LAC Staff Workshop Presenters

Cynthia Bell
Cynthia Bell is the Director of Workforce Development & Numeracy Services at the Literacy Assistance Center, where she oversees workforce projects and initiatives, develops and facilitates workshops for adult basic education (ABE) and high school equivalency (HSE) instructors on standards-based numeracy instruction, as well as on blending academic and workforce skills. When she is not leading and developing trainings, Cynthia is providing customized coaching to instructors on integrated curriculum design, blending workforce and academic instruction, and the best practices of teaching and learning mathematics. In 2016, she co-authored the teacher resource book Teaching Adults: A HiSET Exam Resource Book. Cynthia has presented at international, national, state, and regional conferences, and is an active board member of the Adult Numeracy Network (ANN), an affiliate delegate of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), and a national LINCS numeracy trainer.

Nell Eckersley
Nell Eckersley is the Director of Digital Equity Projects & Senior Advisor for the New York City Support and Technical Assistance Center (STAC) at the Literacy Assistance Center. Nell has been working on ways to integrate digital literacy skills into adult education ever since she developed a project on how to teach basic computer skills in a classroom without computers in 2001. Nell’s current work on digital literacy and adult education includes being a member of the US Adult Digital Learning Advisory Group for the Ed Tech Center at World Ed, a Subject Matter Expert for the DRAW project, a technology advisor for the CILIA-T project, and a resource developer for the LINCS. Her particular areas of interest are strengthening digital literacy skills for adult education practitioners and students, integrating technology into the adult education classroom via mobile devices, and digital inclusion for all.

Lizelena Iglesias
Lizelena Iglesias is the Director of Adult Literacy Professional Development Services at the Literacy Assistance Center. She joined the LAC in 2015 with over eight years of experience designing and teaching HSE courses and leading professional development for HSE teachers in a community-based organization. Currently, Lizelena provides training and sustained coaching for adult and youth educators in best practices in literacy and science instruction, and in the integration of science, social studies, and literacy instruction with occupational content and skills. Additionally, Lizelena developed the science module of the LAC Academy High School Equivalency course; has developed science curricula for the Queens Public Library TASC Transition Curriculum project; and has conducted numerous trainings on the Spanish HSE and the Spanish TABE tests. Lizelena is an active  member of the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA),  the International Literacy Association (ILA), and is the science community moderator for LINCS.

Be Jensen
Be Jensen is the Director of the New York City Support and Technical Assistance Center (NYC STAC) at the Literacy Assistance Center. Be joined the staff of the LAC in 2007 with 13 years of experience as an ESOL instructor and 10 years of experience as a program director of a community-based adult education program. Be provides training and coaching on standardized test administration and has been responsible for the design and implementation of LAC professional development on a wide range of leadership, instructional, and programmatic topics. Be is a Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)-certified BEST Plus Trainer, a NYSED-trained trainer on the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE), and an NYU-Certified Executive and Organizational Coach.

William Linn
William Linn is the ESOL Specialist & Coordinator of ESOL Certificate Programs at the Literacy Assistance Center. In addition to leading ESOL workshops and curriculum design projects, he is one of the two facilitators of the LAC’s Teaching English as a Second Language to Adults (TESLA)  course. Will has also facilitated the LAC’s Teaching English to Adults with Limited Literacy (TEALL) course and taught Applied Linguistics in the MATESOL program at the SIT Graduate Institute. Will received his MA in TESOL from the SIT Graduate Institute in 2011, and has been a licensed SIT Teacher Trainer since 2015. Will also holds a certificate in Compassionate Communication for Language Teachers from the Institute for Collaborative Learning in Costa Rica. He started teaching ESOL at community organizations in 2008.

Sierra Stoneman-Bell
Sierra Stoneman-Bell is the Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Literacy Assistance Center, where she leads the Literacy & Justice Initiative to advance adult literacy education as part of a broader vision for racial, social, and economic justice. Sierra joined the LAC in 2016 to lead the Investing in Quality Report, bringing her experience in education, youth development, workforce connections, and community organizing and advocacy. Before this, Sierra directed the adult education and workforce programs at Make the Road New York as part of a larger strategy to build the power of working class and immigrant communities. She has also led advocacy campaigns for public investment in adult education and youth services and worked to directly support first generation college students and out-of-school youth. She is excited to collaborate with educators and organizers to center social justice themes in the classroom.

Kate Tornese
Kate Tornese is the Associate Director of ASISTS and Data Services at the Literacy Assistance Center.  ASISTS (Adult Student Information System & Technological Support) is the data system required for agencies granted Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Adult Literacy Education (ALE), and Employment Preparation & Education (EPE) contracts by NYSED.  Kate conducts all ASISTS Trainings in the NYC Region as well as the other 6 NYSED Regions of New York State in partnership with the Regional Adult Education Network (RAEN). 

Ira Yankwitt
Ira Yankwitt is the Executive Director of the Literacy Assistance Center. Ira began his career in adult literacy education in 1993. He has taught high school equivalency, managed a community-based adult literacy program, and spent many years training teachers and program administrators. Ira served as the Director of the New York City Regional Adult Education Network from 2004 through 2007. From 2007-2012, Ira oversaw curriculum, instruction, and professional development for the NYC Department of Education’s Office of Adult and Continuing Education. He has served in his current position since December 2012.