Fall 2026 CoTESOL Convention

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. 

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. 

Who helped you on your own learning journey? We all have experienced the blessing of being empowered by an educator. Now as teachers, it is our turn to offer growth opportunities and support the development of a healthy learning mindset. To this aim, we can reflect on the definition of success not only in language learning but also in life. By modeling courage in its multifarious forms, we can inspire our students to redefine success and create their unique learning journey.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.09(1) ELEMENT A

Audience: General Audience

In an era where language classrooms serve increasingly diverse and vulnerable student populations, English language teaching professionals face a profound question: What does it mean to truly educate when our students carry trauma, face systemic barriers, and navigate complex identity challenges alongside their language learning journey?
This keynote challenges the traditional boundaries of language instruction, calling educators to embrace a transformative approach that places courageous care and audacious hope at the center of pedagogical practice. Moving beyond the technical mechanics of grammar rules and vocabulary acquisition, Bryan Jordan will share how language educators become catalysts for healing, empowerment, and social justice.
Through compelling case studies and research-backed strategies, this presentation will examine:

• Courageous Care in Action: How to recognize and respond to student trauma, create psychologically safe learning environments, and use language instruction as a vehicle for emotional healing and cultural affirmation
• Audacious Hope as Pedagogy: Strategies for maintaining and cultivating hope in the face of educational inequity, helping students envision and work toward futures that may seem impossible
• The Intersection of Language and Identity: Supporting students in developing not just linguistic competence, but cultural pride and critical consciousness
• Practical Tools for Transformation: Concrete approaches for integrating social-emotional learning, restorative practices, and culturally sustaining pedagogy into daily language instruction

Attendees will leave equipped with both the moral framework and practical strategies needed to transform their classrooms into spaces where language learning becomes an act of liberation, where every student's linguistic and cultural assets are honored, and where education serves as a pathway to justice and opportunity.
This is not just about teaching English—it's about using the power of language education to change lives, communities, and the world. It's about having the courage to care deeply and the audacity to hope boldly, even when the odds seem insurmountable.

CDE CLDE Credit: 5.10(2) ELEMENT B

Audience: General Audience