This session will walk participants through our district's multi-year transition to proficiency-based exams, focusing on the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL). We will share details on how we have managed the technical logistics of district-wide testing and prepared for implementation across several schools. Discussion will include successes and challenges, along with some considerations for schools and districts across the state.
Have you ever thought about hosting a student teacher but were afraid of the time commitment? Join us as we chat about the value of supporting future language educators and to explore the opportunities available at local universities to work with student teachers. Participants will walk away with a newfound understanding of how collaborating with a student teacher can be both empowering and possibly the best world language PD ever.
Multilingual families bring rich linguistic, cultural, and experiential assets to school communities, yet these strengths are often overlooked or framed as challenges. This session explores how educators and organizations can partner with multilingual families to intentionally build cultural capital through language, positioning home languages as powerful resources for learning, identity development, and belonging. Session highlights how schools can shift from deficit-based narratives to collaborative models that elevate family knowledge and lived experience. Attendees will learn strategies for fostering trust, shared leadership, and inclusive communication across languages and cultures.
Executive Director Capital Region RBERN, former Director of World Languages and ENL for Guilderland Schools, Spanish Teacher, Assistant Principal, Language lover and Bilingual advocate.
Friday October 16, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT High Street 24
