2026 Newcomer Network Conference: Full Schedule

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8:00am PDT

Breakfast

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Food & Networking

8:00am PDT

Student Performance

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Thursday October 8, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Student Performance

9:00am PDT

Welcome & Keynote

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Speakers

Emily Tietjen

Director of Strategic Systems Improvement, Data, and Research, Merced County Office of Education

Erika Davalos-Lemus

State and Federal Senior Coordinator , Merced County Office of Education

Manuel Cavazos

State and Federal Coordinator, Merced County Office of Education

Nestor Henrriquez

State & Federal Coordinator, Merced County Office of Education

Thursday October 8, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Key Note

11:00am PDT

ELPAC Essentials: Connecting Classroom Language to Authentic Readiness

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am PDT

Stockard

Limited Capacity seats available

Many teachers and students are unfamiliar with the ELPAC task types and the language skills they measure. Awareness changes everything. ELPAC Essentials helps teachers understand how ELPAC tasks reflect real classroom language use, and how to build those skills through daily lessons. Students learn what to expect, gain confidence, and see how the test connects to their learning. The result is stronger instruction, empowered teachers and learners, and authentic readiness that goes beyond the test.

Speakers

Jamey Goulet

Academic Officer, Teacher Created Materials

As an Academic Officer for Teacher Created Materials, Jamey Goulet leads teacher training sessions and collaborates with school districts for instructional planning while also assisting in the development and alignment of educational content. Jamey is an accomplished educator with... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am PDT
Stockard 20

Breakout Session

11:00am PDT

From Silence to Speaking: What’s Really Behind Newcomer Participation—and What Actually Works

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am PDT

Gomes

Limited Capacity seats available

Newcomer students are often perceived as silent or unengaged, but silence has multiple causes that are frequently misunderstood. This session explores how cultural norms, cognitive overload, prior academic experiences, and emotional factors shape newcomer participation in the classroom.
Participants will learn a practical framework for supporting newcomers through a progression of participation strategies—from nonverbal engagement activities to structured speaking routines,, various pair and group activities with accountability, and eventually independent language production. The session also highlights the strategic use of first language, extended processing time, and culturally responsive practices that build trust and student identity.

Speakers

Marianna Domokos

District ELD Teacher / ELPAC Coordinator, Yosemite Unified School District

Marianna Domokos is an English Language Development (ELD) educator and coordinator with experience supporting multilingual learners in grades K–12. As an English learner herself (L1 Hungarian), she brings a personal understanding of second language acquisition and the strengths... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am PDT
Gomes 3rd Floor

Breakout Session

11:00am PDT

Trauma-Informed Practices for Teachers of Newcomer Students

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Dani Dayan

School Psychologist, California Dept. of Ed, State Special Schools Div.

Thursday October 8, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Breakout Session

12:00pm PDT

Lunch

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Sponsors

Teacher Created Materials

Teacher Created Materials (TCM) is a global educational publisher that produces supplemental resources, instructional materials, children's books, professional learning books and services for educators and learners from birth through grade 12.We specialize in evidence-based print... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Food & Networking

12:10pm PDT

Student Performance

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:10pm - 12:30pm PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:10pm - 12:30pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Student Performance

12:30pm PDT

Exhibits

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:30pm - 1:00pm PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Thursday October 8, 2026 12:30pm - 1:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Exhibits

1:10pm PDT

A Whole New World: Preparing Newcomer Students for Classroom Success

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm PDT

Stockard

Limited Capacity seats available

In this session National Geographic Learning will present ideas to engage middle and high school newcomer students with the basic academic language and literacy skills they need. Attendees will leave this session with strategies they can implement in class immediately. They will also be given copies of brand-new materials for students ranging from learning the alphabet to building an understanding of content area vocabulary.

Speakers

Robin Amrine

National K-12 MLL Content Specialist, National Geographic Learning/Cengage

Robin Amrine holds a MA in Bilingual and Multicultural education and has worked as a K-8 teacher, Adult ESL instructor, teacher trainer, educational consultant, and adjunct professor for the Teacher’s College at Western Governors University. As an educational consultant, Robin... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm PDT
Stockard 20

Breakout Session

1:10pm PDT

Foundations for Integrated ELD and Academic Discourse

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm PDT

Gomes

Limited Capacity seats available

The Foundations for Integrated ELD (FIELD) breakout session helps teachers integrate language development with rigorous content instruction. Participants learn to ensure access to grade-level content, explicitly teach how English works, and support students in academic discussions.

Through interactive strategies, educators explore oracy, collaboration, and academic discourse focused on multilingual learners. The session emphasizes practical application, modeling, and reflection.

Participants leave with ready-to-use resources, planning tools, and strategies to connect content and language learning, fostering classrooms where academic achievement and language development grow together.

Speakers

Rima Haroun

Coordinator, San Diego County Office of Education

Dr. Rima Haroun is an administrator at SDCOE, championing multilingual learners and their families. A former K–12 teacher and district leader, she has also taught at Chapman University, UC Irvine, and SDSU. Her passion is coaching and supporting educators systemwide to advance asset-driven... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm PDT
Gomes 3rd Floor

Breakout Session

1:10pm PDT

Funding for Impact: Maximizing Title III Immigrant Student Funds for Comprehensive Newcomer Support

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will equip educators and administrators with strategies to effectively use Title III Immigrant Student funds to create comprehensive support systems for newcomer students. Participants will learn how to transform federal funding policies into practical, whole-child approaches that address the academic, social-emotional, and cultural needs of immigrant students.

Speakers

Robyn Altamirano

Education Programs Consultant, California Department of Eduacation

I am an Education Programs Consultant in the CDE Multilingual Support Division's Language Policy and Leadership Office. I help support our newcomer student initiatives as well as Title III programs. I previously supported the Federal Stimulus funds programs as a member of CDE's Government... Read More →

Tara Clarke

Education Programs Consultant, California Department of Education

I’m excited to collaborate with colleagues across the state who are deeply committed to equity, access, and excellence in public education. I began my teaching career in the Sacramento area at Rocklin Unified School District before relocating to Kern County when my husband began... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Breakout Session

1:10pm PDT

Narrative Theory: A practical approach to creating healing spaces in the classroom.

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm PDT

Anderson

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation introduces narrative theory as a strengths-based, culturally responsive intervention framework for school-based practitioners. Participants will learn how students construct meaning through personal narratives and how school professionals can support them in “re-authoring” their stories into more empowering ones.

Speakers

Thalia Guillen, ACSW

Behavioral Health Clinician, Merced County Office of Education

I am an Associate Clinical Social Worker (ASW) with five years of experience in the mental health field, providing compassionate and culturally responsive support to children, adolescents, individuals, and families. My professional experience spans K–12 school settings, nonprofit... Read More →

Socorro Saavedra, LCSW

Behavioral Health Clinician, Merced County Office of Education

Socorro is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, she currently works with students K-8 providing individual and family psychotherapy. Socorro has extensive experience working with individuals impacted by trauma who are system involved. Socorro also offers her own experience as an immigrant... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 1:10pm - 2:00pm PDT
Anderson 3rd Floor

Breakout Session

2:10pm PDT

AI Integration for Newcomer Success: Designing Standards-Aligned Learning

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm PDT

Anderson

Limited Capacity seats available

This session explores how educators can integrate artificial intelligence into daily practice to design standards-aligned lessons, instructional materials, and resources for newcomer students and multilingual learners. Participants will learn practical ways AI can streamline planning while increasing access to grade-level content.
Aligned with the English Learner (EL) Roadmap, this session highlights how intentional AI integration supports high achievement by building on students’ strengths. Attendees will leave with concrete strategies and tools to enhance instruction and better meet the needs of diverse learners.

Speakers

Juliano Calvo

Teacher, Hoover High School / Glendale Unified School District

Juliano Calvo is a Career Technical Education (CTE) teacher at Hoover High School in Glendale Unified School District. He is a Teach Plus EBCAN, an ELLLI Fellow with CalTog, and serves as a member of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Working Group for guidance for the safe and effective... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm PDT
Anderson 3rd Floor

Breakout Session

2:10pm PDT

Meeting Newcomers Where They Are: Video-First Learning for ELL Students

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm PDT

Stockard

Limited Capacity seats available

Newcomer students often arrive mid-year, mid-unit, and mid-language acquisition. Traditional text-heavy curriculum forces them to learn English before they can access content, leaving them behind in core subjects. This session explores how video-first, self-paced curriculum changes that equation by letting students build comprehension visually while developing language. We'll look at real classroom examples, scaffolding strategies that pair video with language support, and what districts serving newcomer populations are doing to close the gap faster. Whether you're an ELL teacher, instructional coach, or admin, you'll leave with practical ideas you can use immediately.

Speakers

Albert Kim

Account Executive, subject.ai

Albert Kim is a Senior Account Executive at Subject, passionate about transforming the way K–12 districts experience online learning. He partners with district leaders to bring engaging, video-first curriculum and turnkey virtual programs to life — driving better student outcomes, exp... Read More →

Christian Ramos

Senior Account Executive, Subject.ai

Christian Ramos is a Senior Account Executive at Subject, partnering with K–12 districts to reimagine online learning through engaging, video-first curriculum and turnkey virtual programs. He works with district leaders to improve student outcomes, expand access, and streamline... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm PDT
Stockard 20

Breakout Session

2:10pm PDT

Meeting Students Where They Are While Reaching for the Stars

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will focus on effectively engaging Newcomers by understanding their current levels of content knowledge and skills to support greater language acquisition. Through the lens of Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy, we will demonstrate how teachers can plan for language and content growth for their Newcomers in their Integrated ELD classrooms. Participants will analyze and reflect on how strategic lesson design can support teaching and learning for their Newcomer students.

Speakers

Amber Riehman

Professional Learning Specialist, Californains Together

Amber Riehman, an educational leader from San Diego, is dedicated to promoting democratic education and equitable practices. As a Professional Learning Specialist with Californians Together, she provides crucial support for high-level instruction, implementing the California EL Roadmap... Read More →

Victoria Weiss

Director of Professional Learning, Californians Together

Victoria currently serves as the Director of Professional Learning. She has a passionate voice for access and equity for all students and an uncompromising view that every student can learn given the proper tools, motivation, and nurturing environment that encourages exploration and... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Breakout Session

2:10pm PDT

Supplemental Newcomer ELD at the Elementary Level

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm PDT

Gomes

Limited Capacity seats available

Overview of how the Turlock Newcomer program at the elementary level was created and how it has transformed over the years.

Speakers

Erica Maldonado-Higle

Itinerant Supplemental ELD Teacher, Turlock Unified School District

A veteran teacher of 29 years, Erica currently teaches supplemental ELD to Newcomer students in Turlock Unified. Erica has served on the ELPAC Item Review team for Sacramento County Office of Education, is a member of the EBCAN Cohort 5 through Teach Plus, was the English Learner... Read More →

Kelly Villalobos

Itinerant Supplemental ELD Teacher, Turlock Unified School District

A veteran teacher of 30 years, Kelly currently teaches supplemental ELD to Newcomer students in Turlock Unified. Kelly has served on the ELPAC Data Review and Writing Range Review teams for Sacramento County Office of Education, is a member of the CDE Recommended Literature List team... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 2:10pm - 3:00pm PDT
Gomes 3rd Floor

Breakout Session

3:10pm PDT

Designed to Thrive: The Internationals Network Approach to Newcomer Education

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm PDT

Anderson

Limited Capacity seats available

What does it look like when a school is truly designed for multilingual learners and for the educators who serve them? In this interactive session, participants will examine the Internationals Network's most recent case study of an innovative staffing model in which teachers work in collaborative, interdisciplinary teams with the autonomy to make decisions for heterogeneous cohorts of adolescent Newcomer MLLs. Guided by five research-based principles, this model creates conditions where both students and educators thrive with proven outcomes and strong teacher retention. Participants will explore how to apply these ideas and practical strategies to their own contexts.

Speakers

Kim Frumin

Director of New Partnerships and Wider Impact, Internationals Network for Public Schools

Kim Frumin is the Director of New Partnerships and Wider Impact at Internationals Network for Public Schools, where she works to expand equitable education opportunities for recently arrived adolescent multilingual learners. Most recently, she supported innovative schools and districts... Read More →

Linda Le

Director of School Support, CA, Internationals Network for Public Schools

Linda leads school-support efforts and oversees the delivery of network services in the California Bay Area. Linda is a daughter of Vietnamese refugees, an educator, and a freedom dreamer. She was born and raised in Southern California and earned her bachelor's degree from UC San... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm PDT
Anderson 3rd Floor

Breakout Session

3:10pm PDT

The Central Valley Multilingual Consortium's Role at Improving Outcomes for Newcomer Students

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop provides an overview of the Central Valley Multilingual Consortium and its policy agenda tailored to the region’s unique educational landscape. Participants will explore the direct links between the Consortium’s advocacy and improved outcomes for newcomer students. We will discuss actionable ways for teachers, administrators, and community members to stay engaged, and strengthen the regional network. Join us to learn how collective advocacy can dismantle barriers for multilingual learners and ensure our newcomers thrive in Central Valley schools.

Speakers

Manuel Buenrostro

Policy Director, Californians Together

Manuel Buenrostro comes to this work as a native Californian, son of Mexican immigrants, former English learner, and first generation college graduate. He stands on the shoulders of his family and wonderful mentors and teachers, who worked hard to ensure he had access to opportunities... Read More →

Adolfo Lopez

Community Engagement Manager, Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE)

Adolfo López is an education advocate and Community Engagement Manager for the Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQE), where he leads the Central Valley Multilingual Consortium. A dedicated public servant and alumnus of UC Merced, he also serves as a Board Trustee for Modesto... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Breakout Session

about Manuel Buenrostro comes to this work as a native Californian, son of Mexican immigrants, former English learner, and first generation college graduate. He stands on the shoulders of his family and wonderful mentors and teachers, who worked hard to ensure he had access to opportunities. Manuel has over fifteen years of experience working in public education, starting as an English learner teacher in Los Angeles. He has since worked at DC Public Schools, at the US Department of Education as an Obama administration appointee, and the California School Boards Association, always focusing on closing opportunity gaps and equity.

3:10pm PDT

Using Data and Primary Language to Create Equitable Core Class Cohorts

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm PDT

Gomes

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation equips teachers and administrators with practical strategies for leveraging data to thoughtfully cohort students in core classes while ensuring language access as a foundation for content mastery. Participants will learn how to pull and analyze key data points—including academic performance, language proficiency, and learning needs—to create intentional, ability-based cohorts that support student growth. We'll explore how utilizing students' primary language during instruction removes barriers to content understanding and accelerates language development, particularly during the critical middle school years.

Speakers

Elvira Ledezma

Curriculum Support Provider, Washington Academic Middle School / Sanger Unified

My name is Elvira Ledezma, and I am a Curriculum Support Provider for teachers at Washington Academic Middle School in Sanger, California. I am a passionate Newcomer advocate with 11 years of teaching experience in Language Development. I am a former Emergent Bilingual Change Agent... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 3:10pm - 4:00pm PDT
Gomes 3rd Floor

Breakout Session

4:00pm PDT

Exhibits

Thursday October 8, 2026 4:00pm - 6:00pm PDT

Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Thursday October 8, 2026 4:00pm - 6:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340

Exhibits

6:00pm PDT

Evening Reception

LIMITED

Thursday October 8, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm PDT

Una Más Taproom

Limited Capacity seats available

Sponsors

Cengage School

Cengage School delivers high-quality instructional materials and innovative digital resources for K–12 educators and librarians, helping them engage learners and support academic success. Our English Language Learning programs foster confidence in communication by supporting critical... Read More →

Thursday October 8, 2026 6:00pm - 8:00pm PDT
Una Más Taproom

Food & Networking