Proposals for “Many Hands, One Purpose”: An Interview with Dr. Michele Goldin, 2023–2026 Annual Conference Proposals Chair
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Written by: Dr. Michele Goldin and Katie Leven
The 2026 Annual Conference "Call for Proposals" is officially open! To help you get inspired, we’re chatting with Proposals Chair, Dr. Michele Goldin, about our new theme: Many Hands, One Purpose: Partnering for Multilingual Learner Success. From MTSS systems to WIDA transitions, find out what the committee is looking for this year and how you can get involved before the May 3 deadline.
KATIE: Today I’m sitting down with our 2023–2026 Annual Conference Proposals Chair for NYS TESOL, Dr. Michele Goldin! I first met Michele when she was a member of the 2024 Conference Planning Committee. Since then, she has been an integral part of the team, helping to shape, review, and organize concurrent session presenters for the past three conferences. Michele, can you tell me more about your role?
MICHELE: Thanks, Katie! I am an assistant professor of Bilingual Education and TESOL at Touro University. As Proposals Chair of the NYS TESOL Annual Conference, I prepare the "Call for Proposals," organize the submissions, and lead a wonderful team of volunteer reviewers. We read all the proposals together and communicate with submitters as decisions are made.
KATIE: That is a lot of moving parts, but I imagine it’s incredibly fulfilling to see all that hard work come together at the event! What inspired you to become the Annual Conference Proposals Chair?
MICHELE: The committee members of the NYS TESOL conference are truly some of the most dedicated educators and community leaders from across the state. They inspired me to join the team, and working with them over the past few years has been a joy. It has provided me with so many opportunities for professional growth.
KATIE: I think finding joy in what we do is so important. How do you see a strong, varied membership base contributing to NYS TESOL’s mission of supporting teachers and multilingual learners?
MICHELE: It is vital to the success of the conference! Attendees want to hear a variety of perspectives—not just from higher ed, but from K–12 teachers, administrators, students, parents, and even international colleagues.
KATIE: Yes! That variety of perspectives is invaluable. While everyone brings a unique voice, there are so many beautiful overlaps since we are all centered on the linguistic needs of our students. What would you say are the primary benefits of attending the annual conference?
MICHELE: One of the best parts is being in a community with other educators who are passionate about the same things you are. Every year we learn from our presenters’ varied backgrounds, but attendees also benefit from sharing their own day-to-day experiences with peers from across the state.
KATIE: Absolutely. There is something special about presenting on a topic and realizing that your audience truly resonates with your experience. It embodies my personal motto: Let’s work smarter, not harder by sharing our knowledge! I know these presentations have impacted my own instruction, too. Every year, I am challenged to think in new ways about how I advocate for my learners. Looking ahead, what is our focus for the 2026 Annual Conference?
MICHELE: This year’s theme is “Many Hands, One Purpose: Partnering for Multilingual Learner Success.” We are focusing on collaboration across classrooms, programs, leadership teams, families, and communities.
KATIE: Who are some new presenters you would love to see this year? And can you tell us a bit more about the application process?
MICHELE: Yes! We invite educators, researchers, leaders, advocates, and community partners to share the innovative practices shaping the future of multilingual education. Whether you are refining Tier 1 instruction, strengthening language development across content areas, advancing literacy, implementing MTSS systems, preparing for the NYSED transition to WIDA, or building partnerships that promote equity—we want to learn from you!
You can submit your proposal here: Submit via Whova
KATIE: Thank you! What is the deadline for submissions?
MICHELE: The deadline is coming up soon: May 3! Please contact me if you have any questions about the process. I am happy to help with anything you need: Proposals@nystesol.org
KATIE: Thank you so much for your time today, Michele! I appreciate your enthusiasm and the wonderful job you're doing. I can’t wait to see the submissions that come in for this year's theme!