Dr. Reyna García Ramos Recognized for Leadership and Service to CABTE

Dr. Reyna García Ramos, professor of education and director of the Teacher Preparation Program at the Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP), was recently honored for her dedicated service as secretary of the California Association for Bilingual Teacher Education (CABTE). Her term concluded in June 2025, marking the end of a meaningful chapter in her ongoing advocacy for multilingual teacher preparation in California and beyond.

A longtime champion of bilingual education, Dr. García Ramos has been involved with CABTE since its inception. In 2006, during her time as director of legislative affairs for the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE), she supported efforts to establish CABTE as an official affiliate organization. Since then, she has remained an active member and consistent presence at CABTE events, including the annual CABE Conference.

Her leadership deepened during the pandemic, when she reengaged with CABTE’s statewide community of multilingual teacher educators. In 2022, Dr. García Ramos stepped in to serve as secretary and was officially elected to the role in 2023. In this capacity, she helped organize CABTE events, strengthen member engagement, and support initiatives that elevate the preparation of bilingual teachers.

“My time on the board has reinforced the need to continue to advocate for the effective preparation of multilingual teachers who serve the many rich multilingual families across our state and beyond,” said Dr. García Ramos.

In recognition of her contributions, the CABTE board presented Dr. García Ramos with a tribute and commemorative award during her final board meeting.

At Pepperdine GSEP, Dr. García Ramos serves as chair of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) and Online Master of Arts in Teaching (OMAT) programs. Her academic work and leadership reflect a long-standing commitment to equity, language justice, and culturally responsive teacher education.