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2020 Conference Highlights
Connect, Collaborate, and Lead with NAELPA
The NAELPA Annual Conference took place at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 24 and 25, 2020. Our new name wasn’t the only change this year. Our ‘National Meeting’ changed from a single day to a one and a half day ‘National Conference.’ The theme was Connect, Collaborate and Lead with NAELPA and we had ample opportunities to do this and more.
None of us realized that our lives were about to drastically change a few weeks later. It was one of the last times many of our members had the opportunity to connect at a large public gathering. We are grateful that we spent this time collaborating and learning together to support the leaders of English Learner programs across the country. Conference handouts are available on the 2020 NAELPA National Conference Webpage (login required; first time users can create a free account). Here are some highlights from the Conference!
The conference began with a welcome message and introductions from NAELPA President, Morgan Cox. She and Executive Director, Dr. David Holbrook, presented the Executive Board updates to the many members in attendance.
Dr. Margarita Espino Calderón, Professor Emerita/Senior Research Scientist, Johns Hopkins University, was the key note speaker. She spoke about Collaboration, Cohesion, and Leadership Among Administrators and Teacher Leaders of ELs.
Updates from the US Department of Education were delivered by Supreet Anand, Ph.D., Deputy Director, OELA and Brenda Calderon, Ph.D., Education Program Specialist, OESE. Supreet and Brenda are regular attendees at the NELPA monthly Board Meetings.
Dr. William P. Rivers: National Advocacy for Dual Language Immersion and Title III
Arthur Chou: The National Seal of Biliteracy Report, Revised State Guidelines and Future Outlook
Michelle Benegas, Ph.D. & Amy Stolpestad: The English Learners in the Mainstream (ELM) Project: A Model to Transform Instructional Practice through ELS Teacher Leadership
Marybelle Marrero-Colon & Roberta Miceli: Long-term English Learners (ELs)
Julie Sugarman: EL Accountability and Data Reporting: A Varied and Opaque National Landscape
Rita MacDonald & David Crowther, Ph.D.: Contemporary Research and Pedagogy in Science and Language Education: Making Science Multilingual - WIDA and the National Science Teaching Association (NSTA) Collaboration for Change
Our Breakout Sessions Included