Loading…
Fall 2026 CoTESOL Convention
Welcome to the 48th Annual CoTESOL Fall Convention!
Dates: November 14-15, 2025
Location: The Conference Center, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, 1500 E. 128th Ave., Thornton, CO 80241
arrow_back View All Dates
Saturday, May 9
 

7:30am MDT

Continental Breakfast
Saturday May 9, 2026 7:30am - 10:00am MDT
Coffee, tea, and pastries (including a gluten free option) will be available near the check-in area in the morning, included in your registration.
Saturday May 9, 2026 7:30am - 10:00am MDT
The Conference Center Entrance

7:30am MDT

Check In
Saturday May 9, 2026 7:30am - 3:30pm MDT
Registered attendees can pick up their name tag at the check-in tables just inside the main entrance to the Conference Center.

Please read the Welcome letter from 2025 CoTESOL President Chantelle Sharbino and information about CDE CLDE PD Credit. Check the map for the locations of the sessions. CoTESOL volunteers will be stationed throughout the Conference Center to help guide you. 


Thank you to the 2025 CoTESOL Board for planning and organizing this year's Fall Convention!
Special thanks to all of our volunteers for donating their time to make this event a success!
Saturday May 9, 2026 7:30am - 3:30pm MDT
The Conference Center Entrance

7:30am MDT

Exhibits
Saturday May 9, 2026 7:30am - 5:00pm MDT
Please check out our amazing exhibitor, publisher, and vendor tables in the hallways!
Learn about the latest educational resources, materials, and opportunities. Also, please see below for special offers from select exhibitors!

Special thanks to our 2025 exhibitors:
SILVER
Scholastic

BRONZE
Flashlight Learning
Intercambio Uniting Communities
National Geographic Learning / Cengage
Seidlitz Education

CRYSTAL
Continental
Pearson
PebbleGo by Capstone & News-O-Matic & FlutterBee
Pro Lingua Learning
Savvas Learning Company
Exhibitors
avatar for Big Ideas Learning

Big Ideas Learning

Sales Consultant, National Geographic Learning/Cengage
This is a brief bio
avatar for Daniela Castro

Daniela Castro

Marketing Executive, Pearson
avatar for Dr. Jill Netz-Fulkerson

Dr. Jill Netz-Fulkerson

Independent Education Consultant, Continental
Jill has a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction in the Learning Sciences. For over 24 years Jill has partnered with various publishing companies as an education consultant matching curriculum instruction with needs in CO, NE, KS, WY, SD, ND, and MT.

At the CO-TESOL Conference she i... Read More →
avatar for Dzabaha Jewelry

Dzabaha Jewelry

Dzabahe Jewelry
The jewelry handcrafted at DZABAHEd (pronounced zaan-ba-ha) exemplifies the values and teachings of our culture. The artisans Bessie and Betina are members of the Dine/Navajo nation's Hashk'aan hadzohí clan and proudly maintain the certification required by the Indian Arts and Crafts... Read More →
avatar for Elise White Diaz

Elise White Diaz

Educational Consultant, Seidlitz Education
Elise White Diaz is a Seidlitz Education consultant and keynote speaker with a strong background serving diverse students from difficult backgrounds. Prior to her work in public education, Elise’s passion for trauma-informed pedagogy began when she moved to Tegucigalpa, Honduras... Read More →
avatar for Jamie Cross

Jamie Cross

Pro Lingua Learning
avatar for Kelly Fitzgerald

Kelly Fitzgerald

Educational Rep and Library Partner Since 2000, Capstone/PebbleGo + FlutterBee
For 25+ years, I've connected Colorado schools and libraries with print and digital resources that support reading, research, and lifelong learning. I represent Capstone, PebbleGo, FlutterBee, Yoto, and other trusted K-12 and library-focused publishers. Whether you're building collections... Read More →
avatar for Lindsay Dowell

Lindsay Dowell

Savvas Learning Company
At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design engaging, personalized next-generation K-12 learning solutions that give all students the opportunity to succeed. Our award-winning, high-quality instructional... Read More →
avatar for Rachel Fuchs

Rachel Fuchs

Intercambio Uniting Communities
Tiffany Curtin has managed the Literacy and Outreach programs for Douglas County Libraries since 2012. She also is an adjunct instructor at the iSChool for SJSU teaching a seminar in Adult Literacy for aspiring librarians. Rachel Fuchs works at Intercambio Uniting Communities which... Read More →
avatar for Sean Reyes

Sean Reyes

Flashlight Learning
Saturday May 9, 2026 7:30am - 5:00pm MDT
Hallways

8:30am MDT

FRIDAY OPENING KEYNOTE: Attention TESOL Professionals: The Globe IS Our Campus. Empowering Our Multilingual Learners to Ignite Positive Change…It All Begins with Us!
Saturday May 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:40am MDT
Whether in person or digitally, TESOL professionals have a most unique opportunity to make a difference in this world. Let’s work together, and let’s re-imagine our charge! The time is now. The place is here: CoTESOL. In this presentation, Professor Ehlers-Zavala shares her personal story of overcoming the odds. She engages the audience in a visionary journey that underscores the (1) role that TESOL professionals play in educating the leaders of tomorrow by enacting one’s own innate, or developed, superpowers; and (2) by believing in the potential that all TESOL professionals possess to lead and, consequently, impact their respective worlds, local and/or global. Through her talk, Professor Ehlers-Zavala celebrates the work of TESOL professionals across educational and geographical contexts. Through her account, enriched by interactions with her audience, she will suggest guidance to consider for elevating one another, empowering each other to stay strong and resilient, and staying engaged with the field through the professional organizations that bring us together. She reminds us that we are here to plant the seeds for what is yet to come, and that one thing is for sure… A caring and mindful approach to educating multilingual learners will go neither unforgotten, nor unnoticed. She believes that one’s time and effort will always matter and will contribute to make a positive difference even when one cannot clearly see it or ever witness it. Through her own personal/professional story, she will show how we, as TESOL professionals, are all constantly impacting and changing lives. Finally, she will strongly encourage everyone to continue to dare to dream and follow one’s passion, for she strongly believes that the outcomes will, more than likely, meet or exceed one’s initial expectations.

CLDE CDE Credit: 5.09(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: All members. 
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Fabiola Ehlers-Zavala

Dr. Fabiola Ehlers-Zavala

Faculty, Colorado State University
Dr. Fabiola Ehlers-Zavala (Ella/She) is Professor of English (TEFL/TESL) at Colorado State University. With over three decades of professional experience, her expertise includes language teacher preparation. She is a strong advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 8:30am - 9:40am MDT
The Training Center
  General Audience

9:45am MDT

HE/IEP SIG FEATURED PRESENTATION: Strategies to Uplift and Empower Your Teaching Community
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:35am MDT
In this session, we take a page out of history and reframe our current teaching contexts to explore strategies for continuing to uplift and sustain language teaching for the future during these most challenging times.

CLDE CDE Credit: 5.10(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: Higher Education / IEP SIG
Speakers
avatar for Suzanne Panferov Reese

Suzanne Panferov Reese

Faculty, University of Arizona
Dr. Suzanne Panferov Reese, always a language advocate, directs the Critical Languages Program and teaches in the department of Public and Applied Humanities at the University of Arizona in Tucson.  Previously, she chaired the Applied Linguistics Ph.D. program, served as the President... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:35am MDT
Aspen

9:50am MDT

Making Language Stick: Practical Strategies for Combining Scaffolding, the Lexical Approach, and Vocabulary Recycling
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:10am MDT
Learn how to make vocabulary stick by integrating scaffolding, the Lexical Approach, and lexis recirculation in one cohesive ESL lesson. This session offers practical, classroom-tested strategies to deepen lexical retention, promote fluency, and support learners across levels through meaningful, repeated exposure to language in context.

Audience: Adult Education (AE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR)
Speakers
avatar for Yanina Seheda

Yanina Seheda

ESL instructor
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:10am MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

9:50am MDT

Empowered and Engaged: Reimagining Adult EFL Online with Purposeful Participation
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
How can we move beyond screen fatigue and turn virtual classrooms into dynamic, student-centered communities? This interactive presentation offers tools, techniques, and mindsets that empower educators to lead inspiring, interactive, and equitable learning experiences online.Participants will explore how to:
  • Design online lessons that promote learner autonomy, voice, and collaboration.

  • Use virtual tools designed for the virtual learning environment  to facilitate meaningful reading, writing, speaking, and listening practice.

  • Differentiate for multilevel learners in online settings using visual supports, breakout rooms, sentence stems, and choice boards.

  • Foster a strong sense of classroom community with routines that prioritize identity, culture, and connection.

Through a combination of demonstration, collaborative planning, and reflection, attendees will leave with adaptable lesson templates and tech-integrated strategies that engage adult multilingual learners — even through a screen.Whether you're teaching synchronously, asynchronously, or in hybrid formats, this workshop will show you how to energize your online classroom with confidence, creativity, and purpose.

Audience: Adult Education (AE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Educational Technology (TECH)
Speakers
SB

Sarah Burgess

EFL Teacher, Comunity Development and Wellness Center - Aurora Mental Health and Recovery
SH

Shereen Hill

EFL Instructor, Community Development and Wellness Center - Aurora Mental Health and Recovery
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
Dogwood

9:50am MDT

Cross-Institutional Partnerships for TESOL Teacher Development and Multilingual Learner Success
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
This panel explores dynamic partnerships that support TESOL teacher preparation and professional development. Presenters—including U.S. program directors, international partners, and TESOL students—highlight mutually beneficial collaborations. Attendees will engage in interactive reflection and goal-setting to envision sustainable partnerships that integrate authentic teaching, intercultural exchange, and professional growth across educational contexts.

Audience: Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR)
Speakers
CA

Carolyn Allen

Assistant Director of Special Programming and Communication, International English Center
avatar for Rai Farrelly

Rai Farrelly

Teaching Associate Professor, University of Colorado Boulder
avatar for Barbara Flocke

Barbara Flocke

Assistant Academic Director, Teaching Assistant Professor, International English Center
KL

Karis Lowe

Graduate Student, SLHS, University of Colorado Boulder
MO

Molly O'brien

Undergraduate Student, University of Colorado Boulder
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
Silverton

9:50am MDT

Research and Resources for Newcomers and ML Students
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
This session will focus on research, strategies, and resources available to empower your ML and Newcomer students.  One resource available is SIOP®, approved by CDE and listed an approved provider on the advisory list.  Research will also be shared from noted reading researcher Freddie Hiebert on ways to increase reading achievement. Jim Cummins and Jana Echevarria, a SIOP® author, will discuss their research and strategies via video clips. Resources authored by this noted researchers will also be shared.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 Quality Standard III. Element B

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Content Area (CA); Secondary Education (SE); Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR)
Speakers
avatar for Wayne Eichen

Wayne Eichen

National Account Executive, Savvas Learning Company
Wayne has been dedicated to using technology to increase student achievement for over 30 years, as a consultant, trainer, Account Executive, Area VP of Sales, and currently serves as the National Account Executive for Supplemental, Acceleration, and Assessment programs at Savvas Learning... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 10:35am MDT
Crestone Peak

9:50am MDT

Teaching That Sticks: Comprehensible Input for Inspired Language Learning
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Comprehensible Input (CI) makes learning feel natural—and fun. This energizing session offers strategies that help educators reduce learner stress, increase participation, and spark long-term language retention through visuals, gestures, and meaningful context. Comprehensible Input (CI) makes learning feel natural—and fun. This energizing session offers strategies that help educators reduce learner stress, increase participation, and spark long-term language retention through visuals, gestures, and meaningful context.

Audience: Adult Education (AE)
Speakers
avatar for Karin Bates

Karin Bates

Karin Bates is the TESOL Specialist for Intercambio Uniting Communities in Boulder, Colorado. Karin has her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She has over 35 years of experience teaching ESOL in multiple levels and settings. Before joining Intercambio, she worked with adult immigrants and refugees for five years at the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado. At IRCNOCO, she helped to develop programming with the cooperation of the High Plains Library District. At Intercambio, she now specializes in curriculum writing and volunteer teacher training, and regularly presents at regional and national adult education and TESOL conferences., Intercambio Uniting Communities

Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Snowmass

9:50am MDT

Divide and Conquer: Maximizing Co-Teaching Through Specific Facilitator Roles
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
This session explores how co-teachers can divide and conquer instruction by clearly defining roles and responsibilities. Participants will learn strategies to co-facilitate learning, provide real-time scaffolds, and assess student understanding. Emphasis is placed on maximizing each teacher’s expertise by defining complementary roles to support all learners effectively.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11(s) ELEMENT B

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE); Content Area (CA)
Speakers
avatar for Isabel Clamons

Isabel Clamons

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Instructional Coordinator, Harrison School District Two
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Cottonwood

9:50am MDT

Elevating Academic Vocabulary Learning Through Structured Conversations and Visuals
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Discover how structured conversations around visuals can boost students’ academic language. Thoughtfully designed visual aids help create spaces where learners actively engage and express understanding leading to deeper learning. In this interactive session, you’ll take part in a lesson simulation that models how to pair visuals with discussion questions and sentence stems to spark curiosity and support all learners.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11(2) ELEMENT A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE); Educational Technology (TECH)
Speakers
avatar for Isaac Marquez

Isaac Marquez

Educational Consultant, Seidlitz Education
Isaac Márquez is an educational consultant with Seidlitz Education, where he works with schools and districts across the country to support language development and content learning for all students, including emergent bilinguals. With a background in bilingual education and instructional... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Flatirons

9:50am MDT

Intentional Co-Teaching for Multilingual Learners
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Learn about our co-teaching model which is laser-focused on three big goals:
  1. Making sure multilingual learners have real access to grade-level content.
  2. Supporting students in acquiring English through content learning—not separate from it.
  3. Creating job-embedded professional learning that helps both content teachers and ML specialists grow as co-teachers.
CDE CLDE Credit: 5.10 Quality Standard III Element A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
avatar for Beth Dove

Beth Dove

CLDE Coordinator, Summit School District
HP

Holly Porter

Independent Consultant, Intentional Co-Teaching for Multilingual Learners
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Blue Spruce

9:50am MDT

Making Complex Text Accessible to Experienced Multilinguals
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
This session addresses the specific needs of multilingual learners who have reached the ‘developing’ stage of language acquisition. These students in grades 3-12 can decode text, but they may not always understand what they’ve read. This session provides concrete strategies for making even grade-level content texts comprehensible for these students.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 Quality Standard III; 5.11(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
avatar for Beth Skelton

Beth Skelton

Consultant, Educational Consultants, LLC
Beth Skelton @easkelton has over 30 years of experience as a language educator and holds a master’s degree in multicultural teacher education. She has worked with early childhood, elementary, middle, high school and adult language learners in rural, urban, suburban, and international school settings... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 9:50am - 11:20am MDT
Piñon Pine

10:45am MDT

Building the Literacy Trinity: A Daily Routine for Strengthening Knowledge, Vocabulary and Writing
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:05am MDT
Session One
This classroom-tested, slide-based routine builds students' automaticity for recalling tier 2 and tier 3 academic vocabulary through daily 10-minute practice. By developing automaticity in academic word recall, students transfer knowledge into long-term memory more effectively. The flexible format incorporates TPR, CLT, technology integration, formative assessment, collaborative student talk, and writing activities across all settings. Participants will strategize vocabulary selections and practice implementation using provided templates.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 Quality Standard III Standard A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE)​​​​
Speakers
avatar for Sara Sharer

Sara Sharer

ELD/Reading Intervention Instructor, Cedaredge Elementary School English Language Learner Program
How to build the Literacy Trinity for multilinguel learners.  Vocabulary, knowledge building, and writing in one short daily routine.  Best practices for teaching MLL's reading.   
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:05am MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

10:45am MDT

Read, Write, Play: Joyful Literacy for Children at the Boulder Public Library District
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Research shows that students who don’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to not graduate on time, when compared to proficient readers. At the Boulder Public Library District, we aim to inspire a lifelong love of literacy in children through our Reading Buddies program.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 Quality Standard III: Element B

Audience: Elementary Education (EE)
Speakers
JG

Joey Graffagnino

BoulderReads Children's Literacy Coordinator, Boulder Public Library District
JJ

Juan Jimenez

Literacy Manager, Boulder Public Library District
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Flatirons

10:45am MDT

ED TECH SIG FEATURED PRESENTATION: From Translation to Language Transformation: The TAIL Model for Empowering MLs with Technology
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
This session will explore the four aspects of the TAIL Model: Translation, Adaptation, Interaction, and Language Transformation. Participants will discover how simple (and free) tech tools can provide essential language support, helping teachers adapt materials so students can meaningfully engage with content and their peers in authentic ways. Attendees will understand how to leverage technology to support, engage, and empower multilingual learners. (Be sure to bring a device to this session.)

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.10(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: All members. 
Speakers
IM

Irina McGrath

Irina McGrath, PhD is an Assistant Principal at Newcomer Academy and an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville, Indiana University Southeast, and Bellarmine University, teaching graduate courses for the ESL/ENL and Literacy Endorsement programs as well as Master of Education... Read More →
avatar for Michelle Makus Shory

Michelle Makus Shory

Multilingual Engagement Specialist, Seneca High School, Lousville KY
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Aspen

10:45am MDT

Supporting SLIFE and ML Students from Trauma-Affected Backgrounds
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Multilingual students face the dual challenges of adjusting to a new country and navigating an unfamiliar school system, often carrying unacknowledged trauma from their past or their journey to the U.S. For students with interrupted education and trauma-affected backgrounds, these experiences create both hurdles and opportunities. This session equips educators with actionable, low-prep strategies to support resilience and improve language output among marginalized students. Attendees will gain a practical methodology focused on the "how" to make a tangible difference in their classrooms.

Objectives
● Participants will evaluate techniques that support the learners who are missing years of formal education and also have experienced trauma.
● Participants will leave the session with actionable strategies that can be implemented immediately.
● Participants will create a short list of techniques that they feel prepared to implement.

Audience: Elementary Education
Speakers
avatar for Elise White Diaz

Elise White Diaz

Educational Consultant, Seidlitz Education
Elise White Diaz is a Seidlitz Education consultant and keynote speaker with a strong background serving diverse students from difficult backgrounds. Prior to her work in public education, Elise’s passion for trauma-informed pedagogy began when she moved to Tegucigalpa, Honduras... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Crestone Peak

10:45am MDT

Bringing High School Multilingual Students Together: DCSD's Youth Multilingual Conference
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
In spring 2025, Douglas County School District hosted its first ever Youth Multilingual Conference, designed to connect multilingual high schoolers from across our schools. In this session, we will discuss how we planned it, what went well, and how you can bring the idea to your school, district, or region.

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)​​​​
Speakers
JV

Jesse Van Divier

ELD Teacher, Douglas County School District / Legend High School
Saturday May 9, 2026 10:45am - 11:30am MDT
Dogwood

11:10am MDT

Mastering Academic Vocabulary and Content: Practical Routines for Secondary ELLs
Saturday May 9, 2026 11:10am - 11:30am MDT
This presentation provides a research-driven, no-preparation classroom routine designed to aid secondary ELLs in their effort to learn, use, understand, and remember academic vocabulary. This easy-to-implement routine also provides ELLs of all proficiency levels with a deeper understanding of the content taught in their core classes.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Content Area (CA)
Speakers
avatar for Mishelle Kehoe-Seamons

Mishelle Kehoe-Seamons

Researcher, Brigham Young University
Saturday May 9, 2026 11:10am - 11:30am MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

11:45am MDT

Lunch
Saturday May 9, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm MDT
Network with your colleagues as you enjoy a buffet lunch, which is included in registration. The fajita bar will include both meat and vegetarian options, gluten free corn tortillas, and soy free vegetables. We kindly ask that the limited gluten free options be reserved for people with dietary restrictions, as they will be at a separate table to avoid cross-contamination. Seating will be available in the Training Center.
Saturday May 9, 2026 11:45am - 12:45pm MDT
Miner's Creek

12:30pm MDT

Raffle!
Saturday May 9, 2026 12:30pm - 12:45pm MDT
Convention attendees will have the chance to win prizes from our generous exhibitors and sponsors, while enjoying lunch.  Be sure to take a raffle ticket from a CoTESOL Board member.
Saturday May 9, 2026 12:30pm - 12:45pm MDT
The Training Center

1:00pm MDT

Enhancing Vocabulary Development for English Learners in Adult Literacy Education
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
The goal will be to equip adult literacy educators with effective strategies to strengthen vocabulary instruction, fostering better learning outcomes. This professional development session focuses on the essential role vocabulary plays in adult literacy and its impact on reading comprehension and communication. Participants will:

  1. Understand how vocabulary development supports literacy growth.
  2. Explore research-based strategies tailored to adult learners.
  3. Discuss the importance of comprehensible input and its role in vocabulary acquisition.
  4. Implement practical tools and instructional approaches designed to build learner confidence and vocabulary skills.
By the end of the session, educators will walk away with actionable methods and adaptable resources to enhance vocabulary learning in diverse adult education settings.

Audience: Adult Education (AE)​​​​
Speakers
avatar for Marion E Martin

Marion E Martin

Board Member, Literacy Coalition of Colorado
My career has been dedicated to multilingual education, spanning roles as a public-school ESL teacher, adjunct professor, ELD consultant, and adult-literacy program coordinator. Working with multilingual learners of all ages has strengthened my belief that strong literacy skills are... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Piñon Pine

1:00pm MDT

Unlocking More Resources with Intercambio
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Join us to explore our Confidence and Connections relationship-based (and volunteer taught!) curriculum and learn about the many resources available through the Intercambio Network, too! From live webinars and networking calls to program tools and our extensive online teacher training, the Network offers everything you need to make your English-language learning program even more successful. Whether you’re already an Intercambio partner or one of our Network Members OR you'd like to explore our innovative and effective curriculum, this session is for you!

Audience: Adult Education (AE)
Exhibitors
MW

Marcella Weaver

Customer Success Manager, Intercambio Uniting Communities
MW

Meghan Wright

Product Operations and Growth Manager, Intercambio
avatar for Rachel Fuchs

Rachel Fuchs

Intercambio Uniting Communities
Tiffany Curtin has managed the Literacy and Outreach programs for Douglas County Libraries since 2012. She also is an adjunct instructor at the iSChool for SJSU teaching a seminar in Adult Literacy for aspiring librarians. Rachel Fuchs works at Intercambio Uniting Communities which... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

1:00pm MDT

Making Language and Content Accessible to All Students
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
In this 45-minute hands-on workshop, I will draw upon research and resources to provide content area instructors with practical strategies and approaches to implement, evaluate and revise to better serve multilingual learners their classes without “dumbing down” content or assessment.

CDE CLDE Credit:  5.11 Quality Standard III; 5.11(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Content Area (CA); Adult Education (AE); Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE)
Speakers
avatar for Kat Bradley-Bennett

Kat Bradley-Bennett

ESOL/TESOL/ABEA Instructor, Front Range Community College
I have been teaching adult ESOL since 1999, when I left a 15-year career in community recycling to go to China for a month and teach English. I was hooked and have not looked back. My only regret is that I didn't discover teaching English to adults earlier in my life!

I love being... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Cottonwood
  Content Area (CA)

1:00pm MDT

From Classroom to Newsroom: Empowering Beginning Writers Through Collaborative Publishing
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
This presentation explores a student-produced newspaper project in lower level writing courses. Framed by experiential learning, the approach empowers emerging writers as reporters, editors, and designers, practicing authentic communication and collaboration. Attendees will gain practical strategies and learn about challenges and successes from a year long classroom implementation to foster engagement, accountability, and confidence in novice writers.

Audience: Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Adult Education (AE)​​​​
Speakers
AF

Agnes Farkas-Roszell

Assistant Teaching Professor, CU Boulder
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Blue Spruce

1:00pm MDT

A Whole New World: Preparing Newcomer Students for Classroom Success
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
In this session, National Geographic Learning (NGL) will present ideas to engage middle and high school newcomers with the basic academic language and literacy skills they need. Attendees will gain practical strategies from NGL programs they can use right away to support students’ needs—from learning the alphabet to mastering content-area vocabulary.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)
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 →
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Flatirons

1:00pm MDT

EFL Online Teaching/Learning: Insights from the Cameroon Distance Education Center
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
This session explores EFL online teaching insights from the Cameroon Distance Education Center, focusing on strategies for engaging secondary and high school learners in resource-constrained environments. Participants will discover practical activities and digital tools used, gaining adaptable techniques for diverse online EFL contexts.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Adult Education (AE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR); Educational Technology (TECH)
Speakers
RK

Robert Kenfack

English and French Language Teacher, Ministry of Secondary Education Cameroon/ Cameroon English Language and Literature Teachers Association (CAMELTA)
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Dogwood

1:00pm MDT

Global Citizenship in the Language Classroom: Teaching the UN SDGs
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Discover how to bring global issues into the classroom by integrating the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. This interactive workshop offers practical strategies, engaging activities, and adaptable resources to help foster global citizenship, cultural awareness, and sustainability through language teaching.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 (2) Element B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
avatar for Erik Wennermark

Erik Wennermark

Instructor, CU Denver - ESL Academy
Erik Wennermark has been teaching English as a Foreign Language since 2011, when he moved to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and received a CELTA certification. He quickly gravitated towards teaching college preparatory courses in Vietnam and then on to working in Universities or Colleges... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Snowmass

1:00pm MDT

SOPOL SIG FEATURED SPEAKER: Supporting Immigrant Students in a Time of Fear
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Participants will be informed on general rights of immigrant students as well as possible forms of immigration relief available to them and their families. The presentation will close by empowering participants to refer families in need to resources in the community.

Audience: Sociopolitical SIG
Speakers
EB

Emily Brock

Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm MDT
Aspen

1:00pm MDT

Welcoming Newcomer Students: Essential Knowledge, Resources, and Skills in the Teaching of Newcomer Students
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
How do I create an inclusive, linguistically-responsive learning experience for Newcomer Students? This workshop will introduce UC Denver's Welcoming Newcomer Students online modules, a free resource that provides educators timely and practical knowledge for answering this question. Participants will access the modules and go through a lesson of their choice.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.09(1) ELEMENT A; 5.10(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE); Socio-Political; Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR)
Speakers
SC

Sofia Chaparro

Assistant Professor of CLDE, UC Denver, School of Education and Human Development
Saturday May 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Silverton

2:00pm MDT

Enhancing Refugee ELLs’ Digital Literacy with Trauma-Informed SLA
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:20pm MDT
This session presents a trauma-informed SLA-based approach to building refugee adult ELLs' digital literacy. Participants will explore four real-world, integrated lessons, practical scaffolding strategies and adaptable resources to reduce anxiety, boost motivation and support language growth in a safe, inclusive and empowering classroom environment.

Audience: Adult Education (AE)​​​​
Speakers
CD

Christine Doe

Graduate Student and Graduate Teaching Assistant, Colorado State University
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:20pm MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

2:00pm MDT

From Newcomers to Native Speakers: Teaching Tools and Techniques that Work
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
This session will present specific steps and approaches to integrating English Learners into the general education classroom successfully. Ways to support teachers in this process will be explored, along with providing suggestions on how to effectively work with parents of ESOL students.  The Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Model will be presented to provide a map by which educators can use to plan, teach, reflect, observe and evaluate these approaches.  Question and Answer periods will be embedded and handouts will be distributed.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 Quality Standard III Standard A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE)​​​​
Speakers
KR

Karen Robinson

Educational Consultant, Savvas Learning
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Piñon Pine

2:00pm MDT

Shadowing: What Is It? And Does It Work?
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
A quasi-experimental study was conducted evaluating the effectiveness of shadowing (a pronunciation technique) on intermediate-level adult English language learners. Findings and implications of the research will be shared regarding changes in learners’ comprehensibility, fluency, and accentedness after 10 weeks of instruction.

Audience: Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Adult Education (AE)
Speakers
avatar for Mishelle Kehoe-Seamons

Mishelle Kehoe-Seamons

Researcher, Brigham Young University
DM

Dr. Mark Tanner

Associate Professor of Linguistics, Brigham Young University
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Flatirons

2:00pm MDT

Broadening Access to the Seal of Biliteracy in Rural & Mountain Districts: A Peer-Led Dialogue
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Peer-to-peer dialogue on expanding equitable access to the Seal of Biliteracy in rural districts. Dr. Salinas will share his Spring 2025 research to provide insights on advising students, and address barriers like transportation, staffing, and assessment. Participants share practices, trade tools, design next steps, and leave with an action plan.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.10 (2) Element B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Elementary Education (EE)
Speakers
DM

Dr. Miguel Salinas

Associate Professor of Teacher Education, Colorado Mountain College
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Cottonwood
  Secondary Education (SE)

2:00pm MDT

SE SIG FEATURED SPEAKER: Every Teacher is a Language Teacher: Building Systems that Empower CLDE Staff and Multilingual Learners
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
As the population of multilingual learners continues to grow across Colorado, schools face the dual challenge of ensuring equitable access to content while accelerating language development. This session will highlight how Harrison School District 2 is reimagining professional learning through a coaching model grounded in Jim Knight’s Impact Cycle and districtwide initiatives such as Newcomer Support, Co-Teaching Academies, Comprehensible Input, Translanguaging, and increasing high-quality student output. 
Participants will explore how to design and implement systems that (1) empower CLDE teachers as experts in their buildings, (2) position every teacher as a language teacher, (3) provide asset-based support for students and families, and (4) hold staff accountable for student growth without losing the relational core that makes professional learning effective. Attendees will leave with ideas and examples that they can adapt to their own contexts.
This session is designed for educators, coaches, and leaders who want to move beyond compliance and create sustainable, relationship-driven systems that raise expectations and outcomes for multilingual learners.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.12(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: Secondary Education
Speakers
TH

Tamie Hollon

CLDE Director, HSD2
Tamie Hollon has been dedicated to education for over 24 years, serving multilingual learners and their teachers with passion and vision. She has taught across all grade levels, K–12, creating inclusive and engaging classrooms with high expectations so that all students thrive... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:45pm MDT
Aspen

2:00pm MDT

Sound It Out: Supporting Learners through Practical Pronunciation Strategies
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
Help learners find their voice—literally. This workshop delivers fun, practical pronunciation tools that improve clarity, reduce stress, and boost learner confidence. Attendees will walk away with games, visuals, and methods to make sound instruction part of any lesson. Help learners find their voice—literally. This workshop delivers fun, practical pronunciation tools that improve clarity, reduce stress, and boost learner confidence. Attendees will walk away with games, visuals, and methods to make sound instruction part of any lesson.

Audience: Adult Education (AE)
Speakers
avatar for Karin Bates

Karin Bates

Karin Bates is the TESOL Specialist for Intercambio Uniting Communities in Boulder, Colorado. Karin has her M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL). She has over 35 years of experience teaching ESOL in multiple levels and settings. Before joining Intercambio, she worked with adult immigrants and refugees for five years at the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado. At IRCNOCO, she helped to develop programming with the cooperation of the High Plains Library District. At Intercambio, she now specializes in curriculum writing and volunteer teacher training, and regularly presents at regional and national adult education and TESOL conferences., Intercambio Uniting Communities

Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
Dogwood

2:00pm MDT

Essential Belonging through the Transformational Equity Framework
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
Design your multilingual educational environment with belonging in mind - from the very beginning. Educators will explore a current project, unit, lesson, or initiative through Cherry Creek School District’s Transformational Equity Framework as a process for inquiry, ensuring every student and staff member is seen, valued, heard, and appreciated. This asset focused, inquiry-based approach is applicable to every role in education, and includes self-reflection, garnering multiple perspectives, and leaning into the beautiful identities present in our classrooms, schools, and districts.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.09 Quality Standard I; 5.09(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE); Content Area (CA); Adult Education (AE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Socio-Political
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Aspen Lopez (Oglala Lakota)

Dr. Aspen Lopez (Oglala Lakota)

Director of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement, Cherry Creek School District
avatar for Dr. Remy Rummel

Dr. Remy Rummel

Director of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement, Cherry Creek School DIstrict
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:30pm MDT
Blue Spruce

2:00pm MDT

SIG Networking
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Crestone Peak

2:00pm MDT

SIG Networking
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Saturday May 9, 2026 2:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Miner's Creek

3:00pm MDT

AI Prompt Engineering for Enhanced Lesson Planning: Hyper-focused Success for CLD
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm MDT
Discover how to leverage AI to super-charge UDL lesson planning with targeted strategies and scaffolds for emergent bilingual and multilingual learners. This 20-minute session equips educators and instructional coaches with practical, AI-enhanced tools to better support diverse MLL needs in inclusive, multilingual classrooms.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11. (2) Standard B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Elementary Education (EE); Content Area (CA)
Speakers
avatar for Emily Gonzalez

Emily Gonzalez

CLD Teacher Leader/Secondary English ELD Teacher, Sierra High School - Harrison School District 2
Emily is a dedicated teacher-leader with experience in K–12 schools across the U.S. and overseas. She is known for creating engaging, culturally responsive learning experiences and designing meaningful professional development that supports educator growth. A confident communicator... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:20pm MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"
  Educational Technology

3:00pm MDT

Digital Literacy Skills in Support of Adult English Language Learners
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
We will explore the role of digital literacy in adult education and becoming multilingual. Topics will include the history of information technology, the digital divide, the rise of A.I. and the coming singularity.

Audience: Adult Education (AE)
Speakers
EG

Elias G. Flores

Bilingual Digital Literacy Specialist, Aims Community College
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Piñon Pine

3:00pm MDT

EE SIG FEATURED PRESENTATION: Maintain Rigor with Strategic Questioning
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Discover how to keep instruction rigorous through purposeful questioning! In this session, you’ll learn how to craft and revise questions to target essential information while maintaining the complexity of vocabulary and content. Explore classroom examples that show questioning in action, and design your own “questioning ladder” to support deeper thinking and meaningful student engagement.

Audience: Elementary Education (EE) and general audience
Speakers
avatar for Isabel Clamons

Isabel Clamons

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education Instructional Coordinator, Harrison School District Two
TH

Tamie Hollon

CLDE Director, HSD2
Tamie Hollon has been dedicated to education for over 24 years, serving multilingual learners and their teachers with passion and vision. She has taught across all grade levels, K–12, creating inclusive and engaging classrooms with high expectations so that all students thrive... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Aspen

3:00pm MDT

Zero Prep: Ready-to-Go Activities for the Language Classroom
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Would you like to teach more effectively while preparing less? The presenter guides participants through the new editions of the classic Zero Prep series and demonstrates activities that easily adapt for language content and level, incorporate all four skills, include variations for classroom and online delivery, and require no preparation!

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11. Quality standard III. Element A

Audience: Elementary Education (EE); Secondary Education (SE); Content Area (CA); Adult Education (AE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE)
Speakers
avatar for Jamie Cross

Jamie Cross

Pro Lingua Learning
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Silverton

3:00pm MDT

Developing and Piloting a Secondary Newcomer Welcome Week
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
The presenters partnered together to design a welcome week for secondary newcomer students. They will describe the collaboration between the facilitators and the district, logistics of program and material development, successes and challenges of the pilot, next steps, and recommendations for others interested in doing something similar.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.09 Quality Standard I; 5.09(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
avatar for Audriana Alvarado

Audriana Alvarado

CLDE Newcomer Instructional Coach, Harrison School District 2
SD

Stephanie Dewing

Associate Professor of Education, University of Southern California
MH

Mary Hanson

Associate Teaching Professor, University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Snowmass

3:00pm MDT

Supporting Secondary Students New to Country
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Using two Denver case studies, participants will be able to understand wholistic program elements crucial to success for secondary sife students.  Program design, high school trajectories, community engagement and leadership training will be discussed.  Participants will leave with concrete ideas for how to fine tune their current program to meet the urgent needs of our secondary students new to country.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.10 Quality Standard II; 5.10(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Intensive English Program/Higher Education (IEP/HE); Socio-Political
Speakers
avatar for Jen Hanson

Jen Hanson

Director, Multilingual Education, Cherry Creek Schools, Cherry Creek School District
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Flatirons

3:00pm MDT

Teaching English and High School Agency to Highly Mobile Agricultural Students and Out of School Youth through the Title I-C Family Education Program and the Innovative Services for Out of School Youth’s Supplementary Academic Activity Program
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Presentation of virtual/in-person programs with promising strategies for engagement, language learning, building essential skills, and increasing academic growth, participation, and retention in the education system. Featuring a summer virtual course focused on academic language and teaching high school knowledge (credit system, required courses, extracurriculars, and the importance of graduation or its equivalency).

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.11 (2) Standard B

Audience: Secondary Education (SE); Teacher Education/Action Research (TE/AR)
Speakers
DF

Daisy Fuentes

Title I Administrator, Centennial BOCES
LR

Lauren Radin

Principal Consultant / Student Pathways Unit, Colorado Department of Education
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:00pm - 3:45pm MDT
Cottonwood

3:25pm MDT

"Proud to Be Bilingual" Project
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:25pm - 3:45pm MDT
ACCESS testing season is a high-intensity, high-stress time for multilingual students. To offer some balance, this session highlights a "Proud to Be Bilingual" project as a way for students to celebrate their cultural and linguistic strengths and interests in a middle school classroom.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.09(1) ELEMENT A; Option 1: 5.09 Quality Standard I

Audience: Secondary Education (SE)
Speakers
LP

Lauren Plomer

English Language Development Teacher, Overland Trail Middle School, 27J
Saturday May 9, 2026 3:25pm - 3:45pm MDT
Executive Board Room "Teaching Tips Theatre"

4:00pm MDT

FRIDAY CLOSING KEYNOTE: Finding Empowerment and Inspiration Today
Saturday May 9, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
Many today speak of being overwhelmed by the Information Age--there is so much to do and so little time—a time of “relentless change.” As a group, how can educators feel empowered and inspired when there is teaching, grading, meetings, and email that demand our time and attention? This presentation will discuss sources of empowerment and inspiration that are available to everyone now—in the classroom, in our communities, and in the world. In the end, inspiration and empowerment can actually support and even increase each other.

Audience: General audience. 
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Jim Mischler

Dr. Jim Mischler

Associate Professor of English, Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Dr. Mischler is Associate Professor of English in the Department of English, Languages, and Cultural Studies at Northwestern State University of Louisiana. He received the Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater with specializations in linguistics and Teaching English as... Read More →
Saturday May 9, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm MDT
The Training Center
  General Audience

5:00pm MDT

Raffle #2!
Saturday May 9, 2026 5:00pm - 5:15pm MDT
Convention attendees will have the chance to win prizes from our generous exhibitors and sponsors, while enjoying lunch.  Be sure to take a raffle ticket from a CoTESOL Board member.
Saturday May 9, 2026 5:00pm - 5:15pm MDT
The Training Center
 
Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link

Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.
Filtered by Date -