WABE 2025 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

1:45pm PDT

Characteristics of Successful Dual Language Bilingual Education Programming

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT

This interactive session will provide an overview of DLBE programming essentials, as aligned with the Guiding Principles of Dual Language Education, 2018, in order to:
– Develop an understanding of the non-negotiable components of successful DLBE programs
– Understand the research behind effective DLBE programs
-- Engage in discussions around equity-systems and the support needed for program realization and sustainability.

Speakers

Loretta Booker

Project Coordinator, Dual Language Education of New Mexico

Loretta Booker has been a Project Coordinator with Dual Language Education of New Mexico, working with CLAVES® and Dual Language Bilingual Education (DLBE) Program Development since 2023. Before that time, she served within the Santa Fe Public School District for 18 years as a... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Evergreen B (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators, Coordinators, Instructional Coaches
Academic Range K-12

1:45pm PDT

Family Engagement: More than Just a Cultural Potluck

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT

Cedar Ballroom (2nd Floor, Olympic Tower)

Family engagement in schools often feels overwhelming and superficial, leading to one-time events without lasting relationships. We advocate for a strengths-based approach, fostering long-term connections through a school-wide philosophy that listens to and builds relationships with families. Participants will share culturally responsive strategies, problem-solve, and leave with actionable strategies.

Speakers

Brittani Brown

MS Resource Teacher, Lake Washington School District

Jessie Rhee

MS Resource Teacher, Lake Washington School District

Kristen Tollefsen

Associate Principal, Rose Hill Middle School/LWSD

Danielle MacDonald

Counselor, Rose Hill Middle School

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom (2nd Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators
Academic Range Secondary (6-12)

1:45pm PDT

MTSS and Multilingual Learners; A Systemic Approach to Equitable Support

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT

Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Do your school systems work to support the specific needs of multilingual learners? This session will focus on systemic practices and structures that address linguistic equity, build practitioner knowledge around multilingual learner needs, and integrate authentic assessment and progress monitoring within a multi-tiered system of support.

Speakers

Jennifer Johnson

Senior Consultant, Multilingual Learners, Education Northwest

Jennifer’s professional passion is in creating educational access and promoting authentic student identity and agency in education. Her career includes 23 years of experience serving in public education as a dual language teacher, bilingual instructional coach, building principal... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Administrators, District Administrators, Coaches
Academic Range K-12

1:45pm PDT

The Science of Hope: Building Resilient Learners in Multilingual Classrooms

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT

Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Hope is a cognitive process with a powerful impact on learning. This session explores the neuroscience behind Hope Theory and neuroplasticity, highlighting their role in multilingual students’ resilience and motivation. Through research and discussion, participants will examine how belonging, goal-setting, and agency foster hopeful, empowered learning environments.

Speakers

Sophia Monge

Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning, Bethel School District

I serve as the Assistant Director of Elementary Teaching and Learning in Bethel School District, where I design professional learning opportunities aligned with our district’s Strategic Plan. My work focuses on supporting teacher development, enhancing student achievement, and fostering... Read More →

Missy Widmann

Co-Founder, President, Neural Education

We knock down the barriers of stress, bias and emotional reactivity with powerful, practical and proven neural-informed learning practices so that all students can learn.

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Administrators, Teachers, Coaches, Para Educators
Academic Range PreK-20

1:45pm PDT

Sponsored Session - Building Biliteracy: Implications and Application of SOR for Biliteracy Instruction

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT

Evergreen A (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

A solid foundation for literacy is critical for multilingual learners. Strong oral language skills, letter sound correspondences, manipulatives and engagement are essential for early literacy in both languages. However, there are pedagogical differences that need to be considered as we teach to address the linguistic features of each language.

Speakers

Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes

Author, Benchmark Education

Dr. Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes served as Expert Panel Member for the development of the California ELD Standards and subsequently as Curriculum Framework and Evaluation Criteria Committee Member for the California State Department of Education. She also helped to develop the California... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm PDT
Evergreen A (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Sponsored Session

Audience Educators, Administrators
Academic Range K-6

3:00pm PDT

Developing an Action Plan for Serving Multilingual Learners Effectively

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Ignite your school to support multilingual learners effectively by developing an action plan! In this session, we will unpack Washington’s Multilingual Learner Statewide Strategic Plan and Toolkit to promote asset-based mindsets, strengthen instructional practices, provide support for educators, and engage multilingual students and families. Explore using WIDA ACCESS data, surveys, and reflection to build students’ success!

Speakers

Virginia Morales

Assistant Director - Multilingual Education, Washington Office Of Superintendent Of Public Instruction

Virginia Morales is the Assistant Director of Multilingual Education at OSPI. Virginia has over 20 years of experience working with multilingual learners as an educator in California, Wisconsin, and Washington. Previously, Virginia was a Professional Learning Specialist with WIDA... Read More →

Kristin Percy Calaff

WABE OSPI Ex-Officio Member, OSPI

Dr. Kristin Percy Calaff is the Executive Director of Multilingual & Migrant Education for the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. She has over 30 years of experience as a dual language teacher, principal, district administrator, adjunct professor, and state... Read More →

Kadriye El-Atwani

OSPI

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

English Learners for a Transformed World (2nd Edition): A Guide for Collaborative Professional Learning

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen F (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Our interactive, co-presented workshop offers the participants an opportunity to co-create pathways and tools that serve to ignite learners' linguistic power. Anchored to the new edition of the Collier & Thomas book, Educating English Learners for a Transformed World, we share applicable ways to grow collaboration practices in DLBE settings.

Speakers

Michael Rodriguez

Executive Director, Dual Language Education of New Mexico

Michael Rodríguez is the Executive Director of Dual Language Education of NM (DLeNM). For six years, he served as the organization's director of operations, heading up and expanding its Program Design and Leadership Development offerings while supporting schools, districts, and state... Read More →

Dr. Joan Lachance

UNC Charlotte

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen F (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Dual Language Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

Innovating for All Learners

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen C (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Imagine a school that serves students in elementary, middle and high schools, provides only push-in MLE services, implements a collaborative teaching model, and where language development is embedded in curriculum taught in every classroom. Welcome to Kent Laboratory Academy, a decidedly different school in Kent School District that Innovates for All Learners.
Come to our session to learn about our journey and how we provide services to our multilingual learners through ongoing professional development, PLC work, innovative MTSS process and our partnership with University of Washington, Tacoma. Participants will take away ideas and resources on how to build capacity for providing MLE services within their own staff (and not just MLE educators).

Speakers

Narine Balayan

MLE Teacher, Kent Laboratory Academy / Kent School District

Narine Balayan, M.Ed., is a School Success Coach at Kent Laboratory Academy in the Kent School District. With a strong commitment to student achievement and well-being, Narine brings her expertise in education to support and empower students on their academic journey.

Stephanie Knipp

Principal, Kent School District/Kent Laboratory Academy

Stephanie Knipp is the Principal of Kent Laboratory Academy in the Kent School District. A dedicated educational leader, Stephanie is committed to fostering a supportive and innovative learning environment that promotes student growth and academic excellence.

Laura Phillips

Principal/ Assistant Principal, Kent Laboratory Academy / Kent School District

Laura Phillips is the Assistant Principal at Kent Laboratory Academy in the Kent School District. With a passion for student development and academic success, Laura plays a key role in cultivating a positive school culture and supporting both students and staff.

Darice Johnson

Kent School Distirct

Darice Johnson is the Executive Director of Learning Improvement for the Kent School District. With a focus on advancing instructional practices and student outcomes, Darice leads strategic initiatives to support continuous learning and educational excellence across the district... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen C (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Para Educators, Coaches, Interventionists, District Administrators, Administrators
Academic Range Grade 3-12

3:00pm PDT

Intentional Mentoring: Shifting the culture of how multilingual teachers are trained, supported and valued

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

This session will explore strategies for comprehensive and intentional mentoring. Mentoring as collaboration amplifies the voices, experiences and linguistic superpowers of multilingual educators. This session will include hands on exploration of equity focused mentoring frameworks across all stages of professional growth to promote retention and healthy learning-based relationships.

Speakers

Richard Dunn

Partnership and Field Experiences Coordinator, Western Washington University, Renton

Richard Dunn, M.Ed., NBCT, teaches and is a Partnership and Field Experience Coordinator at the Western Washington University Woodring Multilingual Teaching Fellowship Program. He taught for 26 years in the Highline School District. He has supported early career teachers as a Peer... Read More →

Christie McLean

Woodring Bilingual Teaching Fellows Partnership and Field Experience Coordinator, Western Washington University

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Multilingual Teachers, Pre-service teachers, MLE Coaches, Administrators, Teacher Certification Providers
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

Special Education Pre-Referral Process for Multilingual Learners

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

In this session, we will engage in decolonizing practices rooted in the active interruption of systems that have been harmful to students. We will share our district's current work along with recommendations on a pre-referral process for multilingual learners. The session includes a recommended process, information to gather, and suggested training for pre-referral/MTSS teams.

Speakers

Julián Cortés

Director, Lake Washington School District

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, MTSS Staff, Administrators, ML Program Staff
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

Sponsored Session - Right From the Start: Oracy, Writing, and Knowledge Building for Multilingual Learner Success

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Cedar Ballroom (2nd Floor, Olympic Tower)

This session explores the powerful connection between oracy, writing, and knowledge building in fostering the academic success of multilingual learners. Learn how to create classroom environments where students confidently articulate their ideas, engage in purposeful discussions, and transform their thoughts into well-structured writing.
Participants will leave equipped with practical approaches and plans to empower multilingual learners through cohesive and effective instruction.

Speakers

Amelia Larson

Chief Academic Officer, SUMMIT K-13

I currently serve as the Chief Academic Officer at Summit K-12. I am a dedicated educator with a reputation for promoting equitable outcomes and instigating transformative change within the K-12 education sector. Throughout my career, I have been unwavering in my commitment to translating... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Cedar Ballroom (2nd Floor, Olympic Tower)

Sponsored Session

Audience Administrators, Directors, Coaches
Academic Range K-12

3:00pm PDT

Sponsored Session - Unlocking Potential: Tailored Strategies for Newcomers and Long-Term English Learners

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT

Evergreen B (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Supporting both Newcomers and Long-Term English Learners (LTELs) requires targeted strategies that address their unique language and academic needs. This session will explore research-based approaches to accelerate language acquisition, build academic confidence, and foster meaningful engagement. Participants will gain practical tools for scaffolding instruction, leveraging students’ cultural and linguistic assets, and creating an inclusive, language-rich environment that promotes success for all English learners.

Speakers

Dr. Jeannette (Gina) Long

Academic Officer, Teacher Created Materials

Dr. Jeannette (Gina) Long has been in education for 29 years holding roles as teacher, school administrator, and district administrator. She is currently an Academic Officer for Teacher Created Materials. Drawing from her background as an English language learner and Multilingual... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm PDT
Evergreen B (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

4:15pm PDT

Co-Teach: Sometimes Messy but Always Takes a Village

Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT

Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Join our session to explore effective co-teaching strategies for ML student inclusion. Experience real-time modeling, discuss big-picture logistics, and collaborate in small groups to address planning and preparation. Administrators, counselors, and teachers must join together to create a supportive village for successful co-teaching.

Speakers

Brittani Brown

MS Resource Teacher, Lake Washington School District

Jessie Rhee

MS Resource Teacher, Lake Washington School District

Kristen Tollefsen

Associate Principal, Rose Hill Middle School/LWSD

Danielle MacDonald

Counselor, Rose Hill Middle School

Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT
Regency A-D, (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators
Academic Range Secondary (6-12)

4:15pm PDT

Sponsored Session - Instrucción estructurada de la LECTOESCRITURA in the dual language classroom.

Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT

Evergreen A (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Únase a nosotros para discutir métodos y estrategias que ayudan a desarrollar destrezas fundamentales para la LECTOESCRITURA a través de una instrucción explícita y sistemática, siguiendo una progresión de habilidades y conocimientos basados en la investigación, que son auténticos para el idioma español. También compartiremos nuestra experiencia en un entorno que sigue los lineamientos de los 3 pilares de la educación de lenguaje dual.

Speakers

Alejandra Benítez

Pacific Learning Representative, Pacific Learning

Alejandra Benítez, a bilingual educator with 20 years of experience and a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, specializes in biliteracy. As a former teacher, coach, and Biliteracy Specialist, she now consults for Pacific Learning, inspiring educators to help emergent bilinguals... Read More →

Rosa Palafox-Torres

Pacific Learning

With over 20 years in bilingual education, I’m passionate about supporting emergent bilingual students and the educators who serve them. As a former teacher, facilitator, and curriculum coordinator—now a dual language consultant—I help develop culturally relevant biliteracy... Read More →

Friday May 2, 2025 4:15pm - 5:15pm PDT
Evergreen A (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Sponsored Session

Audience Bilingual Teachers, Bilingual Specialists, Administrators
Academic Range K-4

8:00am PDT

Improve Accurate Identification of Multilingual Learners with Disabilities

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Let's come together to ensure we meet the Civil Rights requirements for serving our Multilingual students, starting with pre-referrals for Special Education evaluations to collaborating with Special Education case managers to align language and IEP goals. Join us as we share lessons learned from our district to address disproportionality rates by considering the differences between language and literacy acquisition from disability. Example resources will be shared for you to try out with your team.

Speakers

Lily Martin

Professional Development Coach, Bellevue School District

Amber Snapke

TEACHER COACH- MULTI LANGUAGE LEARNERS, Bellevue School District

Jill Suresh

TEACHER COACH- MULTI LANGUAGE LEARNERS, Bellevue School District

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Administrators
Academic Range K-12

8:00am PDT

Planificación de Objectos Lingüísticos con el Marco DALE WIDA

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

En esta sesión, vamos a focalizarnos en la planificación de objetivos lingüísticos específicos usando el Marco de los estándares del desarrollo auténtico del lenguaje español de WIDA (Marco DALE) que le permiten a los estudiantes expandir su repertorio lingüístico y cultural y desarrollar un desarrollo metalingüístico de las diferencias y similitudes lingüísticas entre el español y el inglés.

Speakers

Dr. Patricia Venegas-Weber

Dual Language Program Supervisor, Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

Dr. Patricia Venega-Weber is a former ESL, Bilingual and Reading Specialist teacher with over 20 years of experience. She has a doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in Bilingual Education. She has also worked as an English/Spanish... Read More →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Dual Language Teachers, Coaches, Administrators
Academic Range K-12

8:00am PDT

Sponsored Session - Unlocking the power of Biliteracy Trajectories with Renaissance Learning

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Evergreen C (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

In this session we will be discussing how Renaissance uses an asset-based approach to student learning and provide educators with accurate data and resources to accelerate student learning for all.
Through our work in Biliteracy Trajectories educators can

Assess students’ literacy development in both Spanish and English
Inform instructional decisions in each language
Support bilingual students’ success
Empower students by providing an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge in both languages

Speakers

Dr. Carol Johnson

International Education Officer, Renaissance Learning

Carol Johnson is a bilingual educator and International Education Officer at Renaissance. She holds a PhD in Second Language Acquisition & Teaching, specializing in Applied Psycholinguistics—how people learn second languages.Her years spent teaching English as a second language... Read More →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Evergreen C (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Sponsored Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators
Academic Range K-12

11:15am PDT

Rolling out the WIDA Standards Framework with Coaching and Collaboration

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Learn how to develop a successful implementation plan for rolling out the WIDA Standards! We’ll share how Quincy developed systems for coaching and co-planning to integrate language and content with the WIDA standards. This session will include strategic steps, real examples of collaborative planning, and ideas to use in your district.

Speakers

Danielle Fortner

QIA ML SPECIALIST, Quincy School District

Danielle Fortner: Danielle Fortner has taught for 10 years in the Quincy School District with experience in elementary education and language development. Currently, Danielle is a member of Eastside ML Teacher Leader Cohort to support implementing the WIDA Standards Framework.

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Evergreen G/H (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators
Academic Range K-12

11:15am PDT

Translanguaging in Action – Fostering Meta-linguistic Awareness in Secondary Dual Language Classrooms

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Translanguaging in secondary Dual Language classrooms is a controversial topic, due to the traditional practices of language separation. This workshop will share their district’s DL PD plan and implementation for fostering meta-linguistic awareness. Participants will reflect on their own bridging practices and gain practical ideas for translanguaging implementation.

Speakers

Dr. Fenglan Nancy Yi-Cline

Multilingual Education Program Specialist, Kent School District

Fenglan Nancy Yi-Cline, Ed.D. (易凤兰博士), is a first-generation immigrant teacher-educator of color who serves as the Multilingual Education Program Specialist in the Kent School District, Washington, and a teaching associate in the Multilingual Learners Endorsement Program... Read More →

Carolyn Hylander

Dual Language Instructional Coach, Kent School Distirct

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Evergreen I (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Dual Language Teachers, Leaders, Coordinators, Administrators
Academic Range Secondary (6-12)

11:15am PDT

¡Escritores Poderosos! Engaging Every Student in Writing Through Power Writing!

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT

Evergreen C (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Supercharge your students’ writing with Power Writing: a dynamic 30-minute routine using unconventional prompts to spark creativity and critical thinking. Empower students to explore language, organize ideas, collaborate with others, and see themselves as writers. Foster and facilitate a community of writers at any grade level using Power Writing.

Speakers

Gustavo Macuil

Dual Language Support TOA, Ontario Montclair School District

As a Dual Immersion Site Support and EdTech Teacher on Assignment for Ontario Montclair School District, I am passionate about helping students thrive in multilingual programs such as dual immersion. In my 18 years of teaching, I have learned to foster a love for writing in all students... Read More →

Saturday May 3, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm PDT
Evergreen C (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

Breakout Session

Audience Teachers, Administrators, Instructional Coaches
Academic Range K-8