Diane Balagna

A lifelong resident of Kansas City and fluent French speaker, I have been with Académie Lafayette French Immersion Charter School since 2009. With a master’s degree in education and a background in foreign language research, I am an enthusiastic advocate for immersion education. I studied abroad at the University of Lyon II in France while living with a French host family, and I continue to speak French everyday with colleagues and students. I believe immersion education is beneficial for everyone, children and adults alike, and I am eager to share the magic of the immersion approach with participants at SXSWedu.

In between working and raising two charming boys, I serve on the Alumni Board of the UMKC School of Education. I enjoy volunteering for organizations devoted to making Kansas City a great place for all children to learn.

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