2024 Hybrid Conference: Leading Change in Multilingual Education

Dr. Lisa Auslander

Senior Project Director/PI

Bridges to Academic Success, CUNY

Lisa Auslander is the Principal Investigator and Senior Project Director at Bridges to Academic Success, a City University of New York-based project at the Graduate Center, where she leads the curriculum, professional learning and evaluation teams, designing and evaluating resources for teachers of Students with Interrupted and Inconsistent Schooling (SIFE) and newcomer multilingual students. In this role, she works with schools and districts throughout New York State and other parts of the country on their school improvement plans for multilingual learners. Lisa received her PhD in Urban Education based on a study of culturally and linguistically responsive RtI for secondary English language learners. She also serves as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Hunter College in Educational Leadership and is the co-author of School-wide Systems for Multilingual Learner Success: A Roadmap for Leaders.

• 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Setting up SIFE and Newcomer Learners for Success in Secondary Mathematics

Rania Caldwell

Director of Multilingual Learners

Woburn Public Schools, MA

Rania Caldwell, EdS, is the Director of Multilingual Learners in Woburn, MA, bringing over 20 years of experience in education. Her career spans roles as an ESL teacher, ML instructional coach, and administrator in diverse urban and suburban districts. Currently serving on the WIDA LEA Advisory Committee and selected as the WIDA LEA Executive Committee Representative, Rania actively contributes to shaping educational practices. A dedicated advocate for multilingual learners, she presents nationally and locally, emphasizing equity-centered shifts in education to support culturally and linguistically diverse students. Rania's work reflects her passion for fostering inclusive and effective educational environments for the success of multilingual learners.

• 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Breaking the Cycle: How Organizational Routines Impact Multilingual Learners

Dr. Joe Terantino is an associate professor of Second Language Education and Stella V. Andersen Endowed Professor in Secondary Education. He is passionate in his support for public education and dedicates his work to assist language teachers and teachers of English learners. His expertise lies in language teaching methods and computer-assisted language learning.

• 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Leading Change for Emergent Bilinguals Through Advocacy

Dr. Robyn Edwards is a teaching assistant professor of Language and Literacy at Oklahoma State University. She is a Spanish/English bilingual speaker having lived and worked in Spain and Mexico as an EFL teacher. Her academic interests are with English Language Learners, specifically concerning pedagogical strategies for ELL instruction.

• 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Leading Change for Emergent Bilinguals Through Advocacy

Amy Heineke

Professor of Education

Loyola University Chicago

Dr. Amy Heineke is a professor at Loyola University Chicago, where she prepares educators for work with multilingual learners. She has published six books and over 60 peer-reviewed articles focused on educational policy and practice for multilingual learners. Dr. Heineke regularly works with teachers across the United States and Latin America to build professional capacity for language learners. Her career began as a Kindergarten teacher in Phoenix, Arizona.

• 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  The Seal of Biliteracy & Multilingual Learners: Enhancing Equity in Biliteracy Development

Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld

Professor

Molloy University

Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld is Professor in the School of Education and Human Services at Molloy University, Rockville Centre, New York, where she teachers graduate courses related to cultural and linguistic diversity. Before entering the field of teacher education, she was an English-as-a-foreign-language teacher in Hungary (Grades 5–8 and adult) and an English-as-a-second-language teacher in New York City (Grades K–3 and adult). She also taught Hungarian at New York University.
She was the recipient of a doctoral fellowship at St. John’s University, New York, where she conducted research on individualized instruction and learning styles. She has published extensively on working with English language learners and providing individualized instruction based on learning style preferences. She frequently offers professional learning opportunities, primarily focusing on effective differentiated strategies and collaborative practices for ELD specialists and general-education teachers. She coauthored Differentiated Instruction for At-Risk Students (2009) and co-edited the five-volume Breaking the Mold of Education series (2010–2013), published by Rowman and Littlefield. She is also the co-author of Core Instructional Routines: Go-To Structures for Effective Literacy Teaching, K–5 and 6–12 (2014), and author of Growing Language and Literacy (2019) published by Heinemann. With Maria Dove, she co-edited Coteaching and Other Collaborative Practices in the EFL/ESL Classroom: Rationale, Research, Reflections, and Recommendations (2012) and Co-Teaching for English Learners: Evidence-based Practices and Research-Informed Outcomes (2020). Maria and Andrea also co-authored Collaboration and Co-Teaching: Strategies for English Learners (2010), Common Core for the Not-So-Common Learner, Grades K–5: English Language Arts Strategies (2013), Common Core for the Not-So-Common Learner, Grades 6–12: English Language Arts Strategies (2013), Beyond Core Expectations: A Schoolwide Framework for Serving the Not-So-Common Learner (2014), Collaboration and Co-Teaching: A Leader’s Guide (2015), Coteaching for English Learners: A Guide to Collaborative Planning, Instruction, Assessment, and Reflection (2018), and Collaborating for English Learners: A Foundational Guide to Integrated Practices (2019), Co-Planning: 5 Essential Practices to Integrate Curriculum and Instruction for English Learners (2022). She is a contributing author of Breaking Down the Wall: Essential Shifts for English Learner Success (2020), From Equity Insights to Action (2021), and Digital-Age Teaching for English Learners (2022). Nine of her Corwin books are bestsellers.

• 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Collaborative Assessment in Dual Language Education: Redefining Dual Language Learners' Successes"

Dr. Joan Lachance

Associate Professor/Educational Consultant

UNC Charlotte

Dr. Joan Lachance is an Associate Professor of Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She directs the TESL graduate programs and undergraduate TESL Minor. She is the co-author of the National Dual Language Education Teacher Preparation Standards and the Director of the CAEP Specialized Program Association in Dual Language Education called “EMMA: Education for a Multilingual Multicultural America.” She received her undergraduate degree in Secondary Education, Modern Languages and Linguistics from Florida International University. With Spanish as the language of program delivery, she completed graduate coursework to earn her master’s degree in School Counseling from Pontifical Catholic University in Poncé, Puerto Rico. Dr. Lachance completed her doctoral work in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis on Urban Education, Literacy, and TESL at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Dr. Lachance’s research agenda and professional learning via her consultancies encompasses dual language teacher preparation, academic literacy development, and authentic assessment with multilingual learners. Her work has resulted in numerous publications including articles, book chapters, technical reports, and state-level curriculum guides since joining UNC Charlotte. She serves on several journal editorial boards and is a board member of the Multistate Association for Bilingual Education, Northeast (MABE). With the publication of a forthcoming Corwin book, she is specializing one aspect of of her professional consultancies with collaboration and co-teaching for multilingual learners in the dual language context. She is also working to support dual language education for the preservation of Native American languages, currently and most-honorably collaborating with a K-8 school serving the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians [EBCI].

• 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Collaborative Assessment in Dual Language Education: Redefining Dual Language Learners' Successes"

Katie Crook

Founding Director

South Carolina ML Educator Network

Katie Crook is the Founding Director of the SC ML Educator Network. She holds a BA in English from Lipscomb University in Nashville and an MA in TESOL from Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City. She is a current full-time Ph.D. student and Graduate Research Assistant at Clemson University. Before settling in South Carolina, she taught in Brooklyn, New York and in the Transylvania region of Romania. She serves on the executive board of Carolina TESOL as Publications Editor, and her professional interests center around building educator capacity for working with multilingual learners. She is married to Paul Crook, an elementary assistant principal, and they have two children, Peter (5) and Rebecca (2).

• 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Building a New Kind of PLN

Laura McAulay

Assistant Director of Programming

South Carolina ML Educator Network

Laura McAulay has been in education for 10 years and served as a multilingual learner program (MLP) specialist for 8 years. She currently serves as the Assistant Director of Programming for the SC Multilingual Learner Educator Network. In addition to her K-12 ESOL certification, she received her bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education (K-6) and a minor in Spanish from Georgia Southern University and has her master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Clemson University. She has spent her entire career in South Carolina and taught for both Chesterfield County and York 4-Fort Mill School District. She has experience teaching all K-12 MLs. In Fort Mill, she also got extensive experience co-teaching at the elementary school level which allowed her to develop further classroom experience and an understanding of how to support MLs within the general education classroom. She is passionate about advocating and empowering ML parents and school staff to equitably educate MLs. She lives in Charlotte, NC with her husband, Sam, and is currently staying home with their son, Colin (1).

• 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Building a New Kind of PLN

Kristin Craft

Assistant Director

South Carolina ML Educator Network

Kristin Craft is an Assistant Director of the SC ML Educator Network and works full time as a Multilingual Learner Program Specialist in Charleston, SC. She holds a BA in Elementary Education with a specialization in Mathematics and a minor in Spanish from Millikin University and an MA in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from The University of Texas at San Antonio. She has taught early childhood through high school learners in four different states. She enjoys writing and intends to become an author of children's books in the near future. She resides in Charleston, SC with her husband and two young children.

• 11:15 AM - 12:15 PM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Building a New Kind of PLN

Michael Molnar

Educational Consultant and Graduate Instructor

MPM Essentials

Michael Molnar, CAGS, is an education consultant and graduate instructor. He has 30 years experience in teaching and administration at both the school level and the district level. Michael has been involved with creating and providing professional learning in a number of areas, including sheltered instruction for multilingual learners, academic vocabulary and language development, blended learning, and standards-based lesson design with an EL focus. In 2022, Michael established MPM Essentials in order to partner with districts and organizations to design, develop, and deliver professional learning, including eLearning courses and interactive resources. He can be reached at michael@mpmessentials.org.

• 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Breaking the Cycle: How Organizational Routines Impact Multilingual Learners

Wanda Tejada

Research Associate

Bridges to Academic Success, CUNY

Wanda Tejada is a Research Associate at Bridges to Academic Success. She is responsible for supporting the data collection, organization, and execution of research and evaluation; she also supervises data collection from field work. Wanda is a Doctor of Medicine and earned a MPH (Master of Public Health) in Community Health and Epidemiology and Biostatistics at CUNY SPH. She worked as a primary health care physician in a community hospital in the Dominican Republic, where she had to perform various tasks including community health education. It was there that she became interested in the public health (and research) field. She also worked as an English teacher for Spanish-speaking immigrants in Passaic, NJ. Her primary language is Spanish, and she is proficient in English.

• 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Mar 26, 2024 Virtual - Zoom

  Setting up SIFE and Newcomer Learners for Success in Secondary Mathematics

Crystal Gonzales

Executive Director

EL Success Forum

Crystal Gonzales is the Executive Director of the ELSF where she collaborates with national experts, organizations, educators and content developers to increase the supply of quality of K-12 instructional materials that meet the needs of the growing EL population. Previously, as a program officer at the Helmsley Charitable Trust, she collaborated with national K-12 organizations with a focus on teacher professional development, quality instructional materials, and advocacy for underserved communities. In this role, she worked with EL experts to elevate the needs of ELs among grantees and her grantmaking peers. Crystal began her career as a 4th grade bilingual teacher in Houston ISD. She is currently a member of Education Leaders of Color, Latinos for Education, and is a Pahara NextGen fellow. Crystal holds a master’s in Social Service Administration from the University of Chicago and a B.A. from the University of New Mexico. She is a proud native New Mexican and currently resides in Albuquerque, NM.

• 2:00 - 2:45 PM, Mar 26, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Jefferson Ballroom

  Welcome Address and Keynote Presentation

Katelin Biermann

Science Achievement Manager

Kipp New Orleans Schools

Katelin Biermann has worked at KIPP New Orleans schools for 10 years as a lead science teacher, instructional coach, and now regional 3-8 science achievement manager. In their role they lead professional development sessions for all 5-8 science teachers and instructional coaches as well as manage science curriculum. They believe that all diverse learners deserve access to exemplarily science instruction and recently led a presentation at LA TESOL discussing regional supports to help make science education more accessible to English Learners.

• 2:15 - 3:15 PM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Chequers

  Enhancing Science Education for English Learners through Accessible Content

Jesse Markow

Independent Consultant

For the past six years, Jesse Markow has been engaged as an independent consultant in K-12 strategy and business development. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Strategy and Development Officer for the WIDA Consortium for over 10 years, acting as the principal point of contact for state departments of education while initiating multiple endeavors, including the WIDA Annual Conference and WIDA International. For many years, Jesse managed the development of statewide customized test programs for ETS and Riverside in addition to consulting for Avant Assessment, TESOL, Learnosity, Confianza, and other organizations within the United States and international school markets. He is a past chair of the Association of Test Publishers Education Division and has presented at numerous conferences and professional development venues, most recently at an international education conference held in Vienna, Austria, September 2023. Currently, Jesse serves on the Board of Directors for New Meridian Corporation and as the co-chair of the 2024 NAELPA conference. Jesse grew up in upstate New York and completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado-Boulder and the Master of Arts in Teaching at Northwestern University before teaching middle school and high school geography and social studies for 18 years, both domestically and abroad. Jesse resides in Madison, Wisconsin, with his partner and soulmate, Teri Dobbs, and as a significant human for Asti the Wonder Dog.

• 10:15 - 11:15 AM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Jefferson Ballroom

  AI Panel Discussion - General Session

Carol Clemmons

School Improvement Coach

Alabama State Department of Education

Carol Clemmons is a life-long educator in Alabama who has the same enthusiasm for her work as she did when she began! She enjoyed all experiences as a high school English teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal, Director of Instruction, and RTI Specialist. She is now a School Improvement Coach for the Alabama State Department of Education, and enjoys supporting schools across the state. Mrs. Clemmons holds an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership and has consulted with schools and presented at national conferences in the areas of RTI, Team Building, Support Teams, Advisors, Data Teams, and more. Carol Clemmons sees the “big picture” in schools and school systems and has a passion of sharing with educational leaders. Carol is passionate about personalizing student support. She is a dynamic presenter who keeps the focus on “real world” strategies for student success.

• 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Chequers

  Supporting English Learners - What's MTSS Got to Do With It?

Paige Cooper

Graduation Coach

Tuscaloosa County School System

Paige Cooper is a dedicated educational professional with over 17 years of experience in the Tuscaloosa County School System in Alabama. Currently serving as graduation coach, she also holds the roles as the RTI coordinator, 504 coordinator, and works tirelessly with the at-risk student population. She has written and received multiple grants to start a new "I CAN!" program in her school which focuses on partnering community members with at-risk students to provide mentoring and career opportunities for students. Her innovative approach to education is highlighted by the successful implementation of a new RTI program on the secondary level. This program, which focuses on the growing EL population, has resulted in reduced course failures and grade retentions. Paige holds a M.A. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Alabama and a M.Ed. in Instructional Leadership from the University of West Alabama.

• 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Chequers

  Supporting English Learners - What's MTSS Got to Do With It?

Dr. Jessica Costa

Director of Multilingual Learner Support

Instruction Partners

Dr. Jessica Costa, Director of Multilingual Learner Support with Instruction Partners, has worked for two decades either teaching students a love of language, learning, and themselves or providing professional development for teachers and educational leaders nationally and internationally to do the same. She brings a wealth of knowledge from her experiences as a Nationally Certified teacher of English as a New Language; state, district, and school-wide leadership roles, professional learning design and delivery, data-coaching for school improvement, and doctoral research focused on socially just school leadership preparation. Her passion for multilingual learners derives from listening to her father’s stories of his experience as a multilingual immigrant starting school in the United States as a teenager. Jessica gets excited about each training, meeting, or even the smallest of opportunities to connect and partner with educators to support quality instruction within responsive and affirming learning environments for multilingual learners.

• 9:15 - 10:00 AM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Jefferson Ballroom

  Welcome Address and Keynote Presentation

Margo Gottlieb

Founder and Lead Developer

WIDA

Margo Gottlieb, Ph.D., has devoted her professional career to improving educational opportunities for multilingual learners, their teachers and other educational leaders. Over the years she has been a language teacher and coordinator, a bilingual facilitator, a director of assessment and evaluation, and a consultant to school districts, states, publishers, governments, universities, and organizations. Margo was a Fulbright senior specialist in assessment and evaluation and was recognized in 2016 by TESOL International Association's 50@50 "as an individual who has made a significant contribution to the TESOL profession within the past 50 years." Having traveled extensively, Margo has presented in Asia, Central America, Europe, Indonesia, the Middle East, North America, the Pacific, Singapore and South America as well as across the United States.
Margo's publications include more than 90 articles, monographs, handbooks, guides, technical reports, chapters and assessments. Her latest books include Assessing multilingual learners: A month-to-month guide (2017), Language power: Key uses for accessing content (with Castro), Assessing English language learners: Bridges to equity, 2nd Ed. (2016). She is co-author (with Ernst-Slavit, 2014) of Academic language in diverse classrooms: Definitions and contexts, a foundational book for a co-edited series Promoting content and language learning (a compendium of 3 mathematics and 3 language arts volumes, 2014, 2013). Her other books include: Common language assessment for English learners (2012); Paper to practice: Using the TESOL's English Language Proficiency Standards in preK-12 classrooms (with Katz & Ernst-Slavit, 2009); and Assessment and accountability in language education programs: A guide for administrators and teachers (with Nguyen, 2007).

• 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Jefferson Ballroom

  Multiliteracies: What Does the Science of Reading Have to Do with It?

Dr. Mariah Weber

Executive Director

Auburn University Harris Early Learning Center

Dr. Mariah Weber is the Executive Director of Auburn University's Harris Early Learning Center and a faculty member of Human Development and Family Science at Auburn University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and a master’s degree in ESOL both from Auburn University. She received her PhD from University of Alabama at Birmingham in Early Childhood Education with a focus on multilingual learners and translanguaging pedagogy.

• 1:00 - 2:00 PM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Cambridge

  “At Home We Say, ‘¡Hola!’”: Young Multilingual Learners’ Descriptions of Language, Language Acquisition, and Language Use.

Jamie Lake

Assistant Professor

Oklahoma State University

Jamie Lake is an Assistant Professor of K-12 English language learning at Oklahoma State University. She holds a Masters of Education in Bilingual/TESL from the University of Central Oklahoma and an Ed.D in Education Leadership from the University of Oklahoma. Jamie’s research interests include English learners, academic language development and grade retention.

• 2:15 - 3:15 PM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Jefferson Ballroom

  The gift of time? Unpacking the dilemma of grade retention for multilingual learners

Monica Vaughn-Flam

ESL Director

KIPP New Orleans

Monica Vaughn-Flam earned her Master of Education from Johns Hopkins University. She is the Director of ESL for KIPP New Orleans. She has taught ESL in both New Orleans and in Baltimore. Mrs. Vaughn-Flam also holds her Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Advanced Practitioner Certificate and English Language Teaching (ELT) Leadership Management Certificate. Mrs. Vaughn-Flam has served as an executive member of the Louisiana Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (LATESOL) board and has served as the LATESOL Advocacy lobbyist in Washington D.C. for the TESOL Advocacy & Policy Summit in 2018 and 2019.

• 2:15 - 3:15 PM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Chequers

  Enhancing Science Education for English Learners through Accessible Content

Anna Beth McConnaughhay

ESL Manager

KIPP New Orleans

Anna Beth McConnaughhay is a dedicated ESL educator with five years of experience in teaching and curriculum development for K-12 and Adult Education. With a background in first and second language acquisition, Anna Beth finds joy in supporting students' language and literacy growth and making complex content accessible for English language learners, aiming to create inclusive learning environments where all students can thrive.

• 2:15 - 3:15 PM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Chequers

  Enhancing Science Education for English Learners through Accessible Content

Dr. Culver is a fervent advocate for marginalized communities. His vision is not just about amplifying voices, but ensuring they echo with the recognition and celebration they merit.

Since 2013, Dr. Culver has served the field of education. From classroom teaching to district administration, his diverse roles have highlighted his adaptability and unwavering commitment. As a certified Superintendent in Oklahoma, he's been at the forefront of innovative educational leadership, driving meaningful and lasting changes.

Beyond district duties, Dr. Culver showcased exceptional leadership prowess as the President of the Oklahoma Association for Bilingual Education. Under his visionary leadership as President, he conceptualized and launched the 1st Summer Virtual Institute, further cementing his commitment to accessible and innovative education. His earlier roles as a newsletter editor and President-Elect further accentuate his sustained dedication to education.

His voice has resonated in critical dialogues, including the 100-day conversation pivotal for public education's future. Partnerships with platforms like OU's 'Moving Up' cohort, EDUTAS, and his contributions to the School Improvement Grant advisory board underscore his mission to elevate the educational landscape.

Dr. Culver's academic legacy, stretching from Tulsa Public Schools to a doctorate from Southern Nazarene University, is profound. His recent dissertation delves into the crucial nexus of motivation, school culture, and teacher retention. A central finding from his research emphasizes that teachers are greatly motivated by positive relationships with their administrators and peers; relationships that are deeply rooted in trust. In environments where they are empowered, recognized, and granted autonomy, teacher motivation thrives

At the heart of his every endeavor lies a simple yet profound philosophy: Be kind and smile. This ethos radiates in all he does, echoing the belief that genuine kindness, paired with a heartfelt smile, can indeed change the world.

• 2:15 - 3:15 PM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Cambridge

  Unpacking the Western Heights Success: Engaging Multilingual Learners and Families

Khalil El-Saghir

ML Consultant

Wayne RESA

Khalil El-Saghir is a Multilingual Education Consultant at Wayne County RESA with over two decades of experience. His expertise encompasses teaching at various levels, from K-12 to higher education, as well as training and coaching educators. He also provides consultations to school districts on developing effective multilingual education programs. Khalil is known for his frequent presentations at conferences and workshops, addressing a range of issues related to language development, with a particular focus on an asset-based approach and the integration of technology.

• 10:15 - 11:15 AM, Mar 27, 2024 Hilton Riverside New Orleans - Jefferson Ballroom

  AI Panel Discussion - General Session