We are honored to welcome North Carolina State Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green as the Keynote Speaker for this year’s Growing Success for MLs and The Standards Academy summer conferences.
Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:45pm EDT Auditorum
Participants will explore key strategies for launching and sustaining a Dual Language Immersion program at the secondary level. The session will cover startup tips, potential partnerships, and effective ways to promote the program. A special focus will be on supporting multilingual learners through inclusive program design and equitable access. By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical exemplars and customizable templates to support their own program planning.
The session will provide hands-on Early Learning activities( K-2) for ML students while connecting each activity to the WIDA ELD standards. Using realia, nature, and everyday household items, teachers will be able to build vocabulary and phonemic awareness while students learn the power of their existing L1 through early exposure to cognates.
Influenced by practices from frameworks like Reading Apprenticeship and SIOP, this session aims to provide a variety of strategies for teaching students how to annotate texts. These strategies are for all students, ML or not, newcomer or long-term ML. By implementing strategies such as Vocabulary Self-Selection, Circle Maps, and deep dives with repeated reading, you can provide your students with access to higher-level texts, cover more ground with less time, reduce the volume of explicit teaching, and allow students a chance to demonstrate their own capabilities independently.
Hi!I'm a veteran ESL teacher in Wake County, halfway through my 7th year of teaching. I currently teach high school ESL and 12th grade English (Sheltered / SIOP), and I've taught middle school, as well.I've taught all kinds of multilingual learners (MLs), from long-term learners who... Read More →
Get students future-ready without adding to your plate—this session shows how to blend the NC Digital Standards for Students into your existing lessons with purpose and creativity. We’ll break down the standards, spotlight real classroom examples, and share easy ways to teach digital skills alongside content, not separate from it.
Digital Learning Initiative Consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Dr. Ashley McBride is the Digital Learning Initiative Section Chief for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Her role is to support PSUs and schools with their understanding and implementation of the North Carolina Digital Learning Plan. You can reach out to Ashley... Read More →
Jennifer served as a public educator for 29 years, holding roles such as teacher, instructional coach, and professional development facilitator. In 2023, Jennifer joined the NCDPI as an Innovative Learning Catalyst, and now serves as the North Central DTL Consultant. Her dedication... Read More →
Multilingual learners benefit from rigorous, high-quality instruction that is appropriately scaffolded to support language needs. In an effort to provide equitable access to core curriculum, this session will focus on enhancement of high-yield instructional strategies to support MLs’ access to content. Participants will learn how to enhance strategies by scaffolding them to meet the needs of all learners. The session will explore the power of distributive summary through collaborative pairs, numbered heads, and think-ink-pair-share to promote engagement and interaction of MLs.
Amanda Berry is currently in her twenty-third year in education. Amanda began her teaching career as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at the elementary level in July of 2001 and is currently one of four Title III/ESL Coordinating Teachers for Elementary Education in the... Read More →
We will explore the research base behind the Project GLAD® model and how the brain learns. Participants will leave prepared to deliver content using high yield strategies that are beneficial for all students and essential for multilingual learners. These strategies are appropriate for all students regardless of grade level or academic needs.
Through collaboration and high expectations. Participants will engage in hands-on writing workshops, peer-feedback activities, and explore tools for collaborative writing. Learn to foster critical thinking, creativity, and excellence in student writing while creating actionable plans to implement in the classroom.
ML Teacher, Instructional Coach, Elon Park Elementary
As an experienced ESL teacher and instructional coach, I am passionate about fostering equitable learning environments for multilingual learners. With a background in English Learning and over a decade of teaching experience, I’ve developed a strong commitment to promoting family... Read More →
During this session, attendees will learn how English Language Development (ELD) Standards can be effectively integrated into content area classrooms. Attendees will learn how ELD Standards promote the integration of content and language, recognizing that academic content serves as the context for language learning, while language is the means for learning academic content. Participants will explore the ELD Standards Hub and research-based, standards-aligned practices to support all content areas.
During this session, attendees will experience a three-dimensional approach to teaching, learning, and formative assessment by investigating scientific phenomena. Participants will discuss how the three dimensions from A Framework for K-12 Science Education - Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI), Science & Engineering Practices (SEP), and Crosscutting Concepts (CCC) - connect to the 2023 K-12 Science Standards. The intended audience includes K-12 science teachers, administrators, and instructional coaches.
Secondary Science Consultant, NC Department of Public Instruction
Alexis Wood joined the NCDPI Office of Academic Standards after teaching high school for 20 years in Lenoir and Wake Counties. Her primary job as a member of the Office of Academic Standards Science Team is to provide support to PSUs at the secondary science level that ensures the... Read More →
Secondary Science Consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Gavin Fradel is a science consultant in the K-12 Standards, Curriculum and Instruction section in the Office of Academic Standards at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Gavin obtained his Undergraduate teaching degree in Middle Grades Education with a concentration... Read More →
In this session, participants will explore the components of the new honors policy and learn how to assess current honors-level courses to ensure they meet the required depth and complexity. They will explore the Honors Level Course Development and Evaluation Tool, along with other resources. Additionally, participants will deepen their knowledge of advanced learning indicators and engage with best-practice instructional strategies that support honors-level coursework.
I began my teaching career in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in both elementary and special education classrooms. I spent most of my time in the classroom as a middle school ELA teacher in the Alamance/Burlington School System. I have also been an AIG specialist at the elementary... Read More →
Kelly Schultz entered the field of education in the Spring of 2008 as a secondary English Language Arts teacher. She has since progressed in the field serving as a curriculum coach, MTSS District Coordinator, and NCDPI Education Consultant. Kelly has taught in both Illinois and North... Read More →
The North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCOS) for English Language Arts (ELA) outlines what students should know and be able to do by the end of the school year—but what does that really look like in daily instruction? In this K-12 session, we’ll unpack the ELA standards and dig into how they build across grade levels. Through collaborative discussions and real-world classroom examples, attendees will gain a better idea as to what standards-aligned instruction could look like in practice and how they support student growth in all areas of literacy. Please note: This session has been designed for the current ELA SCOS adopted in 2017.
Secondary English Language Arts Consultant, NC Department of Public Instruction
John Davis is a Secondary English Language Arts Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, where he works to align his passion for literacy and the humanities with the important work of academic standards and pedagogy. John has been committed to public education... Read More →
This session invites educators to reimagine their teaching practices through the lens of language equity and access. Participants will explore practical strategies to transform instructional obstacles into opportunities for inclusion and engagement. Centered on the diverse needs of multilingual learners, this session emphasizes how thoughtful lesson planning can create equitable learning experiences. The session will highlight key principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and culturally responsive teaching, guiding educators in creating lessons that support language development without compromising content rigor.
The session will focus on how we transformed North Carolina SCOS and ELD Standards into a dynamic ESL Curriculum Guide. We will share our journey of crafting a guide that seamlessly bridges high-level standards and everyday classroom practice. Discover how we designed intentional lesson plans for English learners., and leave with fresh insights and practical strategies to bring this approach into your own classroom.
This session showcases how a school district transformed its approach to welcoming multilingual newcomer students through an innovative project inspired by Solito. In this project, students shared their personal stories, published them in a book, and celebrated their voices at a book release party where they read excerpts aloud. This initiative blossomed into district-wide roundtable discussions, a student ambassador program, and welcoming video tours created by students for newcomers.
Join us to explore the step-by-step process of implementing this powerful initiative, hear testimonials from students, and learn practical strategies for replicating the project in your schools. Participants will leave inspired and equipped to elevate newcomer voices, foster belonging, and create a more inclusive school culture.
Discover how AI can support educators to personalize ML support within the MTSS framework by organizing resources, identifying actionable insights and creating resources using high leverage practices in seconds. This session will equip participants with the foundational skills to navigate and create using NotebookLM. Walk away with a complete, customizable knowledge base and practical approaches to integrating AI into instructional planning and decision-making.
Western DTL Consultant, NCDPI/Digital Teaching and Learning
Stacy Lovdahl has 24 years of experience as a state and district-level education technologist. She is an AI literacy trainer, the Western DTL Consultant for NCDPI, an Instructional Technology Facilitator and a middle school science teacher. Stacy has dedicated significant efforts... Read More →
Are you looking for new ways to effectively support the growth of your multilingual learners in your classroom, school, or district? Join our team of two ESL teachers from a high-ML population school in Wake County to learn more. Our ESL team has spent the last three years cultivating a culture of advocacy, collaboration, and professional learning within our school. The process of making the necessary changes that foster advocacy, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing has led our school’s multilingual learners to make exceptional growth that has been recognized at the district level. We will be unpacking our structure for professional learning around high-yield instructional strategies for MLs, our model for collaboration with classroom teachers, and our journey in co-teaching. Our session will focus on our steps that led to these results so that session participants can walk away with action steps for your class, school, or district.
In my district, NC Math 1 is usually the first academic core class that high school newcomer MLs have on their schedule, and while that class may not require as much reading in English as a history class, the spoken language of math poses its own challenges. Consider: we use the word “times” to indicate multiplication, “twelve divided by four” is completely different from “twelve divided into four,” and we use cardinal numbers to name numerators but ordinal numbers for denominators. Unless it’s one-half, of course. What a mess!
Students need help to make sense of this academic language so they can understand instruction and can gain confidence in their ability to express their math knowledge. Unfortunately, ESL curricula don’t adequately address the language of math, if they give it any coverage at all. But your students can turn a simple manila folder into an invaluable, interactive resource to help them learn the language of math.
In this workshop, you will see an example of a math resource folder, create a few interactive components for a folder of your own, and get ideas for practice activities to reinforce math language in ESL classes. Finally, you will leave with templates that you can use, or customize, to create the components with your students. Come ready to cut and glue! No artistic experience necessary!
Get students future-ready without adding to your plate—this session shows how to blend the NC Digital Standards for Students into your existing lessons with purpose and creativity. We’ll break down the standards, spotlight real classroom examples, and share easy ways to teach digital skills alongside content, not separate from it.
Digital Learning Initiative Consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Dr. Ashley McBride is the Digital Learning Initiative Section Chief for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Her role is to support PSUs and schools with their understanding and implementation of the North Carolina Digital Learning Plan. You can reach out to Ashley... Read More →
Jennifer served as a public educator for 29 years, holding roles such as teacher, instructional coach, and professional development facilitator. In 2023, Jennifer joined the NCDPI as an Innovative Learning Catalyst, and now serves as the North Central DTL Consultant. Her dedication... Read More →
Explore the The Big Book of Tasks for Language Development with us! This book helps educators understand the "how" and "what" of effective language instruction, supporting students in reading, writing, speaking, and listening development. All participants receive a book and the opportunity to create their own tasks using the format explored in the text.
ivanna.anderson@dpi.nc.gov@imannthrowerESL/Title III Consultant (EL Program Quality - West Region)Ivanna Mann Thrower Anderson has served as an ESL/Title III Consultant with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction since 2009. She has worked with English language learners... Read More →
During this session, attendees will apply research-based practices within the science classroom to engage multilingual learners. Participants will develop a lesson using these strategies to engage all students in the science classroom. The intended audience includes K-12 science teachers, administrators, and instructional coaches.
Secondary Science Consultant, NC Department of Public Instruction
Alexis Wood joined the NCDPI Office of Academic Standards after teaching high school for 20 years in Lenoir and Wake Counties. Her primary job as a member of the Office of Academic Standards Science Team is to provide support to PSUs at the secondary science level that ensures the... Read More →
Secondary Science Consultant, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Gavin Fradel is a science consultant in the K-12 Standards, Curriculum and Instruction section in the Office of Academic Standards at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Gavin obtained his Undergraduate teaching degree in Middle Grades Education with a concentration... Read More →
The Language Instruction Educational Program (LIEP) is a legal requirement for all Public School Units (PSUs) with students who are identified as multilingual learners (MLs). The purpose of the LIEP Service Chart is to represent the services provided to ML students across all schools within a PSU or charter.
Join us as we dicuss how you can take your LEIP from complaince to practice.
In this session, participants will explore how offering honors Level I and II classical and/or modern language courses, as well as honors Level I heritage language courses, could impact their students and their local course sequence(s) that continue into inherently honors courses, like Level II heritage, Level III - VI classical, and Levels III - VIII modern languages. They will also delve into the Honors Level Coursework guidance and tools available to all content areas with examples for World Languages that show greater depth and complexity to differentiate honors and standard courses.
In this session, participants will review the structure and purpose of North Carolina’s CTE course standards and K–12 Computer Science Standards. Attendees will analyze alignment across grade levels to support student readiness. They will engage in interactive activities to explore instructional connections. Participants will collaborate to identify opportunities for integration across programs. By the end, they will develop actionable strategies for applying the standards in classroom and curriculum planning.
Secondary Computer Science, IT, and Technology Education Consultant, NCDPI
Eli Hamrick is a dynamic and visionary leader in career and technical education with a proven track record of statewide impact and institutional excellence. With experience spanning classroom instruction, state-level consulting, and higher education, Eli has spearheaded the development... Read More →
This workshop introduces the new support tools for the 2024 K-12 Standard Course of Study (SCoS) for Healthful Living. Participants will explore the new SCoS for Healthful Living and dig into the support tools, like the glossaries, crosswalks and unpacking documents that are available for all grade levels in both Health and Physical Education. We’ll wrap-up with an overview of the 2025-2026 Implementation timeline for the SCoS for Healthful Living as we move toward initial implementation using the new standards starting in Fall 2025
The Literacy Instruction Standards (LIS) were created to support high-quality literacy instruction across all grade levels and content areas—but what might literacy integration look like across content areas? In this session, we’ll dig into how the LIS can be used as a practical tool for planning and delivering effective instruction in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. We’ll explore how the LIS connect with research-based literacy practices and how they can help all teachers—regardless of content area—integrate literacy into their daily instruction. Participants will leave with ready-to-implement ideas and strategies to support daily implementation of the LIS. Please note: This session has been designed for K-12 educators across all content areas and discipline
Mary is a graduate from the University of South Florida where she received her B.S. in Elementary Education and then her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. She comes with 20 years of educational experience as a pre-K through 5th grade teacher, literacy specialist, administrator, district... Read More →
Wednesday July 23, 2025 8:30am - 11:30am EDT Library
Join this session to explore the NC Social Studies Standards and support documents. Learn how to align instruction and assessment effectively while incorporating inquiry indicators to promote critical thinking. Discover valuable resources designed to support educators in implementing engaging, standards-based social studies instruction.
Explore how AI-powered tools can support differentiated instruction by tailoring content to meet the diverse needs and preferences of your ML students. Learn how AI can help in real-time assessments, assist in creating personalized learning pathways that empower students to learn at their own pace. We'll explore LLMs and educational AI tools like MagicSchool, Diffit, Quizziz, Snorkl, and Eduaide and strategies consistent with Universal Design for Learning to ensure every student thrives.
Western DTL Consultant, NCDPI/Digital Teaching and Learning
Stacy Lovdahl has 24 years of experience as a state and district-level education technologist. She is an AI literacy trainer, the Western DTL Consultant for NCDPI, an Instructional Technology Facilitator and a middle school science teacher. Stacy has dedicated significant efforts... Read More →
In this presentation, I will share the transformative journey of my past three years teaching multilingual learners (MLs) in the United States, after having taught for thirteen years abroad. Despite my extensive teaching experience, I faced numerous challenges upon entering U.S. classrooms, including mixed proficiency levels, a lack of established ESL guidance, numerous policies and procedures to assimilate, behavioral issues, and very low literacy skills among others.
Through perseverance and adaptability, I have identified key strategies to support MLs in various aspects of their educational journey. I discovered the importance of individualized support, fostering a trusting relationship, and addressing each student's unique needs.
This presentation will outline my progression from the initial challenges I faced at the beginning of my career, to a place where I can confidently support MLs through diverse school and afterschool activities, and I will strongly emphasize on how focusing on empathy has had a positive impact on my students.
Along this journey, I have learned valuable lessons that will be shared with other educators, highlighting practical strategies, insights, and reflections that can empower teachers to elevate outcomes for MLs.
This interactive 90-minute session empowers school counselors, teachers, and ML stakeholders to collaborate in identifying opportunity gaps and implementing strategies that promote access and success for ML students. Grounded in the NC Student Success Standards, this session will explore data-informed practices to elevate ML visibility in gifted and advanced programming settings.
Should we teach language or content? Why not both? This session will explore strategies for incorporating listening, speaking, reading, and writing into science and social studies instruction. Participants will analyze several sample lessons from an elementary classroom setting and have the opportunity to design a lesson that effectively integrates both content and language instruction.
This session provides an in-depth overview of the Home Language Survey as the first step in identifying Multilingual Learners (MLs) under North Carolina State Board of Education Policy TEST-011. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the identification process, including the purpose of the Home Language Survey, next steps in screening, and compliance requirements. The session will also address common scenarios, clarify policy updates, and offer guidance to ensure accurate and equitable identification practices across schools and districts.
I am a dedicated Education Consultant specializing in Multilingual Learners (ML)/Title III initiatives at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. With a decade of experience as an ESL teacher, I brought my passion for MLs to DPI in 2018. In my current role at DPI, I collaborate... Read More →
This leadership-focused session equips administrators, instructional coaches, and district leaders with evidence-based strategies to drive effective implementation of standards.
Kelly Schultz entered the field of education in the Spring of 2008 as a secondary English Language Arts teacher. She has since progressed in the field serving as a curriculum coach, MTSS District Coordinator, and NCDPI Education Consultant. Kelly has taught in both Illinois and North... Read More →
Grab your lunch, pull up a chair, and join the DPI DL/I Team for a relaxed conversation around the current state of DL/I in NC! In this "chat and chew" session, we'll provide a: - Quick overview of DL/I in NC - Tour of our DL/I website - List of support resources and, time to reflect on the current state of your DL/I program! Whether you're just getting started or looking to take your program to the next level, this session will leave you with fresh ideas, practical tools, and a little extra inspiration.
In this session, participants will explore the components of the new honors policy and learn how to differentiate instruction for ML learners in honors-level courses to ensure they meet the required depth and complexity. Participants will explore the Honors Level Course Development and Evaluation Tool, as well as other relevant resources to support differentiated instruction for MLs.
I began my teaching career in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools in both elementary and special education classrooms. I spent most of my time in the classroom as a middle school ELA teacher in the Alamance/Burlington School System. I have also been an AIG specialist at the elementary... Read More →
Kelly Schultz entered the field of education in the Spring of 2008 as a secondary English Language Arts teacher. She has since progressed in the field serving as a curriculum coach, MTSS District Coordinator, and NCDPI Education Consultant. Kelly has taught in both Illinois and North... Read More →
Career and Technical Education (CTE) classrooms offer unique, real-world learning opportunities—but how can we ensure multilingual learners (MLs) thrive in these dynamic environments? This session explores practical strategies to scaffold instruction, promote language development alongside content mastery, and create inclusive learning spaces that value linguistic diversity. Participants will engage in interactive activities, review effective tools and resources, and leave with actionable ideas to enhance access and equity for MLs in any CTE pathway.
In this session, we will explore a variety of instructional strategies aligned with the Healthful Living Standards to enhance learning opportunities for Multilingual (ML) students. These methods will focus on developing skills related to physical activity and overall health and well-being.
In this 90-minute interactive session, educators will explore practical, research-based strategies to support MLs in developing both mathematical understanding and academic language. Participants will examine the unique language demands of math instruction and learn how to scaffold content, ensuring that MLs can fully engage in mathematical thinking, problem-solving, and discourse.
Learn how to create standards-aligned chatbots designed to enhance learning by providing customized experiences, aligned to your standards. This session follows the "Go Slow to Go Fast" model, allowing participants time to thoroughly understand the process, create their own classroom chatbot, and ask questions along the way.
Western DTL Consultant, NCDPI/Digital Teaching and Learning
Stacy Lovdahl has 24 years of experience as a state and district-level education technologist. She is an AI literacy trainer, the Western DTL Consultant for NCDPI, an Instructional Technology Facilitator and a middle school science teacher. Stacy has dedicated significant efforts... Read More →
Wednesday July 23, 2025 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT Library
This interactive 3-hour professional development session introduces educators, administrators, and support staff to the North Carolina Student Success Standards utilized by school counselors to support students' academic, career, and social/emotional development. Participants will gain foundational knowledge of the standards, explore the NC Student Success Standards Resource Hub, identify upcoming training opportunities, and engage in collaborative activities to develop cross-disciplinary strategies for effective implementation.
This session will provide an overview of Character Education in North Carolina and explore the 11 Principles of Character Education. This session will explore how cultivating strong, supportive relationships with students can significantly impact engagement, behavior, and academic outcomes. Participants will reflect on the role of teacher-student connections in creating inclusive, compassionate classroom environments and learn practical strategies to foster meaningful relationships with students from diverse backgrounds. This session equips educators with the tools to meet the needs of all learners while promoting a culture of respect, empathy, and belonging. Participants will leave inspired and empowered to strengthen their practices, helping students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
This session will explore the use of high-impact instructional strategies to support multilingual learners at the secondary level in their engagement, interaction, critical thinking, and writing, as they build their content knowledge and language proficiency simultaneously. Participants will engage in strategies that focus on vocabulary instruction, distributed summarizing, discourse techniques and structured writing support. This session is appropriate for content teachers, ESL teachers, and instructional coaches.
I’m an ESL educator with 12 years of experience supporting multilingual learners in both elementary and middle school settings. I’m passionate about sharing practical strategies that help make academic content more accessible for all students. My goal is to empower teachers with... Read More →
I have been an educator for 32 years, with experience at all levels K-12. I began my career in the elementary classroom, then continued my journey as an ESL teacher. My current role allows me to combine my love of multilingual students and my passion for coaching other educators... Read More →
Serving students who are both Multilingual Learners (MLs) and Students with Disabilities (SWDs) requires a collaborative, asset-based approach built on shared expertise. In this session, participants will explore how general education teachers, ML specialists, special educators, and support staff can work together to design instruction that meets both language development and disability-related needs. Participants will: - Explore best practices, tools, and resources for collaborative planning and instruction - Learn how to integrate language development strategies with specially designed instruction - Review key legal policies and frameworks guiding support for dually identified students - Reflect on how strong partnerships can promote student success and discover opportunities to promote academic growth of these learners
Join us to reflect, connect, and strengthen your vision for partnership-centered student support!
Project Learning at its finest! Throughout this journey, students and families engaged in a meaningful learning experience that celebrated culture, tradition, and connection. Together, we:
Explored Agricultural Products – Learned how each country’s geography influences its traditional ingredients. Built Cooking Vocabulary*– Expanded our knowledge of key cooking and food-related terms. Connected Ingredients to Culture – Discovered how these products are used in traditional dishes. Experienced Hands-on Cooking– Prepared an authentic, easy-to-make recipe in class. Created a Cultural Recipe Book– Compiled family recipes and stories into a shared collection, highlighting our diverse backgrounds.
This incredible project fostered a deeper appreciation for different cultures while bringing families together through the joy of cooking.
Learn about a project made possible through the generous support of the Learning Product for Uniting Our World Project, with donations from Participate Learning.
First Grade Dual Immersion Spanish Teacher, Mooresville Graded School District
Dual Language Spanish Teacher Master Degree in Education Chilean teacher with 21 years of experience in Early Years and Elementary Education in English-speaking private schools. 4 years in Public Elementary Education in the U.S. Bilingual International Teacher (Spanish... Read More →
In this session, participants will focus on how offering honors Level I heritage language courses could impact Multilingual Learners (MLs), as well as their local course sequence(s) that continue into inherently honors courses, like Level II heritage and Levels III - VIII modern languages. They will also delve into the Honors Level Coursework guidance and tools available to all content areas with examples for more and less common World Languages that show greater depth and complexity to differentiate honors and standard courses.
No matter how you say it, “Art” reaches across languages and geography. Yet, the instructional language of arts education is often overlooked when placing newcomers into these courses. It is essential to have resources and tools necessary to meet the needs of our English Learners. Learn how to read an EL plan, navigate the NC ELD Standards to support the Arts Education Standards, apply required individual modifications to existing lessons, and familiarize yourself with the crosswalks of the 2020 WIDA Framework with NC Arts Standards to help make every student successful.
At NCDPI since 2019 as the K-12 Music and Theatre Arts Consultant, Brandon came to North Carolina to teach elementary music in Granville County. Brandon has taught General Music and High School Chorus, coached and written music for marching bands and drumlines, put on numerous musical... Read More →
Multilingual learners represent the most rapidly expanding demographic within K-12 educational settings. Among these learners is a specific group referred to as newcomers, which describes students who have recently immigrated to the United States. These individuals bring a wealth of diverse experiences to the classroom, alongside a range of linguistic, academic, and social-emotional needs.
This session will provide opportunities for educators and school staff to reflect on their teaching methodologies, learn how to foster a culture of shared responsibility, build community partnerships, and leverage the resources that multilingual newcomers contribute. Hear from a district that in addition to traditional newcomer enrollments has a community relationship with the refugee resettlement process.
This interactive session will look at practical, research-based ways of supporting ML students in social studies content instruction. Participants will explore instructional practices and classroom resources to facilitate grade-level instruction for students while scaffolding for MLs.
Writing is a powerful tool for learning across disciplines. It helps multilingual learners (MLs) process ideas, deepen content knowledge, and develop critical thinking skills. In this session, educators will explore the importance of providing MLs with writing opportunities across all disciplines and how rich, varied language experiences can support their vocabulary development. Participants will leave inspired and equipped with ready-to-implement writing strategies that are sure to get their students' pencils moving!
Mary is a graduate from the University of South Florida where she received her B.S. in Elementary Education and then her M.Ed. in Educational Leadership. She comes with 20 years of educational experience as a pre-K through 5th grade teacher, literacy specialist, administrator, district... Read More →
This foundational session demystifies the process of implementing academic standards, equipping educators with actionable strategies to align curriculum, instruction, and assessment effectively. Designed for beginning teachers and instructional coaches, this session will: - Break down the standards implementation cycle, emphasizing clarity, coherence, and consistency in translating standards into classroom practice.
- Explore best practices for unpacking standards, designing aligned assessments, and scaffolding instruction to meet the needs of learners.
- Introduce practical resources and tools to streamline workflows and ensure fidelity to standards
Kelly Schultz entered the field of education in the Spring of 2008 as a secondary English Language Arts teacher. She has since progressed in the field serving as a curriculum coach, MTSS District Coordinator, and NCDPI Education Consultant. Kelly has taught in both Illinois and North... Read More →
In this session, participants will explore evidence-based strategies for enhancing reading comprehension and supporting multilingual learners’ access to academic content. Drawing on insights from IES-funded randomized controlled trials, we will showcase strategies that integrate language and literacy development in grades K-2. Participants will engage with classroom videos, lesson plans, and collaborative activities to learn effective techniques for literacy instruction to multilingual learners. Emphasis will be placed on fostering strong oral language skills, promoting teacher collaboration, and leveraging students’ strengths in instruction. Attendees will leave with practical ideas for how to enhance literacy instruction for multilingual learners.
The educational journey for Multilingual Learners, especially Newcomers in Middle School and 9th grade, is complex, as these students face the challenge of learning English while simultaneously acquiring academic content in subjects like Math, Science, and Social studies. This session will explore a dynamic, learner-centered model designed for Middle School and 9th-grade Multilingual Newcomers at the ESL Academy which integrates English Language Development (ELD) standards with core academic content. Participants will learn how our ESL Academy in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools helps students build essential language skills while mastering the content knowledge needed for future academic success. Through deeper learning, culturally responsive teaching, differentiated instruction, and social-emotional support, we create an engaging, inclusive environment where multilingual students thrive.
Are you ready to transform your approach to teaching English learners and unlock their potential for academic success? This interactive session is designed for educators in grades 6–12 who are eager to enhance their practices in planning, delivering, and assessing standards-based instruction for English as a Second Language (ESL) students.
Math Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, Durham Public Schools
Kenya L. Lawrence is a Goodnight Doctoral Fellow in Learning and Teaching in STEM at NC State University and a Curriculum and Instruction Specialist for Durham Public Schools. In her role, she supports teachers by building their capacity to design equitable, student-centered math... Read More →
Alina Castillo serves as the 6-12 Math Specialist at Durham Public Schools. In this role, she provides instructional math support to schools and assists math teachers with building capacity in mathematics teaching through Professional Development, Professional Learning Communities... Read More →
Unlock the power of vocabulary acquisition by bridging knowledge, practice, and innovation! This interactive session explores how multilingual learners can strengthen vocabulary through meaningful connections—linking new words to prior knowledge, language patterns, and real-world applications. Participants will discover research-based strategies, including morphology, cognates, etymology, and repetition-based exposure while integrating handwriting, AI tools, and tech-supported read-aloud practices for deeper retention. Learn how sentence frames, gamified learning, and multimodal engagement empower students to make words their own. Walk away with practical, adaptable techniques that merge traditional and modern approaches—ensuring vocabulary sticks, grows, and connects across subjects and experiences.
During this session, participants will focus on the initial implementation of the 2024 Standard Course of Study (SCoS) for World Languages, with an overview of the new support tools, updated resources, and 2025-2026 professional development. Policy questions will also be discussed, along with specific materials for classical, dual language/immersion (DL/I), heritage, and modern languages and programs.
This interactive session equips educators with tools to integrate global competencies into everyday instruction. - Align practices with the NC Standard Course of Study, Professional Teaching Standards, and Portrait of a Graduate by embedding global issues into curricula. - Access ready-to-use resources to design lessons that empower students to address real-world issues.
Kelly Schultz entered the field of education in the Spring of 2008 as a secondary English Language Arts teacher. She has since progressed in the field serving as a curriculum coach, MTSS District Coordinator, and NCDPI Education Consultant. Kelly has taught in both Illinois and North... Read More →
This foundational session will help to provide clarity around the connection between the IEP (Individual Education Program) for students with disabilities and NC Standards. This session will support understanding Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) for students with disabilities and how SDI intersects with NC Standards. Participants will develop knowledge about educator roles in SDI, examples of SDI to support collaboration and finally we will apply that knowledge to a secondary case study using ELA and Math NC Standards. Participants will leave with ready-to-implement ideas and strategies to collaborate with exceptional children teachers to support specially designed instruction in any classroom. Note: This session is designed for any educator to attend in any content area to learn more about supporting specially designed instruction in any classroom. The case study using a 7th grade profile, will focus on both ELA and Math standards, but the concepts can be applied to any grade or content area.
In this session, participants will develop an understanding of the math standards through the lens of rigor. We will explore how assessments and instructional practice align to the expectations of the standards. Participants will also have opportunities to collaboratively discuss and plan how to implement these practices.
This session will assist administrators and educators in deeply examining the common framework of the four artistic process strands of Connect, Create, Present, and Respond, the eight standards and 16 learning objective throughlines in Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts. Participants will gain an understanding of how the new structure of the standards promotes interdisciplinary connections between the arts disciplines and other academic content.
At NCDPI since 2019 as the K-12 Music and Theatre Arts Consultant, Brandon came to North Carolina to teach elementary music in Granville County. Brandon has taught General Music and High School Chorus, coached and written music for marching bands and drumlines, put on numerous musical... Read More →
Through collaboration and high expectations. Participants will engage in hands-on writing workshops, peer-feedback activities, and explore tools for collaborative writing. Learn to foster critical thinking, creativity, and excellence in student writing while creating actionable plans to implement in the classroom.
ML Teacher, Instructional Coach, Elon Park Elementary
As an experienced ESL teacher and instructional coach, I am passionate about fostering equitable learning environments for multilingual learners. With a background in English Learning and over a decade of teaching experience, I’ve developed a strong commitment to promoting family... Read More →
In this interactive workshop, we will explore effective strategies for engaging parents in supporting their children's learning journey, with a focus on multilingual (ML) families. Participants will gain insights into how to build strong, trusting relationships with parents from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, foster meaningful communication, and create inclusive environments that encourage family involvement.
Studies have shown how co-teaching can lead to higher achievement among multilingual learners in terms of engagement, language acquisition, and participation (Dove & Honigsfeld, 2021; Lenard & Townsend; & Modfield, 2020). However, one of the core challenges in implementing co-teaching in the classroom is the relationship between the teachers to make sure that it is implemented intuitively. When the implementation of co-teaching in the classroom is fluid, it can simultaneously achieve different objectives in one single action. In this discussion, different activities that were observed to be effective in learning the content in Social studies while also learning the target language, will be shared. We will also discuss each activity’s challenges and the possible areas to look at when adopting it to a different content to ensure that each activity is beneficial to ML learners across all subjects.
Project Learning at its finest! Throughout this journey, students and families engaged in a meaningful learning experience that celebrated culture, tradition, and connection. Together, we:
Explored Agricultural Products – Learned how each country’s geography influences its traditional ingredients. Built Cooking Vocabulary*– Expanded our knowledge of key cooking and food-related terms. Connected Ingredients to Culture – Discovered how these products are used in traditional dishes. Experienced Hands-on Cooking– Prepared an authentic, easy-to-make recipe in class. Created a Cultural Recipe Book– Compiled family recipes and stories into a shared collection, highlighting our diverse backgrounds.
This incredible project fostered a deeper appreciation for different cultures while bringing families together through the joy of cooking.
Learn about a project made possible through the generous support of the Learning Product for Uniting Our World Project, with donations from Participate Learning.
First Grade Dual Immersion Spanish Teacher, Mooresville Graded School District
Dual Language Spanish Teacher Master Degree in Education Chilean teacher with 21 years of experience in Early Years and Elementary Education in English-speaking private schools. 4 years in Public Elementary Education in the U.S. Bilingual International Teacher (Spanish... Read More →
Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs empower multilingual learners by providing equitable access to education in multiple languages while fostering success in culturally diverse environments. To maximize student achievement, educators must implement research-based practices supporting academic and social-emotional growth. This session will explore best practices for supporting multilingual learners in DLI settings, with a special focus on teaching for biliteracy, ensuring students develop strong literacy skills in both program languages. Participants will gain practical strategies to enhance instruction and promote language development across content areas.
Vivian Simmons is an instructional coach in North Carolina, where she supports multilingual learners and Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs. With 18 years of experience as a teacher, coach, and professional learning facilitator, she partners with educators and administrators to... Read More →
The content area of social studies provides rich opportunities for ML students of all ages and levels to increase their proficiency in academic English while becoming more knowledgeable in the content area. Explore a variety of proven strategies and resources to capitalize on ML's background knowledge, and scaffold the multimedia and literature rich world of Social Studies to engage newcomers and experienced MLs in the secondary space.
Intended audience: Social Studies Teachers, ML Teachers, ML Coordinator, Administrators.
