OBEWL's Teacher Leadership Consortium (TLC)

When I began my work at the New York State Education Department (NYSED), I was invited to consider the type of projects I hoped to pursue. I knew immediately that I wanted to work directly with teachers. The Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) already had a robust set of professional development sessions for World Languages. Building on that strong foundation, we looked to expand to create similar direct connections with educators in Bilingual Education and English as a New Language. At the same time, with important changes on the horizon, we recognized that creating such a platform would allow us to strengthen our connection with classroom educators, those doing the daily critical work with English Language Learners (ELLs).
 

So we built one.
 

  In January 2024, OBEWL launched the Teacher Leadership Consortium (TLC), a webinar series designed to provide teachers with a forum to share ideas, exchange best practices, and receive timely updates directly from OBEWL. In the first year alone, the TLC  reached 500 teachers across sessions.
 

A key component of TLC’s early success has been the development of a strategic partnership with Susan Lafond of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT). By working collaboratively, we have been able to broaden outreach, strengthen teacher voice within the Consortium, and ensure that sessions remain grounded in the realities of classroom practice. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to supporting educators and advancing equitable opportunities for multilingual learners across New York State.
 

The first session was held shortly after the presidential inauguration. The session centered on addressing teachers’ concerns about federal policy changes and reaffirming the strength of New York State’s commitment to English Language Learners (ELLs) through CR Part 154. Questions were collected in advance, allowing OBEWL to research and provide targeted answers. 
 

In March, the second session centered on assessment. Teachers engaged in meaningful discussion about testing accommodations for grades 3–8, Regents exams and graduation requirements, and administration of the NYSESLAT. The conversation reflected both the challenges educators face in navigating state testing requirements and the opportunities to better leverage assessment data to support multilingual learners.
 

The May session emphasized collaboration and forward planning. Teachers participated in grade-level breakout groups, sharing curriculum approaches, scheduling models, and instructional practices from their districts. The energy in these discussions reinforced what we had hoped: TLC was becoming more than a webinar, it was evolving into a professional learning community.
 

 OBEWL has continued the TLC into the 2025–2026 school year with a range of timely and responsive topics. On August 28, a special session focused on ELL identification procedures and the use of NYSESLAT data to inform instruction. In October, participants explored the New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) and what it means for ELLs across the state. December’s session examined culturally relevant holidays in schools and unpacked the important distinctions between assimilation and acculturation. In February, the Consortium turned its attention to our new briefs on the Science of Reading for Multilingual Learners, with particular focus on Brief 5: The Science of Reading in Multilingual K–12 Classrooms.
 

The TLC has already proven to be a valuable professional learning space for educators statewide. As we prepare for New York’s transition to the WIDA assessments and align our work with the Portrait of a Graduate to support graduation pathways for all students, OBEWL remains committed to expanding and deepening the Consortium’s impact.
 

The next meeting of the Teacher Leadership Consortium will take place on April 16th, 2026 from 3:30-4:30pm. We will review updated ELL Data on the NYSED website, and provide updates on our transition to WIDA. If you would like to join us, please register BOTH here and directly with Zoom to receive the meeting link. 
 

We hope you will join us as we continue building this community.