Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 1:00 to 4:00

How to Foster Spanish-English Bilingual Students’ Metalinguistic Awareness
This session will provide educators that serve Spanish-speaking multilingual learners with the opportunity to enhance their language and literacy practices by focusing on similarities and differences between Spanish and English in their lesson planning to leverage their students’ full linguistic repertoires and promote their metalinguistic awareness.

Creating Conditions for Linguistic Equity
How do we create the conditions for linguistic equity in our schools and districts?  Join Dr. Zinnia Un, Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Multilingual Services for Tigard-Tualatin School District, and Dr. Sue, former Superintendent of Tigard-Tualatin and Springfield School Districts, for an engaging pre-conference session designed to equip educational leaders with tools and strategies to support Multilingual Learners of English (MLEs).

Dr. Un’s leadership emphasizes developing frameworks that serve students furthest from justice, driving systemic change through equity audits, participatory action research, and policy alignment. Her focus on cultural humility and humanizing leadership fosters equitable practices rooted in collectivism and cultural competency.  Dr. Sue, as a guest facilitator, brings decades of expertise in setting conditions for holistic educational equity. Her leadership has transformed systems by aligning policies and practices to achieve sustainable, inclusive outcomes for all students and communities.  Together, they will guide participants through actionable strategies, protocols, and case studies to advance linguistic equity and create sustainable systemic change. Participants will leave equipped with tools to empower students, staff, and families while fostering a culture of equity-driven leadership.

Session Objectives - By the end of this session, participants will:

• Develop tools for systemic equity assessment:
  • Learn to use a system health check to assess and create a logic model for advancing linguistic equity for Multilingual Learners of English.
• Access frameworks and resources:
  • Gain protocols, professional development tools, and case law insights to build critical consciousness and support the civil rights of MLEs.
• Understand socio-political contexts:
  • Explore the socio-political landscape impacting MLEs and its implications for equity-driven leadership.
• Link leadership to classroom practices:
  • Discover how creating systemic equity conditions enhances classroom outcomes for MLEs and upholds the promise of educational equity.

This session will provide leaders with actionable strategies, tools, and inspiration to advance linguistic equity and create a lasting impact in their schools and districts.

Revitalizing Tribal Languages: Building Collaborative and Sustainable Educational Partnerships
Learn how to launch or integrate Tribal language programs with the active support, guidance, and collaboration of the nine Federally Recognized Tribes in Oregon, ensuring alignment with their priorities and interests. This session provides district administrators with actionable strategies, culturally aligned practices, and leadership tools to foster meaningful, trust-based partnerships with Tribal leadership and learning communities. As part of this work, explore pathways to embed Tribal language programs with education systems in ways that allow student to earn academic credit, and Tribal language educator preparation, further strengthening the initiatives value and impact that respect Tribal sovereignty, honor Indigenous knowledge, and align with and uplift Tribal-led efforts to sustain the revitalization of Tribal languages for generations to come.

Strength in Preparation: Communication and Engagement to Navigate Tensions and Advance Multilingual Learning
In today’s politically charged climate, educators and administrators face increasing tensions surrounding support for immigrant and undocumented families, multilingual learning, and ethnic studies. This workshop offers participants a low risk space to name the challenges they encounter, unpack the dynamics of the challenge, and explore strategies for navigating opposition to inclusive education practices through communications and engagement activities. Participants will engage with experts in the field to deepen their understanding of these complex issues, while also developing emotionally resonant messages and activities designed to shift mindsets and foster community support. Through collaborative scenario planning, attendees will identify actionable approaches tailored to their unique contexts. As a follow-up, participants will receive a toolkit containing scenario planning tools, refined messages, and practical activities emerging from the session’s discussions—ensuring they leave with the resources to address challenges with confidence and purpose. This workshop is ideal for those seeking to strengthen their capacity to lead with clarity and courage in advancing multilingual learning and equity in their districts.

Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 9:40 to 10:40

Embracing Opportunities: Supporting English Learners with Autism and Celebrating Language in the Classroom
Objective: Equip educators with strategies to support autistic English Learners (ELs) while celebrating their linguistic and cultural diversity, and provide opportunities for hands-on learning to apply these strategies. The presentation supports the COSA Equity Stance by promoting inclusive practices, valuing cultural and linguistic assets, and addressing inequities for autistic English Learners (ELs). It equips educators to create equitable classrooms and aligns with COSA’s commitment to diversity and high-quality education for all students.

Supporting Educational Interpreters and Translators in Oregon Schools
In spring of 2023, Clackamas Education Service District provided a professional learning opportunity for school-based and district-level interpreters and translators. It was so popular that registration doubled in 2024! This full day event provides multiple sessions for both novice and expert multilingual communicators, including topics like artificial intelligence in translating, bridging cultural differences, and simultaneous interpretation. Come learn about the purpose of the Educational Interpreters and Translators of Oregon Conference and how it meets the very important needs of multilingual staff and families in school districts.

ESD Support for Small and Rural Districts through the EL Outcomes Program
The Oregon Department of Education’s EL Outcomes Program (HB 3499) addresses disparities experienced by English and multilingual learners and their outcomes in the K-12 education system. As part of that effort, the Program engages EL Specialists in five Education Service Districts (ESDs), who support small, rural districts in Oregon.  Join our panel of ESD EL Specialists and learn about the programs and structures that have been implemented through their work. The panelists will highlight how they support educators in serving English and Multilingual learners and the systems, data uses, and best practices that have been successful in their field.

Explore innovative approaches to equitable educator licensure pathways through Multiple Measures Assessments.
Explore innovative approaches to equitable educator licensure in our presentation on Multiple Measures. Grounded in the COSA Equity Stance, this session highlights pathways that honor diverse experiences and skills, reducing systemic barriers in licensure. Attendees will learn how Oregon's Teacher Standards and Practices Commission integrates alternative assessments to promote fairness, inclusivity, and excellence in educator preparation. Join us to learn how these measures support teacher candidates and strengthen the teaching workforce, fostering equity in education.

Navigating Enduring Tensions in Integrated ELD: Lessons from District Leaders
Integrated ELD has the potential to expand students’ educational opportunities by providing equitable content and language learning and reducing barriers to enrollment in core content and elective courses. Yet, its implementation requires leaders to navigate multiple tensions related to financial resources, competing demands and priorities, and programming flexibility. Framed by recent research on common tensions of implementation in Integrated ELD programs, multiple Oregon district leaders share their experiences navigating these tensions while implementing integrated ELD in partnership with school administrators and teachers. Leaders describe how they addressed and managed these tensions, and what others might learn from these examples.

Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences for Linguistically Diverse Families
This presentation, "Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences for Linguistically Diverse Families," focuses on practical strategies to foster meaningful connections between educators and families from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Participants will learn how to create inclusive environments that honor cultural and linguistic diversity, ensuring equitable communication and collaboration.    Aligned with the COSA Equity Stance, this session emphasizes dismantling barriers and promoting inclusive practices that empower all families to engage in their children’s education. By addressing language access and cultural responsiveness, this presentation equips educators with tools to build strong, trusting partnerships that support student success and uphold equity in education.

Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 11:00 to 12:00

Who’s at the table? The power of accessibility in K-12 communications
"Who’s at the Table? The Power of Accessibility" explores the transformative impact of equitable practices that prioritize accessibility for all stakeholders in education. This session will empower participants to identify and address barriers to inclusion, ensuring every student, staff member, and family has a seat at the table.    Through case studies, interactive discussions, and collaborative problem-solving, this presentation builds the capacity of educators to create systems that foster belonging and opportunity. Aligned with the COSA Equity Stance, it emphasizes dismantling systemic barriers and uplifting historically marginalized voices to achieve meaningful, lasting change.

Así se Dice (That’s How You Say It): Strengthening Cross-Language Connections in the Dual Language Classroom
Join us to learn how to effectively integrate two languages while engaging students in thoughtful analysis of linguistic structures. In this session, we will explore how to implement the Así se Dice approach in Dual Language classrooms to enhance cognitive and linguistic development for bilingual students in Grades 3–5 and beyond. This method emphasizes the connection between language and culture while developing students' critical metalinguistic awareness. This session is designed for dual-language teachers and will be presented in Spanish and English. Don’t miss this opportunity to inspire and empower your bilingual learners!

Unleashing the Power of Collective Efficacy: Leveraging Staff Expertise to Support Multilingual Learners
Join us to learn about hosting a staff-led learning conference! The Woodburn School District has worked to engage our teachers, administrators, specialists and other staff to share their expertise and knowledge by practicing distributive leadership. Our resident experts have led PD sessions regarding supporting students’ language development, support for newcomers, family engagement, leveraging the assets of our multilingual learners, creating supportive and challenging learning environments for students, staff wellness and more! Engaging in collective efficacy while building a sense of district community has led to two years of successful 2-day conferences for our 700+ district staff! Come learn how this could work in your district!

High-Impact Strategies for Multilingual Learners
This fast-paced session is designed to build the educator toolbox on high-impact instructional strategies that serve bilingual and multilingual learners at all levels, through modeling and experiencing the strategies firsthand. Following modeling, teachers will then be given an opportunity to reflect and consider where the specific strategies would best fit into an upcoming unit of instruction to help with the transition from learning to doing.

The Immigrant Refugee Student Success Plan
The purpose of this presentation is to share how ODE’s Immigrant Refugee Student Success Plan supports educators, early learning hubs, providers of early learning services, school districts, education service districts, post-secondary institutions of education, and Community-Based Organizations who are working to design, implement, improve, expand, or otherwise revise programs and services for Immigrant Refugee students

Thursday, February 27, 2025 | 1:00 to 2:00

Interactive Visuals for Academic Language Development
In this engaging, hands-on session, participants will explore how to create dynamic, interactive anchor charts, permanent language walls and student talk structures that support academic language development for Multilingual Language Learners (MLLs). Through practical examples and engaging strategies, educators will learn how to design visuals that not only reinforce academic language but also encourage student collaboration and active participation. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use templates, ideas for integrating student talk structures and visuals into daily lessons, and strategies to make academic language learning more relevant and accessible for all students.

Oregon has a Multilingual Learner Strategic Plan, now what?
CORE instruction that supports Multilingual and English Learner students

Collaborative Approach to Increase Deep Critical Thinking with Students of All Language and Academic Proficiencies
This presentation will share ideas to inspire deep engagement and critical thinking in students of all language and academic proficiencies, while focusing on teacher collaboration and integrated ELP, ELA, and social science standards.  This approach encourages students to mobilize their full linguistic repertoire and highlights the assets of bilingualism.  While our model consists of a designated ELD teacher collaboratively teaching with a classroom teacher, the strategies we will share could be applied in multiple environments and subjects- with single teachers or co-teachers.  We will share ideas on how we structured our ELD program, as well as share directly applicable strategies for structured co-teaching and scaffolding to support student learning.

Facilitating Belonging through the Common Language of Transformative SEL
Presenters will discuss Wayfinder's bilingual and transformative SEL strategies for implementation to elevate the importance of continuity of care and common language within schools and districts. We will discuss what it looks like to facilitate spaces for belonging, celebrate difference and use SEL in multilingual classrooms. Attendees will walk away with sample activities, strategies for implementation, ideas on how to engage families in this work, and ideas about how to best support all students in equitable access to quality SEL.

Empowering Multilingual Learners Through Agency
Multilingual learners face unique challenges in balancing academic expectations, language acquisition, and cultural adjustment. This session explores how fostering student agency—through voice, choice, and ownership—empowers these students to succeed academically and socially. Participants will learn practical strategies, including culturally responsive teaching, differentiated instruction, and tools to integrate autonomy into daily lessons. By creating student-centered environments that honor linguistic and cultural diversity, educators can build confidence and engagement in multilingual learners. This session provides actionable frameworks, case studies, and resources to help teachers, administrators, and coaches transform classrooms into spaces where multilingual learners thrive.

Hillsboro High School: Leading the Way in High School Dual Language Excellence
Join us to explore how Hillsboro High School is setting the standard for high school Dual Language (DL) programs in the Hillsboro School District. This session will delve into innovative practices, including advanced Spanish Language Arts courses, EL services, bilingual career pathways, cultural enrichment opportunities, and support systems for credit recovery since 9th grade. Discover how the school supports bilingual educators, fosters equity, and prepares multilingual students to earn the Seal of Biliteracy. Learn from Hillsboro High School’s journey to create a thriving, inclusive DL program that bridges academic success with future career readiness.

Friday, February 28, 2025 | 9:40 to 10:40

Post-COVID Multilingual Family Engagement: Rebuilding Community Engagement After Years of One-Way Communication.
For several years we kept multilingual families out of our schools and limited communication.  The 2023-24 school year provided us with the opportunity to set a foundation and rebuild those inroads necessary to reach our multilingual families, especially those further from justice. The 2024-25 school year is primed for opportunity to build on the foundation. The presenter will share his journey and practices that have proven effective when rebuilding community engagement.  During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to share and discuss their own journey and successful practices with other participants.      This presentation alaigns with COSA equity stance of centering race and building skills to help interrupt systemic barriers that are present in schools and districts.

The 2025 Session and Legislative Advocacy 101
Legislative advocacy is a marathon, not a sprint. In this session, COSA’s Policy and Advocacy Team will provide an update on the 2025 Legislative Session and COSA's 2025 Priorities. Our team will also share best practices and strategies on legislative advocacy as we support you in advocating for stable, adequate, and equitable funding for students and schools, as well as student-centered investments and policies.

Routine and Ritual for Student Engagement in the Bilingual Classroom
Classroom management and student engagement is at the top of mind for seasoned and early-career educators alike. This presentation explores how routines and rituals in the classroom provide a foundation for engaging, grade-level learning, particularly in bilingual and dual-language programs. Come to experience how writing, speaking, and thinking routines promote student growth, and develop simple rituals that create a sense of place and belonging for students and educators.

Celebrating Language: Lines of Communication Across Content Areas
How do we celebrate language across content areas? Give students time to talk! Using the Lines of Communication routine with multiple groups across our district, we’ve established a “new turn and talk” that is more engaging and active! Come learn how to lead this routine for groups of 6-60 and participate in multiple conversations with language scaffolds so that all students can participate. Examples from math, science, and social studies will be included, with time for participants to plan application of Lines of Communication to their context.

From Cultural Roots to Cultural Identity
Join us to discover how fostering a strong connection between dispositional learning and cultural identity can empower students to become confident, resilient, empathetic, and compassionate learners. In this dynamic presentation, educators will explore effective approaches for nurturing healthy learner identities in students by deeply integrating their cultural identity into the learning process. Emphasizing the importance of both the habits of mind and the habits of the heart, this session will provide actionable insights into creating a classroom environment that respects and leverages students’ lived experiences as a vital source of knowledge to foster a holistic approach to learning.
•    Identify and understand the key dispositions that contribute to healthy learner identities.
•    Recognize the role of cultural identity in shaping student dispositions and learning experiences.
•    Create classroom environments that celebrate cultural identity to promote positive learner identities.
•    Gain strategies to connect with families

Investing in your Educator Preparation, Success, and Retention in Oregon: How The 2024 Oregon Educator Equity Report dances with the Multilingual Strategic Plan
The Educator Advancement Staff in collaboration with TSPC and HECC will unpack key findings of the 2024 Oregon Equity Report.   Outlining 4 priority areas from the report, we’ll discuss what efforts are in place and help districts, Educational Service Districts and  community partners find avenues of action in efforts to recruit, retain and capacity build for local systems.  We’ll connect priority 3 of the updated Multilingual strategic plan to clarify the agency’s vision and priorities for bilingual educators.  Walk away with a better understanding of the opportunities being offered to support bilingual educators across the PRE-K to 12 educator continuum.

Friday, February 28, 2025 | 11:00 to 12:00

Empowering Language Architects: Accelerating Language Acquisition and Student Engagement in AVID Emerge Classrooms
This interactive session explains how our organization applies the College and Career Readiness framework to address the needs of multilingual learners through AVID Emerge, our newest addition to the AVID Advancing Multilingual Learner suite. By integrating a blended approach to learning, incorporating culturally responsive practices, and utilizing asset-based instruction, participants will experience the appropriate environment needed for PreK-12 multilingual learners to flourish and develop self-efficacy. Additionally, this session outlines the implementation of essential, differentiated instructional routines and practices that ensure access to academic rigor, success, and opportunity while accelerating language acquisition. Through the differentiated instructional routines, participants will explore techniques where individual differences are appreciated, trust is established, and agency and leadership traits evolve. A partner district will share how AVID Emerge has positively impacted the success of its multilingual scholars.

Unlocking Equity for Multilingual Learners Through Student-Centered Vocabulary Instruction
In this session, educators will learn how to plan and deliver student-centered and inclusive literacy instruction using the evidence-based Tiers of Vocabulary Instruction Framework. Participants will first understand the importance of robust vocabulary instruction for multilingual learners; then participants will practice using the criteria for selecting Tier 2 vocabulary words in text and effective practices for instruction. The session promotes literacy equity through a practical approach to vocabulary instruction that simultaneously removes linguistic barriers and promotes instructional rigor.

Harness the Power of Connection as Universal Design!
Everyone knows why building connections with all our students is important, but couldn’t we benefit from the playbook on how to do it? Join us for practical and immediately applicable tools to transform student behavior by building a culture of connection. Fostering a sense of belonging and treating everyone with dignity is vital for equity and achievement. Together, we’ll explore strategies for using communication as universal design to serve all students, with a specific focus on multilingual learners. With a fast-paced and fun approach, this session is full of engaging content, model demonstrations, and back-pocket strategies you will be inspired to put into practice. Explore the tools you need to build a culture of connection in your school where all students and educators thrive!

Ensuring Educational Equity: Civil Rights and Intersectional Identities
This training will cover the intersection of civil rights laws in K-12 public schools. Specifically, this learning session will discuss the intersection of disability under Section 504 and race, color, and national origin protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Students who are English Learners and also have disabilities must receive equal access to educational programs and activities; this training will help districts understand their obligations under Title VI and Section 504. Participants will explore the requirements to provide eligible students with both the EL and disability-related services which are required under federal law.

Supporting the Needs of Secondary Newcomer Students
Join us as we explore the unique challenges faced by adolescent Newcomer students—immigrants, refugees, unaccompanied minors, and those from diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds, including students with interrupted education and limited first-language literacy. Our Newcomer Program focuses on developing English language skills and academic knowledge, while building confidence and fostering resilience in students who have endured discrimination based on race, ethnicity, culture, family economics, language, and academic proficiencies. This session will highlight a whole-child approach to cultivating belonging, strengthening relationships, and promoting self-awareness and self-advocacy. Participants will learn how our program enhances literacy, supports educational success, and fosters inclusion, ensuring all students have access to growth opportunities.