Ryan Rumpf, Global Educators 

Newcomers are an incredibly diverse set of students who have a variety of characteristics, life goals and prior experiences with schooling. A mastery-based approach takes each individual student from where they are to where they need to be. Explore the detailed steps necessary to grow academically and linguistically within the zone of proximal development.   

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs) 

Rita Brusca-Vega, NAETISL 

Explore the process when attending interpreted meetings with bilingual parents and what to expect from an interpreter. Discover the "rules" for interpreted meetings and what to expect from an interpreter. Learn strategies to develop school staff as interpreters and use external agencies to increase parent satisfaction with school meetings. 

Strand: Student & Family Support 

Anna McGuire, Mehlville School District 

Every child deserves to learn at high levels. Explore tools that make learning accessible and fun for all. Gain actionable strategies for inclusive teaching. 

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs) 

Karissa Sywulka Mitchell, Saint Louis University 

Let's talk about the unspoken rules of speaking. If you are discouraged by disproportionate participation in class discussions and wondering how to engage your culturally and linguistically diverse students, this session is for you. Explore scholarly research on classroom talk and cultural ground rules of communication. Paricipate in hands-on activities related to creating culturally responsive tools for launching and assessing class discussions. 

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs) 

Angelica Mitchell, Ritenour School District 

Explore practical strategies, tools and resources to help newcomer MLs access content, engage meaningfully and thrive in the classroom. From scaffolding techniques and visual supports to technology tools and community connections, gain ready-to-use ideas that foster confidence and success for newcomers. Whether you're a classroom teacher, instructional coach or administrator, this session will equip you with actionable steps to ensure that all students feel empowered to learn. 

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs) 

Jonathon Lee, EducationPlus 

Podcasts are an innovative way to connect with MLs and their families, providing accessible content that informs, educates and builds community. Learn how to take a podcast from idea to launch, exploring simple tools and strategies to create engaging audio content. Discover how to plan, record and distribute a podcast tailored to your school community, ensuring linguistic and cultural inclusivity. No prior experience is needed, just a desire to amplify voices and strengthen connections through storytelling and technology. Please bring your own device to this session. 

Strand: Student & Family Support 

Betsy Trapp, St. Louis Public Schools 

Do you find yourself spending time searching for research-based strategies to meet the various needs of your MLs? The GO TO Strategies document from Project EXCELL contains over 75 research-based strategies addressing all four language domains specifically for instructing MLs. Strategies are embedded throughout the session for participants to experience while they explore the document and understand how it is organized. This session is recommended for ESOL and content teachers working with MLs in grades K-12. Educators will be invited to include the Go To Strategies in a future lesson during hands-on planning time.   

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs) 

Reah Morabith, Heart of Missouri RPDC 

Ever wonder how long it should take your MLs to become proficient in English? Focusing on second language acquisition, delve into the progression of language learning from initial exposure to proficiency. Through activities and interactive discussions, experience and deepen your understanding of the characteristics and challenges associated with each stage, as well as an awareness of strategies that effectively support MLs at various points along their language acquisition journey. 

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs) 

Anne Truran, Together Language 

More and more schools are feeling an increasing demand on multilingual family communication systems. Despite the best of intentions, families are often excluded from important information and school relationships, students miss out on critical services, and districts are left legally vulnerable due to gaps in multilingual communication systems and culture. Explore the most common myths and pitfalls schools encounter, as well as how to fix it. Addressing multilingual communication can lead to greater inclusivity, better well-being and academic outcomes for kids, and higher staff morale. 

Strand: Leadership & School Culture 

Daisy Skelly and Cara Gerberding, Parkway Schools 

Explore practical ways to prepare students for the annual ACCESS test throughout the school year, beginning with goal setting in August. Tips and tools will be shared for monitoring growth in all 4 domains. These could be used with individual students, small groups or even the whole class (if in a co-teaching environment). Many of the skills needed to take the ACCESS test are applicable to all tests and helping students feel confident in their test-taking abilities can boost proficiency scores. 

Strand: Summative and Formative Assessment 

Ryan Rumpf, Global Educators 

Review a blended instructional routine using video and AI to reach newcomer students. Explore the tools and strategies necessary to provide access to grade level content to newcomers from many language backgrounds. 

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs) 

Anne Truran, Together Language 

Prepare educators in all roles with practical Spanish that would be most relevant for building relationships with Spanish-speaking students and families in the school setting. 

Strand: Student & Family Support 

Sheri Lawson, Hazelwood School District 

This session focuses on managing ML documentation efficiently. Learn about creating and maintaining ILPs, ELD consult forms, releveling processes and master caseload management. Tools for sharing data with schools and general education teachers will be introduced, ensuring streamlined communication and compliance. Gain a better understanding of ML paperwork systems and effective use of digital tools for sharing information. 

Strand: School & Community Resources 

Genise Henry, University of Texas – Austin 

Explore how educators can implement a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to meet the diverse needs of MLs. Learn how to integrate academic, behavioral and social-emotional supports within a tiered framework to promote language development and equitable learning opportunities. Explore effective strategies for core instruction (Tier 1), targeted interventions (Tier 2) and intensive supports (Tier 3), with a focus on culturally responsive practices and progress monitoring. Gain practical tools to enhance ML success in any educational setting. 

Strand: Leadership & School Culture 

John Converse, EducationPlus 

Drawing from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) framework of the eight dimensions of well-being, delve into strategies and practices to support the holistic mental health of MLs and the staff who support the learners. 

Strand: Leadership & School Culture 

Keynote Speaker Isaac Marquez 

Discover practical strategies for teaching the language of science. Explore how targeted language-learning techniques can boost content mastery and academic language skills. Through structured conversations and meaningful vocabulary use, learn how to empower every student to succeed in the science classroom. 

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs) 

Keynote Speaker Sally Barnes 

Explore innovative ways to make social studies accessible and meaningful for MLs at all proficiency levels. Through hands-on examples and interactive strategies, learn how to engage and support MLs while accelerating language acquisition and maximizing content mastery. Gain a bank of ideas to transform your social studies classroom into a content and language-rich environment.   

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs) 

Sylvia Steiner, Ritenour School District 

Explore how to practice and model language in a way that is relevant and meaningful for students. Collaborative writing utilizes all four domains: listening, speaking, reading and writing. This instructional method incorporates vocabulary by theme and models conventions of English for all students. 

Strand: Instructional Practices for Multilingual Learners (MLs)