: Engaging multilingual learners in content area learning (with G. Ernst Slavit, 2026), Collaborative assessment for multilingual learners and their teachers (with A. Honigsfeld, 2025), Assessing multilingual learners: Bridges to empowerment (3e, 2024), and Assessment in multiple languages: A handbook for school and district leaders (2022).
Kathy Escamilla, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, University of Colorado, Boulder
Kathy Escamilla is a professor of education in the division of social, bilingual and multicultural foundations. Dr. Escamilla's research centers on educational issues related to Spanish speaking students in U.S. schools. She is specifically interested in issues related to the development of bilingualism and biliteracy in early elementary grades for this Spanish speaking population. Her recent research has also examined assessment practices and the impact of high stakes testing on these children.
Dr. Escamilla is a member of numerous professional organizations in education and has served two terms as the president of the National Association for Bilingual Education. She has also served as a co-editor of the Bilingual Research Journal, and has served as the chairperson of the Bilingual SIG for the American Education Research Association (AERA).
