We’re excited you’ll be joining us for these upcoming professional learning opportunities! June 9th sessions are available exclusively to registered participants of the Language and Literacy Symposium. From June 10th –12th, all registrants of the Embracing Literacy: Soaring with Language and Literacy Conference are welcome to attend a wide range of engaging sessions designed to elevate language and literacy practices across our communities.
We look forward to learning and growing together!
Log in to bookmark your favorites and sync them to your phone or calendar.
Add sessions to your personal schedule to register your attendance (Check-In).
Most people do not know that bilingual education has been part of the educational landscape for virtually all of our nation’s history--actually, since before it was a nation. This presentation will review this history; present the current state of knowledge for short-term (i.e., transitional) and long-term (developmental or dual-language) bilingual education; discuss some of the limitations and challenges the research reveals; and provide suggestions for future directions, which must include promoting the value of bilingualism and biliteracy for all, not just English Learners, and improving the literacy pedagogy typically used in bilingual education programs.
Objectives:
Summarize the historical roots and evolution of bilingual education in the United States.
Differentiate between short-term (transitional) and long-term (developmental/dual-language) bilingual education models and their outcomes.
Identify key findings from research on the effectiveness, challenges, and limitations of various bilingual education approaches.
Explain why promoting bilingualism and biliteracy benefits all students—not just English Learners.
Recommend ways to strengthen literacy pedagogy within bilingual education programs to align with current evidence and improve student outcomes.
Credit Reflection Questions: Applying Learning to Practice
What new insights did you gain from the presentation, and how did they connect to your existing knowledge or experience?
In what ways did the presentation deepen or enhance your understanding of the topic?
How do you plan to apply what you learned in your work? Who will benefit from it, and what changes or improvements do you expect to see?
If English spelling feels like a mess of rules and exceptions, this session is here to change your mind. Morphology—the study of word parts like bases, prefixes, and suffixes—reveals the logic behind spelling that phonics alone can’t explain. This isn’t just for older students or advanced readers. From the earliest grades on, morphology helps students understand why words are spelled the way they are. You’ll explore key principles, learn how to use word sums and matrices, and walk away with tools that bring meaning and structure to spelling for every grade level.
Objectives:
Explain the role of morphology in making sense of English spelling beyond phonics instruction.
Identify key morphological components, including bases, prefixes, and suffixes, and how they contribute to word meaning and structure.
Demonstrate how to construct and use word sums and matrices to support students' understanding of spelling patterns.
Recognize the value of introducing morphological instruction starting in the early grades.
Apply practical strategies and tools to integrate morphology into classroom instruction across all grade levels.
Credit Reflection Questions: Applying Learning to Practice
What new insights did you gain from the presentation, and how did they connect to your existing knowledge or experience?
In what ways did the presentation deepen or enhance your understanding of the topic?
How do you plan to apply what you learned in your work? Who will benefit from it, and what changes or improvements do you expect to see?
Join us for an honest, eye-opening journey of how Converse County School District #1, in partnership with Marzano Research, transformed its approach to literacy through systematic, collaborative change. Learn how leaders tackled the challenging process of conducting an unbiased literacy audit and turned potentially uncomfortable findings into powerful catalysts for improvement. This session reveals how a diverse team of educators broke down barriers between elementary, middle, and high schools to create a unified literacy vision that serves all students - from rural areas to town centers. You'll discover how classroom teachers became the architects of a revolutionary literacy framework, ensuring buy-in and practical application across all levels. We'll share our innovative "braid" approach to continuous improvement, our commitment to data-driven decision-making through 5Ds data analysis process, and the strategic implementation of technical and adaptive change cycles. Learn about the predictable coaching systems that supported leaders throughout this transformation. Most importantly, you'll leave with practical insights into building interconnected frameworks that strengthen transitions between buildings and create a truly systemic approach to literacy. Perfect for administrators, literacy coaches, and teacher leaders ready to move beyond isolated initiatives to create lasting, district-wide impact.
Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about key components of a district-wide literacy transformation to identify actionable steps for creating an interconnected, systematic approach to literacy instruction within their educational settings.
Credit Reflection Questions: Applying Learning to Practice
What new insights did you gain from the presentation, and how did they connect to your existing knowledge or experience?
In what ways did the presentation deepen or enhance your understanding of the topic?
How do you plan to apply what you learned in your work? Who will benefit from it, and what changes or improvements do you expect to see?
Dr. Andrea Gilbert - Andrea Gilbert, Ph.D., is the Assistant Superintendent of Schools at Converse County School District #1. With over thirty years in education, Andrea has also been the Wyoming Sallie Mae Teacher of the Year, a technology director, an information specialist, and a principal. She is dedicated to implementing transformative change in educational settings. She has extensive experience leading multiple schools through continuous improvement frameworks, directing large-scale technology rollouts, and developing innovative curriculum and professional learning initiatives. With a doctorate in Education, she specializes in systems improvement, technology integration, and professional development. Her mission of "Learn. Because you deserve it" drives her commitment to creating adaptable, effective solutions that serve the evolving needs of educational communities while leveraging systems thinking to drive sustainable change.
Dr. Elise Guest - As a Senior Education Improvement Specialist at Marzano Research, Elise is dedicated to making evidence-based practices accessible, meaningful, and useful to all educators. With a 30-year career in education, she is an experienced teacher, high school and elementary school administrator, district-level director, trainer, coach, evaluator, and technical assistance provider. With a doctorate in Education Methodology, Policy, and Leadership from the University of Oregon, Elise has led large-scale education initiatives, including Systems Reviews, Teacher as Researcher, and Professional Learning and Coaching. She specializes in PreK-12 literacy, Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, and School Improvement. Elise is passionate about leveraging data-informed decision-making and collaborative networks to drive meaningful, lasting improvements in education.
Mrs. Carrie Serio - Carrie Serio, EdM, is an education improvement specialist with Marzano Research and has almost two decades of experience serving in various roles in public education, emphasizing literacy instruction. In Wyoming, Serio has played a pivotal role in providing training, coaching, and technical support to districts as they work to improve MTSS systems, literacy instruction, and student outcomes. Serio has also worked with the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development DEED to establish an evaluation agenda to measure progress towards strategic literacy goals and led work with partners to develop and implement data-informed decision-making processes for statewide professional learning initiatives. In Oregon, Serio provided technical support and coaching to develop the state’s K–5 Early Literacy Framework for guiding the implementation of evidence-based literacy practices in classrooms statewide.
Mr. Justin Carr - Justin Carr brings over 25 years of dedicated service in education as a dynamic educational leader and literacy advocate. As a former English Language Arts teacher, Activities Director, Instructional Coach, and current Douglas High School principal, he has consistently championed innovative approaches to literacy development. Holding a Master's in Curriculum and Instruction, Justin has served in various pivotal roles in planning professional development, adopting curriculum, and implementing frameworks. His involvement with the San Joaquin Writing Project positioned him at the forefront of improving high school literacy instruction across California. As a curriculum specialist, Justin is committed to developing and implementing effective literacy strategies that resonate with today's diverse learners. His experience spans classroom instruction, teacher mentoring, and administrative leadership, providing a comprehensive understanding of educational systems. Justin continues to advocate for enhanced literacy instruction methods that prepare students for academic and professional success.
Mrs. Tanya Seeds - Tanya brings 25 years of dynamic educational leadership experience to her current role as an elementary principal. Her diverse background spans high school science instruction, instructional facilitation, and early childhood education, with the last 14 years dedicated to advancing early literacy initiatives. As a passionate advocate for comprehensive student support, Tanya has successfully implemented Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), accelerated instruction programs, and innovative early childhood emotional support frameworks. Her leadership in developing effective Professional Learning Communities has strengthened collaborative approaches to student success; with her guiding principle of "Every child, every day," Tanya champions early childhood education as the foundation for academic achievement. Her expertise in creating supportive learning environments and her focus on data-driven instruction and social-emotional development demonstrate her commitment to fostering educational excellence from the earliest years of learning.
