Emma Violand-Sánchez
She spent her career advocating for support and resources for the Latino community in Arlington and beyond.
Dr. Emma Violand-Sánchez left Bolivia in 1961 and moved to Virginia at 16 to attend high school without her parents. She received a scholarship to study at Radford University and earned a bachelor's and master's degree. Later, she completed her doctorate from George Washington University. Dr. Emma Violand-Sánchez was the first Latino teacher in Arlington and later became the first Latino member of the Arlington County School Board. Dr. She spent her career advocating for support and resources for the Latino community in Arlington and beyond.
In 1976, Dr. Emma Violand-Sánchez was employed by the Arlington Public Schools to work as a bilingual resource teacher at Key and Patrick Henry elementary schools. This happened at a time when Superintendent Larry Cuban was responding to national court decisions that mandated schools to invest in English as a second language instruction. While there she brought greater education access to students in Arlington Public Schools as the Supervisor of English for Speakers of Other Languages/High Intensity Language Training (ESOL/HILT) Office, Pre-K–grade 12.
In 2008, Dr. Violand-Sanchez became the first Latino elected to the Arlington Public Schools Board. In 2012, She became Chair of the Board.
Dr. Emma Violand-SánchezIn founded the Dream Project in 2011, a non-profit organization providing immigrant and refugee students with mentorship, advocacy, scholarships, and assistance enrolling into and graduating from Virginia universities and colleges.
Dr. Violand-Sánchez has authored several publications, including “Mentoring and Retaining College Dreamers” in Teachers As Allies (2018). Dr. Violand-Sánchez is a community and educational leader. Among her many awards, she received a senior scholar Fulbright Award, the James Hunter III Human Rights Award, the Mexican American Legal Defense (MALDEF) Community Service Award, the VCSS Award for College Board Exemplary Service, Washingtonian of the Year Award, and Lifetime Achievement Award for Extraordinary Service to the Community.
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