2024 Virtual Track

Virtual Keynote: Jo Napolitano

Jo Napolitano spent nearly two decades reporting for The New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Newsday before winning a Spencer Education Fellowship to Columbia University in 2016: She was paid to attend the Graduate School of Journalism so she could write a long-form piece on young immigrants.

That story morphed into a book. The School I Deserve: Six Young Refugees and Their Fight for Equality in America was published by Beacon Press in Spring 2021. A sought-after public speaker, Napolitano lectures across the country about the often-overlooked potential of newcomer students. And while she has reported on many topics throughout her award-winning career, education remains her primary focus.

Napolitano lives in New York City and writes for The 74, an award-winning education-focused news site that often partners with other, larger news organizations to showcase writers’ work: For example, her on-the-ground account of Ukrainian and Russian refugees crossing into San Diego from Tijuana after the outbreak of war ran in The Guardian.

Napolitano is a two-time Education Writers Association Fellow (2020 and 2024) and is also a grantee from the Fund for Investigative Journalism (2020).

headshot of Jo smiling with colorful mural in background

Virtual Agenda at a Glance

Note: You will select one session from each time slot to attend on the day of the event. 

All session times are listed in Eastern Time.

Tuesday, October 15
  • 8:30 - 9:45 AM
    Welcome and Virtual Keynote
  • 9:45 - 10:30 AM
    Break
  • 10:30 - 11:45 AM
    Developing Language Through Content: Designing ELD Curriculum within a Collaborative Framework
    Districts have been charged with transitioning from offering ELD or ESL as an intervention to an intentionally designed instructional program. Leveraging a deep understanding of the WIDA ELD Standards Framework, WIDA Key Language Uses and educational linguistics, this session outlines Pennsylvania's approach to collaboratively developing an ELD curriculum that intentionally centers on the academic language of school within the core academic disciplines. Presenters: Andrea Kolb and Bob Measel
  • 10:30 - 11:45 AM
    ACCESS for ELLs All Year: An Equity Approach to Language Assessment Prep
    Are you looking for ways to connect student goal-setting to ACCESS prep while avoiding testing fatigue? We’ll share how to weave ACCESS preparation across grade levels and content blocks while supporting student ownership of language development. We’ll foster equitable ACCESS test prep by reviewing the universal tools and resources available. Join us as we examine language development from an equity-based instructional cycle: ACCESS All Year! Presenters: Tamara Coburn and Jason Kemp
  • 10:30 - 11:45 AM
    AI Tools in Multilingual Classrooms Aren't Cringy... Just use them right!
    Many of us who serve as teachers of language cringed and gagged as Google Translate surfaced over a decade ago. Now, we have cautiously dabbled with the tool to support learners. Here we go again, as artificial intelligence (AI) has surfaced. There are so many benefits to supporting language learners with AI... we learn that it's not cringy in this session! Presenter: Sarah Said
  • 10:30 - 11:45 AM
    From Knowing to Doing: Supporting ML Learners in Literacy K-5
    Calling all educators who know what to do but struggle to implement WIDA standards in the classroom. Through professional collaboration, teachers can go from planning support to actually giving it. Learn how we provide lesson-by-lesson support that can be adapted to individual student needs. With a focus on equity, collaboration and a can do philosophy, multilingual support can be implemented with confidence! Presenters: Julie Warner and Aimee Buckner-Haisten
  • 11:45 AM - 12:30 PM
    Lunch

Concurrent Sessions
  • 12:30 - 1:45 PM
    Elevate WIDA Standards with Content Teachers: How Can We Collaborate?
    Feeling the collaboration struggle with content teachers? Explore dynamic collaboration strategies for elevating WIDA standards with content teachers. This interactive session dives into practical approaches, using case studies and group discussions. Participants will gain actionable insights and adaptable strategies for immediate implementation, fostering effective collaboration in diverse classrooms. Presenter: Beverlyn Villanueva
  • 12:30 - 1:45 PM
    Cultivating Belonging, Helping Newcomers Navigate School Transitions
    Meeting the diverse needs of students new to the country presents an important opportunity and responsibility for schools. This presentation will share empirical and research-based practices to help newcomer students thrive academically, socially and emotionally. Participants will come away with actionable ways their school can help immigrant and refugee youth find belonging, overcome obstacles and fulfill their potential. Presenter: Fredy Ramirez
  • 12:30 - 1:45 PM
    Using Guidance and Data to Inform the Instruction of MLs
    Discover how to improve the instruction of multilingual learners (ML) by leveraging guidance and ACCESS scores. Explore evidence-based practices highlighting the factors that influence language acquisition and effective methods to boost student motivation. Participants will receive and learn to use an English language proficiency toolkit to facilitate language proficiency and growth discussions with MLs, enhancing their interest and performance in ACCESS testing. Presenter: Sugely Solano
  • 12:30 - 1:45 PM
    Collaborative Planning in Dual Language: Bridging Techniques to Cultivate Multilingualism
    In response to the increasing numbers of dual language learner (DLL) education programs, there is a need to ensure DLL educators collaborate and share the leadership needed to grow and sustain multilingualism and to elevate ways to cultivate critical consciousness. Specifically, collaborative planning techniques support DLL educators to be better equipped as they transform programs for equitable linguistic, cultural and identity development. Presenters: Joan Lachance and Nicole Leggett
  • 1:45 - 2:30 PM
    Break

Concurrent Sessions
  • 2:30 - 3:45 PM
    Languaging in Science: Implementing the WIDA ELD Standards Framework with Multilingual Learners
    See the steps that an ESOL teacher took to integrate the WIDA Key Language Uses and Language Features in a 5th grade science classroom! You will see how to scaffold beginner to developing multilingual learners and analyze the effectiveness of the language instruction in their written samples. Be prepared to improve your teaching skills and walk away with useful strategies to advance multilingual learners' language development by implementing the WIDA standards. Presenter: Nihal Khote
  • 2:30 - 3:45 PM
    Free Tech Tools & Resources for MLs and Their Teachers
    Join an English learner/multilingual learner instructional coach for 19 K-12 schools for a fast-paced session where you will learn about several high-impact strategies and resources that are practical and free. Have you heard of ANTON, CLOZEit or Vocaroo? We will go over these and much more, and you'll leave ready to use them with all grade and ability levels. Presenter: Amy Sturgeon
  • 2:30 - 3:45 PM
    EL Teachers Can! Let's Engineer the Bridge to Computer Science
    English learner (EL) teachers are often the first layer of community for their students, and therefore are in a unique role—they can engineer equity and opportunities early with computer science. Computer science and language are both cross-curricular, and this similarity can be leveraged. Learn how an iterative integration can advance language and teach academic content across the curriculum. Leave with a how-to blueprint, resources and excitement. EL teachers can! Presenter: Holly Sawyer
  • 2:30 - 3:45 PM
    Being CLEAR about Equity Centered Teaching
    This session will introduce the CLEAR Paradigm: a framework for reflective, equity-centered teaching with a focus on multilingual learners. Key components of the framework, including necessary mind shifts, core pedagogical habits and suggested actions, will be explained and illustrated. Participants will be able to use components of this framework to integrate in their local professional development programs and/or instructional approaches. Presenters: Diep Nguyen and Nancy Commins

Wednesday, October 16
  • 8:45 - 9:45 AM
    Livestream of In-person Conference Keynote

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