In the first episode of Beyond Translation, host Ruben Arias sits down with Sage Cavazos, Assistant Principal at Brook Avenue Elementary in Waco Independent School District. Sage shares a deeply personal journey shaped by family history, cultural identity, and a commitment to ensuring multilingual learners are seen, heard, and supported.

From his grandmother’s experience of linguistic isolation to his own path into bilingual education, Sage reflects on what it means to advocate for students who are still finding their voice in a new language. He discusses how identity, language, and belonging intersect in schools, and why leadership must go beyond compliance to truly serve students.

The conversation dives into the realities educators face when supporting multilingual learners across diverse backgrounds. Sage shares firsthand experiences working with newcomers from across Latin America and beyond, highlighting the wide range of academic starting points and the importance of meeting students where they are. He also speaks candidly about systemic challenges, from lack of Spanish instructional materials to policies that prioritize English at the expense of student identity,and what leaders can do at the school level to push back and create meaningful change.

Key Moments
00:36 “From Family History to Bilingual Leadership”

03:00 “Becoming the Voice for Students Without One”

05:14 “Building Confidence in Emerging English Speakers”

08:58 “The Diversity Within Spanish-Speaking Classrooms”

11:40 “The Reality of Limited Spanish Resources”

14:07 “Leading with Purpose and Advocacy”

18:38 “Rethinking English-First Systems”

21:45 “Recruiting and Supporting Bilingual Educators”

27:56 “Tracking Growth Across Two Languages”

31:51 “Why Bilingualism Is an Asset, Not a Barrier”

Why You’ll Love This Episode
If you’re working with multilingual learners or leading bilingual programs, this episode offers an honest, ground-level look at what it really takes to support students in today’s system. Sage shares practical insights on building confidence in students, creating classrooms where mistakes are part of learning, and navigating gaps in resources without losing sight of what matters most.

You’ll also hear a powerful perspective on language as identity. This conversation challenges the “English-first” mindset and offers a clearer vision of what equitable education looks like—where students are not asked to leave their language behind to succeed, but are empowered because of it.

Connect with Sage Cavazos
Assistant Principal, Brook Avenue Elementary | Waco Independent School District
LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sage-cavazos-gonzalez-ab16aa1a5
Website: https://bae.wacoisd.org/

Connect with Us
Ruben Arias
CEO & Founder, Beeverso
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rariasa
Website: https://www.beeverso.org/

About Beyond Translation
Beyond Translation explores how school leaders are navigating the real challenges of serving multilingual learners in bilingual and dual language programs. Through candid conversations with principals, assistant principals, and instructional leaders, the podcast highlights what is working, what is not, and what meaningful, culturally responsive education truly looks like for Spanish-speaking students.

Subscribe & Listen
If you enjoyed this episode, follow Beyond Translation for more conversations with educators working to ensure students can succeed academically without losing their language, identity, or voice.