What happens when students finally see themselves reflected in the educators who teach them, the leaders who guide them, and the advocates who believe in them?

In this episode of Beyond the Margins, Dr. Sohn A. Butts sits down with educator and multilingual learning advocate Nitza Rivera for a powerful conversation about representation, identity, belonging, and the conditions that make authentic student engagement possible.

Drawing from her own lived experience as a multilingual learner, Rivera challenges deficit-based thinking and offers a compelling vision for schools where students' languages, cultures, and experiences are recognized as strengths—not barriers. Together, they explore why representation matters, how belonging fuels engagement, the critical role of trust and relationships, and what educators can do to create learning  ...