WABE 2025 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

1:45pm PDT

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

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

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

1:45pm PDT

Sponsored Session - Fueling Linguistic Brilliance: GLAD Strategies to Ignite Multilingual Learners’ Voices

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

Evergreen E (1st Floor, Olympic Tower)

In this interactive session, educators will explore powerful GLAD strategies that ignite multilingual learners’ linguistic brilliance and amplify their academic voice. Participants will engage in strategy demonstrations to see how structured supports foster language development. Through collaborative discussions and practical modeling, they will gain tools to create a classroom environment where all students confidently use and expand their linguistic power. Educators will leave with ready-to-use strategies and a renewed perspective on leveraging students' multilingual assets for academic success.

Speakers

Tabitha Aragon

Be GLAD Certified Agency Trainer, Be GLAD

Jennifer Chaves

Be GLAD Certified Agency Trainer, Be GLAD

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

Sponsored Session

Audience Teachers
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

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

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

8:00am PDT

Sponsored Session - Using Focus and Motivation Strategies to Increase Student Engagement and Problem-solving

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

Regency E-G (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Come experience low-floor, high-ceiling tasks and other engaging activities in this session designed for both educators and learners. We’ll explore how to support K-5 students in doing the heavy lifting of mathematical thinking, talking, and problem-solving through increased engagement. Teachers will also have the chance to share their expertise and collaborate with other participants.

Speakers

Evelyn Chávez

Experienced dual language classroom teacher and a project coordinator, Dual Language Education of New Mexico

Evelyn Chávez is an experienced dual language classroom teacher and a project coordinatorcommitted to supporting teachers in meeting the needs of our language learners throughengaging lesson of high quality. She is a lead trainer with the math framework AchievementInspired Mathematics... Read More →

Saturday May 3, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Regency E-G (2nd Floor, Cascade Tower)

Sponsored Session

Audience Teachers
Academic Range K-8