A Full Circle Moment(the circle is complete but not NEAT): Meeting Dr. Kate Kinsella and Standing in My Purpose

Time has a funny way of moving—sometimes dragging, sometimes sprinting, but always looping us back to the lessons we need to remember. A couple of Fridays ago, I had the privilege of attending a Professional Learning opportunity where I met the esteemed Dr. Kate Kinsella, a scholar and practitioner whose work has profoundly shaped the landscape of English Language Development (ELD) and Multilingual Learner (MLL) instruction.

For those unfamiliar, Dr. Kate Kinsella is a nationally recognized educator and researcher specializing in evidence-based academic language instruction for multilingual learners. Her expertise in literacy, vocabulary development, and equitable access to rigorous content has made her a cornerstone in professional development for educators committed to serving emergent bilinguals. To put it plainly—she’s that woman in the field of MLL education. A blueprint. A force.

Beautiful wall at PS 135Q, I have the same set in my classroom. Language visuals matter!

Shapel Monique LaBorde with Dr. Kate Kinsella at D29 Liason Meeting

So, when I found myself in the same room with her, engaged in a conversation that wove my personal journey into the larger tapestry of our shared commitment to language equity, I knew I was exactly where I was meant to be.

A Personal Connection: Vietnam and the Passage of Time

As we spoke, we found an unexpected connection—her child is from Vietnam, and a decade ago, I was an educator in Vietnam. It was one of those moments where time collapsed, reminding me of the winding path that has led me here. Ten years ago, I was navigating a foreign land, teaching English in a place that would teach me just as much in return. Now, I stand firmly as an SLA educator, an ENL/MLL teacher serving grades 3-5, committed to the same mission but with an evolved sense of purpose and expertise. Whew chile, we have come so very far by faith, Lawd!

It was surreal. A full-circle moment. ( I am reading Aime Cesaire's, Discourse on Colonialism, so bear with my sudden obsession with the words marvelous and surreal)

And then, another memory surfaced—I first encountered Dr. Kinsella at the NYU RBERN (Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network) series back in 2017. I was fresh into the DOE, still shaping my pedagogical identity, and still figuring out how to translate my passion for language justice into action within a rigid and inequitable system. Seeing her again, years later, solidified how much I have grown—not just in skill, but in the weight and power of my voice.

Standing in My Authority: From Student to Facilitator

Shapel Monique LaBorde presenting Staff Professional Development for January 27th 2025.

That following Monday, I found myself standing in front of my colleagues, facilitating our Monday Staff Development meeting as part of our school’s Title III funding. I wasn’t just absorbing knowledge anymore—I was sharing it, leading with it, embodying it. I was honored to present on a subject I live and breathe daily: ensuring our multilingual learners are not just accommodated but affirmed, not just taught but empowered.

It wasn’t lost on me that this moment—this moment of leading,(particularly in this space, this building) of being heard and respected in my professional community—was a testament to the very work that women like Dr. Kinsella have championed for decades. And here I was, contributing to that legacy in my own way, within my own school, for my own students.

To be a Black woman educator in this space, at this moment, standing in my expertise, was nothing short of an affirmation.

The Perfect Segway Into Black History Month

Meeting Dr. Kinsella, reconnecting with my past, and then stepping into my present as a facilitator—this wasn’t just professional development. It was a reminder that the knowledge we build is not just for us. It is to be shared, to be passed down, to be transformed into collective power.

And as we move into Black History Month, I carry that energy forward. Black educators have always been at the heart of radical transformation, of linguistic justice, of pushing against the erasure and exclusion that seeks to silence us. Our presence in the classroom, in leadership, in scholarship, is the lesson.

This full-circle moment wasn’t just about me. It was about all the Black women before me who fought to teach when the world told them they couldn't. It was about the little Black and Brown kids in my classroom who will grow up knowing that their words matter. That their voices carry weight.

So, as February begins, I hold onto this truth:

"When I dare to be powerful—to use my strength in the service of my vision—then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." – Audre Lorde

A perfect Black Educator segway into Black History Month.