Rickey Santellana currently serves as the State/Federal Engagement and Projects Manager in the Emergent Bilingual Support Division at Texas Education Agency (TEA). He has been at TEA for seven years supporting school systems with Title III federal guidance and helping schools maximize state and federal funds to increase direct supports to emergent bilingual students. Prior to TEA, he worked Region 9 Education Service Center supporting small/rural schools with supports for emergent bilingual students and/or students/families who migrate for agricultural and seasonal work. He passion to work with families ignited as an ESL classroom teacher during his seven years at Wichita Falls ISD.