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Thursday, October 8
 

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
avatar for Becky Tietjen

Becky Tietjen

Retired Educator

avatar for Emily Tietjen

Emily Tietjen

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

avatar for Erika Davalos-Lemus

Erika Davalos-Lemus

State and Federal Senior Coordinator , Merced County Office of Education

avatar for Manuel Cavazos

Manuel Cavazos

State and Federal Coordinator, Merced County Office of Education
avatar for Nestor Henrriquez

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...
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Speakers
JG

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Marianna Domokos

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
DD

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
avatar for Teacher Created Materials

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Robin Amrine

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Rima Haroun

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
avatar for Robyn Altamirano

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 →
avatar for Tara Clarke

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
avatar for Thalia Guillen, ACSW

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 →
avatar for Socorro Saavedra, LCSW

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Juliano Calvo

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Albert Kim

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 →
avatar for Christian Ramos

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Amber Riehman

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 →
avatar for Victoria Weiss

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
avatar for Erica Maldonado-Higle

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 →
avatar for Kelly Villalobos

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Kim Frumin

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 →
avatar for Linda Le

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Manuel Buenrostro

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 →
avatar for Adolfo Lopez

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...
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Speakers
avatar for Elvira Ledezma

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
avatar for Cengage School

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
 
Friday, October 9
 

8:00am PDT

Breakfast
Friday October 9, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

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

8:00am PDT

Student Performance
Friday October 9, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

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

9:00am PDT

Welcome & Student Keynote
Friday October 9, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Friday October 9, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340
  Key Note

10:10am PDT

Arts on the Plaza: Bringing EL Roadmap Principle 1 to Life Through Visual Art
LIMITED
Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am PDT
Gomes
Limited Capacity seats available
Art has the unique power to heal, empower, and build community. "Arts on the Plaza" is an innovative, quarterly lunchtime pop-up that turns the school campus into a celebration of student identity and talent through visual and performing arts. Led by 2025 Teach Plus Change Agent Grant recipient Erin Webster, this session explores how to use creative, student-centered events to build a welcoming...
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Speakers
avatar for Erin Webster

Erin Webster

Illustration Pathway Coordinator / Art Teacher, Washington Union High School, Fresno, CA
Erin Webster is an artist, an educator, and a recipient of the 2025 Teach Plus Change Agent Grant from the Central Valley of California. Holding a master's degree and a single-subject teaching credential in visual art from Fresno State University, Erin is deeply committed to the... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am PDT
Gomes 3rd Floor
  Breakout Session

10:10am PDT

Barriers to Bridges: Empowering English Learners through Resilience, Relationships, and Relevance
LIMITED
Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am PDT
Anderson
Limited Capacity seats available
English Learners encounter multiple barriers to learning. English Learners also come to school with many assets and strengths! Learn strategies to build upon these strengths by cultivating student resilience and mindset. Participants will leave the session with resources and strategies to bridge barriers and empower ELs' success through self-advocacy in the classroom, school, and community.
Speakers
avatar for Jamey Olney

Jamey Olney

Teacher, Glick Middle School
Jamey Olney teaches 7th and 8th grade English Language Development at Glick Middle School in Modesto, CA, where she serves as the English Language Development site coordinator and advises the H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everywhere) Club. Jamey previously taught grades K-8 and has... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am PDT
Anderson 3rd Floor
  Breakout Session

10:10am PDT

Cultivating Success for Newcomer & Multilingual Learners with Imagine Learning
LIMITED
Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am PDT
Stockard
Limited Capacity seats available
Discover how Imagine Language & Literacy helps educators cultivate language development, literacy growth, and academic confidence for newcomer and multilingual learners. This session will explore the program’s embedded supports, including scaffolds, home language resources, offline tools, and personalized learning pathways designed to meet students where they are. Participants will learn how to...
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Speakers
AM

Alexandra McCarthy

National Curriculum Consultant, Imagine Learning
Alexandra McCarthy holds a Master of Education and brings more than a decade of experience, with a focus on elementary and TESOL instruction. Since joining Imagine Learning in 2018, she has supported large-scale implementations and now specializes in consulting with district leaders... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am PDT
Stockard 20
  Breakout Session

10:10am PDT

New Tools for Newcomer Education
LIMITED
Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor
Limited Capacity seats available
In this session, participants will play with, discuss, offer feedback, and take home new tools being developed by the California Newcomer Network. Time will be split between the Newcomer Instructional Coach, an AI-powered chatbot, and the California Newcomer Implementation Guide, a program reference for district staff.
Speakers
avatar for Sam Finn

Sam Finn

Director, California Newcomer Network & Californians Together
Sam Finn is the Director of the California Newcomer Network and the Director of Newcomer Policy & Practice at Californians Together. A former teacher and union representative, he has served as an organizer and advocate for newcomers at local, state, and national levels. His data analysis... Read More →
avatar for Efraín Tovar

Efraín Tovar

Founder and Middle School Teacher, California Newcomer Network & Selma Unified
Efraín Tovar is the founder of the California Newcomer Network and a teacher in Selma Unified School District. A three-time Teacher of the Year, he has served as vice president of both the Selma Unified Teachers Association and Central Valley CUE—now the Central Valley CALIE (California... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 10:10am - 11:00am PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340
  Breakout Session

11:00am PDT

Math Multilingual Learner Strategies for Every Classroom
LIMITED
Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am PDT
Gomes
Limited Capacity seats available
MLR's combined with ELD standards. Funds of Knowledge. How they look in the class, and how we can help our students as they work through the math. Engage students, promote inclusivity and empower students.
Speakers
avatar for Gloria Carrasco

Gloria Carrasco

Math Coordinator, Merced County Office of Education
Hola, soy Gloria G. Carrasco. I began my career as a high school teacher at Livingston High, where I spent my years learning and refining the math for our students, I kept up with this as I transitioned to Atwater High. After a few years, I took a big leap into the world of leadership... Read More →
avatar for Luz Valdez

Luz Valdez

Math Coordinator, Merced County Office
Luz Valdez is a math coordinator focused on improving math instruction for multilingual learners. She has experience delivering professional development in mathematics and is passionate about helping educators develop practical skills for incorporating ELD standards into their work... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am PDT
Gomes 3rd Floor
  Breakout Session
  • global Y

11:10am PDT

Cover to Cover: Novel Studies in Newcomer ELD
LIMITED
Friday October 9, 2026 11:10am - 12:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor
Limited Capacity seats available
For many Newcomers, access to rigorous and high-quality texts, such as novels and book-length works of nonfiction, are gatekept behind higher levels of integrated ELA coursework. In this session, the presenter will share teacher-developed materials for a novel study in his Newcomer ELD Beginning and Intermediate courses and discuss an architecture for scaffolding challenging book-length texts,...
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Speakers
avatar for Duncan Rivera Wanless

Duncan Rivera Wanless

Teacher, Edison High School
Duncan Rivera Wanless is an ELD and ELA teacher at his alma mater, Edison High School, in Fresno, CA. He serves on the advisory board of the California Newcomer Network.
Friday October 9, 2026 11:10am - 12:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340
  Breakout Session

11:10am PDT

From Overwhelmed to Optimized: Your New AI Co-Pilot for ELL Success
LIMITED
Friday October 9, 2026 11:10am - 12:00pm PDT
Anderson
Limited Capacity seats available
Are you overwhelmed by the time it takes to scaffold lessons for ELLs? Join this hands-on 50-minute workshop to transform your planning process. Learn how to use NotebookLM, SchoolAI, and Wayground to automate content adaptation and create engaging formative assessments. Move beyond the hype and master practical workflows that save hours of prep time. Bring your laptop and a lesson plan; you will...
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Speakers
avatar for Victor Soria

Victor Soria

ELA/ALD Teacher, Edtech Coach, Grace Davis High School/ Modesto City Schools
As an experienced educator, Victor Soria combines expertise in academic language acquisition with a forward-thinking approach to educational technology. Victor currently supports 12th-grade students through English and ALD instruction, ensuring that multilingual learners have the... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 11:10am - 12:00pm PDT
Anderson 3rd Floor
  Breakout Session

11:10am PDT

Scaffolding for Success: Practical Strategies for Newcomer Classrooms
LIMITED
Friday October 9, 2026 11:10am - 12:00pm PDT
Stockard
Limited Capacity seats available
Newcomer students bring linguistic and cultural assets, yet require intentional systems to access rigorous, grade level content. This session provides a practical framework for supporting Newcomers through integrated ELA/ELD instruction, structured academic discourse, and targeted scaffolds aligned to the California ELA/ELD Framework and EL Roadmap. Participants will engage in real world...
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Speakers
avatar for Shelby Huerta

Shelby Huerta

ELA/ELD Coordinator, Merced County Office of Education
Shelby Huerta is an experienced educational leader with over 25 years in public education, specializing in English Language Arts and English Language Development. She has served as a teacher, instructional coach, site administrator, and county level coordinator, collaborating in the... Read More →
Friday October 9, 2026 11:10am - 12:00pm PDT
Stockard 20
  Breakout Session

12:10pm PDT

Lunch
Friday October 9, 2026 12:10pm - 1:10pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Friday October 9, 2026 12:10pm - 1:10pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340
  Food & Networking

1:20pm PDT

Newcomer Student Panel
Friday October 9, 2026 1:20pm - 1:50pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Friday October 9, 2026 1:20pm - 1:50pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340
  Key Note

1:50pm PDT

Closing
Friday October 9, 2026 1:50pm - 2:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor

Friday October 9, 2026 1:50pm - 2:00pm PDT
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor 1715 Canal St. Merced CA 95340
  Key Note
 
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Thursday, October 8
Friday, October 9
Anderson
Gomes
Mondo Conference Room 1st Floor
Stockard
Una Más Taproom
  • Breakout Session
  • Exhibits
  • Food & Networking
  • Key Note
  • Student Performance
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