Our 2026 Annual Conference!
Back to BlogOur 2026 Annual Conference!
12/05/2025
Some events spark new ideas. Others spark new energy. Our annual conference did both. I have to applaud the team that made it all happen under the leadership of Nikki Bell! This conference brought together educators who are constantly refining what it means to teach, learn, and advocate—and it left many of us thinking about how to carry that momentum forward long after the final session ended.
One question I always reflect on after an event like this is: What kind of impact did we have?
This year, the feedback spoke volumes.
I was thrilled to read Sonal Patel-Sheth’s reflection—MLL educator and NYSTESOL VP of Advocacy—who shared that she learned “how to build a greater language acquisition support community within our school.” Awesome!
From the Mid-West RBERN, Coriander Smith highlighted how “Ms. Damaske's presentation on the importance and usefulness of play for learning languages was excellent,” noting the specific strategies and resources she gained to support students’ language development. Excellent!
These are just a couple comments from our virtual day. That day’s Virtual Keynote by Omar Mohamad also prompted deep reflection on the value of education and the importance of believing in our students.
Our in-person sessions delivered equally powerful messages. Jamie Birchenough urged us to stand up for our students’ rights in clear, concise ways based on your values. Make certain our families know that our schools are the safest space for children. Focus now on bonding together in our communities because those bonds are stronger than politics. Tea Rozman inspired us by elevating student voices and creating books that empower young people to make a difference with her Green Card Voices Book Series.
During my portion of the board meeting, I shared that our membership has grown by 46% this year—a testament to the power of coming together for the greater good. Later in the day, Eliza Alvarez grounded us with a beautiful reminder to keep our focus on children: to ensure they are seen, heard, and celebrated in our school communities. Her message captured the essence of this year’s theme: “Voices of Impact: Hear me, see me, learn from me, celebrate me.”
This spirit of community ran through every moment of the conference. All of these messages pointed us toward the same idea: the importance of being fully present with our students—listening to them, lifting them up, and celebrating who they are. Birchenough’s call to reframe our thinking as “neighbors helping neighbors” resonated deeply, because in many ways, that’s exactly what our annual conference represents: a collective gathering with shared goals, shared responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to helping every student succeed.
Which brings me to the next question: How do we carry that momentum home with us?
For me, the answer has been building a local community supportive of our multilingual learners of English. I’ve created a community of practice where all MLL educators can collaborate, exchange ideas, and support one another in improving outcomes for MLLs. Over the years, we’ve met in person, connected virtually, and even sustained asynchronous conversations when schedules made it hard to gather. If you’re interested in creating something similar—or simply want ideas to get started—please reach out. I’d love to help.
Of course, local actions are only the beginning. Once we’re inspired, we also need to share that inspiration to a bigger audience. One powerful way to do that is by writing for our award-winning blog. It’s a wonderful platform to highlight effective practices, tell your story, or offer guidance to fellow educators. For submission information, please contact Katie Leven, VP of Communications.
Another avenue to amplify your voice is through our Publications Special Interest Group (SIG). Publishing can take countless forms—from social media posts and blog articles to research papers, dissertations, and even books. If you’re looking to broaden your impact, the SIG offers a welcoming space to explore those possibilities. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, and we hope to see you there!
Let’s keep the positive momentum of the conference alive through our actions.
Register here: https://mms.nystesol.org/members/evr/reg_event.php?evid=59876457&orgcode=NYST
Author: Katie Leven
NYS TESOL, VP of Communications
ENL Teacher, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
Some events spark new ideas. Others spark new energy. Our annual conference did both. I have to applaud the team that made it all happen under the leadership of Nikki Bell! This conference brought together educators who are constantly refining what it means to teach, learn, and advocate—and it left many of us thinking about how to carry that momentum forward long after the final session ended.
One question I always reflect on after an event like this is: What kind of impact did we have?
This year, the feedback spoke volumes.
I was thrilled to read Sonal Patel-Sheth’s reflection—MLL educator and NYSTESOL VP of Advocacy—who shared that she learned “how to build a greater language acquisition support community within our school.” Awesome!
From the Mid-West RBERN, Coriander Smith highlighted how “Ms. Damaske's presentation on the importance and usefulness of play for learning languages was excellent,” noting the specific strategies and resources she gained to support students’ language development. Excellent!
These are just a couple comments from our virtual day. That day’s Virtual Keynote by Omar Mohamad also prompted deep reflection on the value of education and the importance of believing in our students.
Our in-person sessions delivered equally powerful messages. Jamie Birchenough urged us to stand up for our students’ rights in clear, concise ways based on your values. Make certain our families know that our schools are the safest space for children. Focus now on bonding together in our communities because those bonds are stronger than politics. Tea Rozman inspired us by elevating student voices and creating books that empower young people to make a difference with her Green Card Voices Book Series.
During my portion of the board meeting, I shared that our membership has grown by 46% this year—a testament to the power of coming together for the greater good. Later in the day, Eliza Alvarez grounded us with a beautiful reminder to keep our focus on children: to ensure they are seen, heard, and celebrated in our school communities. Her message captured the essence of this year’s theme: “Voices of Impact: Hear me, see me, learn from me, celebrate me.”
This spirit of community ran through every moment of the conference. All of these messages pointed us toward the same idea: the importance of being fully present with our students—listening to them, lifting them up, and celebrating who they are. Birchenough’s call to reframe our thinking as “neighbors helping neighbors” resonated deeply, because in many ways, that’s exactly what our annual conference represents: a collective gathering with shared goals, shared responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to helping every student succeed.
Which brings me to the next question: How do we carry that momentum home with us?
For me, the answer has been building a local community supportive of our multilingual learners of English. I’ve created a community of practice where all MLL educators can collaborate, exchange ideas, and support one another in improving outcomes for MLLs. Over the years, we’ve met in person, connected virtually, and even sustained asynchronous conversations when schedules made it hard to gather. If you’re interested in creating something similar—or simply want ideas to get started—please reach out. I’d love to help.
Of course, local actions are only the beginning. Once we’re inspired, we also need to share that inspiration to a bigger audience. One powerful way to do that is by writing for our award-winning blog. It’s a wonderful platform to highlight effective practices, tell your story, or offer guidance to fellow educators. For submission information, please contact Katie Leven, VP of Communications.
Another avenue to amplify your voice is through our Publications Special Interest Group (SIG). Publishing can take countless forms—from social media posts and blog articles to research papers, dissertations, and even books. If you’re looking to broaden your impact, the SIG offers a welcoming space to explore those possibilities. Our next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, from 5:00 to 6:00 PM, and we hope to see you there!
Let’s keep the positive momentum of the conference alive through our actions.
Register here: https://mms.nystesol.org/members/evr/reg_event.php?evid=59876457&orgcode=NYST
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