
Ph.D. candidate in Applied Linguistics and Language Education at the University of Maryland, with over 14 years of experience as a bilingual and ESOL educator across K-12 and higher education settings, including significant focus on adult ESL. Her research and practice center on applied linguistics, TESOL, and bilingual education, with a particular emphasis on creating equitable and just educational practices for adult multilingual learners.
Undergraduate and Graduate Courses:
Mahalingappa, L., Crawford, J. B., & Sierra, A. (2024). Linguistically Responsive Instruction and Ideologies in Preservice Teacher Preparation. In The Routledge
Handbook of Language and Mind Engineering (pp. 431-445). Routledge.
Sierra, A; Martin-Beltran, M., Gutierrez, S; Cataneo, A. (2024) Dual Language Bilingual Education Leaders as Learners, Anchors, and Advocates. Bilingual
Education Research Newsletter (pp.17-19)
Martin-Beltran, M., Sierra, A; Cataneo, A. (in press). Exploring Diverse Educators’ Language Ideologies: How Lived Experiences Shape Understandings of
Bilingual Education Goals. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
Martin-Beltran, M., Cataneo, A. Sierra, A (in press). The Challenges and Potential for Collaboration and Communities of Practice Among Dual Language
Bilingual Education Teachers. Teachers and Teaching Journal
JB. Crawford, Sierra., A (under review) Towards Culturally Sustaining TESOL Supervision: Collaborative Self-Study and Critical Friendship. Studying Teacher
Education Journal
Paper Presentations
Crawford. J.B., Sierra, A., (April, 2024) Toward Culturally Sustaining TESOL Supervision: Collaborative Self Study and Critical Friendship. American Education
Research Association (AERA)
Sierra, A., Crawford. J.B. (April, 2024) Promoting Critical Consciousness in a TESOL Methods Course: The Impact of Teachers’ Intersectional Identities.
American Education Research Association (AERA)
Gutierrez, S. & Sierra, A., (April, 2024) Supporting a Novice Teacher’s integration of Dual Language Bilingual Education Goals through Instructional Coaching.
American Education Research Association (AERA)
Sierra, A.,Martin-Beltran, M., Gutierrez, S., Cataneo, A. (April, 2024) Dual Language Bilingual Education Leaders as Anchors and Advocates. American
Education Research Association (AERA)
Cataneo, A., Martin-Beltran, M., Gutierrez, S., Sierra, A., (April, 2024) Dual Language Bilingual Education Teacher Learning and Pedagogically Productive Talk.
American Education Research Association (AERA)
Sierra, A., Crawford. JB. (March, 2024) Exploring Critical Consciousness in Diverse Pre-service TESOL teachers. Americal Association of Applied Linguistics
(AAAL). Houston Texas
Sierra, A., Martin-Beltran M., Cataneo, A., (Apr. 2023) Exploring Diverse Educators Understanding of Dual Language Bilingual Education in the Pursuit of
Equity.
American Education Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, Chicago IL.
Cataneo, A., Martin-Beltran M., Sierra, A., (Apr. 2023) The Challenges and Potential for Collaboration and Communities of Practice Among Dual Language
American Education Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, Chicago IL
Crawford, J.B, Reynolds, E., Sierra, A. (Apr. 2023) Noticing the Pull: Collaborative Self-study on the Identity Development of Novice University Supervisors.
American Education Research Association (AERA) Annual Conference, Chicago IL.
Practitioner based Presentations
Sierra A., (Jul. 2022) Equitable Assessments for Bilingual learners. Homecoming: National Council of Teachers of English. Louisville, KY
Sierra A., Winfrey., R. (Apr. 2017) Language Aptitude and Personality Type in TESOL CALICHE conference. Texas Tech
Sierra A., Winfrey., R. (Apr. 2016) Individual Differences: Aptitude, Personality Type. and Learning Strategies. CALICHE conference. Texas Tech University.
Lubbock, Texas.
Black, K., Sierra A., Winfrey., R. (Apr. 2016) Adapting Traditional Courses for Distance Learning and Blended Learning. CALICHE Conference. Texas Tech
University. Lubbock, Texas.
Sierra A., Torres, G., (Mar. 2019) Using WhatsApp as a Tool to Enhance Speaking Skills in large Classrooms. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras.
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Sierra A., (Jan. 2019) Using Video-recording to enhance Speaking Skills in an online EFL course. Laureate International Universities. Tegucigalpa, Honduras Sierra A., (Sep. 2020) Designing ELF online classes. Sharing Designer experiences in developing Online courses. Universidad Tecnologica Centroamericana Sierra A., (Dec. 2019) Why do we teach Grammar in TESOL Courses? Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras. Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Sierra A., (Nov. 2019) Online Tools to foster Communication in Writing and Speaking skills in a TESOL course
Fulbright-LASPAU Fulbright scholarship Grantee, $67000
From Everywhere is Possible: Designing Hybrid and Online Courses, Texas Tech Univeristy, $5,000
American Education Research Association (AERA)
American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL)