WABE 2026 Fall Institute: Full Schedule

Cristina Lopez-Sanchez will be our featured speaker at this session. You'll enjoy her keynote titled: Welcoming Bilingual Learners with Disabilities: Research and Recommendations.

In this session, we will explore the research on the capacity of learners with and without disabilities to develop bilingualism and the characteristics of effective learning environments for language learners experiencing challenges. Participants will come away with a framework, checklists and resources to build multilingual learning environments in their settings.

Speakers

Cristina Lopez-Sanchez

Co-President, Paridad

Cristina Sanchez-Lopez has been a bilingual educator for 30 years. She is currently co-president at Paridad Education Consulting working nationally and internationally on issues related to multilingual education. Cristina has taught at the elementary, middle school and university... Read More →

Friday October 16, 2026 9:00am - 10:45am PDT
Orchard South, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

General Session

10:45am PDT

Break - Visit Exhibits!

Friday October 16, 2026 10:45am - Saturday October 17, 2026 10:45am PDT

Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

Friday October 16, 2026 10:45am - Saturday October 17, 2026 10:45am PDT
Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

General Information

11:00am PDT

Critical Data Process

Friday October 16, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

TBA

This session will introduce the Critical Data Process, designed by Steve Gill, which school teams use to understand if the struggles of a language learner are due to language acquisition or are due to the combination of language acquisition and a possible disability. In this one hour session, I will provide an overview of the 16 critical areas and discuss what data is needed, how to obtain that data, and the implications of the data. Using this process, teams will have a much greater understanding of the root problem and will have the context needed to either redesign intervention(s), design new intervention(s), or process a referral (and potentially a special education evaluation).

Speakers

Rachel Hoff

WABE NW Region - Seat 1, Highline PS

Rachel is a language learning specialist and OCDE Project GLAD consultant supporting language learning programs, including ELL and dual language, in Highline Public Schools. She is an adjunct instructor at Western Washington University and Seattle University for pre-service and inservice... Read More →

Friday October 16, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
TBA

Breakout Session

11:00am PDT

Educational Leaders Executing in the Achievement of Multilingual Learners

Friday October 16, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

TBA

Low literacy has multiple causes in our multilingual learners. Ending the disconnect between what we have learned from research on reading and language acquisition and what happens in the dual language classroom and the craft of teaching children to read in two languages. Effective strategies that will help educational leaders build capacity by linking teacher education and instructional practices in biliteracy and language acquisition. Executing leadership practices that promote the integration of oracy, written language, and cross-linguistic contrastive analysis of language across the learning community by creating a clear articulation of implementation, instruction, and a real pulse of culture!

Speakers

Bibiana Bermudez Stosberg

Biliteracy Specialist, Savvas

Bibi is a Biliteracy Specialist at Savvas Learning. She served in the education sector through multiple roles including that of a Bilingual classroom teacher, Adjunct Instructor, Family Specialist, EL/Bilingual Literacy District Specialist and EL Programs Director. Most recently... Read More →

Friday October 16, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
TBA

Breakout Session

11:00am PDT

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a Vehicle for Linguistic Access & Opportunity

Friday October 16, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

TBA

It’s well-known that a warm and welcoming school environment lowers students’ affective filters and creates a more fertile ground for learning. But what is necessary to create such a climate, and how can that impact language development? This session dives into UDL as a framework for ensuring school and classroom conditions provide students with maximum flexibility for engagement, making meaning of information, and expressing their learning. Participants will explore the 3 principles of UDL, particularly as they relate to access and opportunity for languages to grow and excel. The session will also explore the complementary and supplementary aspects of UDL as it compares to the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP).

Speakers

Dr. Elena Kelley

Director of Multilingual Education and Student Supports, Mukilteo School District

Friday October 16, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
TBA

Breakout Session

12:00pm PDT

Lunch Break

Friday October 16, 2026 12:00pm - Saturday October 17, 2026 10:45am PDT

Local Area Restaurants

Friday October 16, 2026 12:00pm - Saturday October 17, 2026 10:45am PDT
Local Area Restaurants

General Information

1:30pm PDT

Culturally and Linguistically Responsive MTSS: Tier 1+ Critical Factors to Examine for MLs Experiencing Challenges

Friday October 16, 2026 1:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

TBA

In this session, participants will explore critical factors to consider during Tier 1+ and Tier 2 through a collaborative case study example. Participants will take an in depth look into each of the critical factors: the learning environment, academic performance and instruction, oral language development, literacy/ biliteracy development, cross cultural considerations, physical and psychological considerations, previous schooling, and family and personal considerations. Participants will receive templates, tools, resources and research to support each of the critical factors and examples of structures and frameworks districts have used to incorporate the critical factors into their comprehensive culturally and linguistically responsive and sustaining MTSS process.

Speakers

Cristina Lopez-Sanchez

Co-President, Paridad

Friday October 16, 2026 1:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
TBA

Workshop

1:30pm PDT

From Fragmented to Focused: A Genre-Based Approach to Curriculum Development for Multilingual Learners

Friday October 16, 2026 1:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

TBA

Discover how a macro-level, genre-based approach to curriculum development can transform fragmented language targets into a cohesive, content-embedded, yearlong learning experience. In this engaging session, we will walk through the process introduced in the Focus Bulletin, Taking a Genre-Based Approach to Curricular Development Using the Curriculum Amplification Guide to identify strategies that can elevate existing units and deepen alignment with the WIDA ELD Standards Framework.

Speakers

Cristina Nelson

Professional Learning Specialist, WIDA

Before becoming a Professional Learning Specialist with WIDA, Christina taught and advocated for multilingual learners from all over the world in Lawrence, Kansas, where she gained her master’s degree in education from the University of Kansas and mentored novice English language... Read More →

Friday October 16, 2026 1:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
TBA

Workshop

WABE 2026 Fall Institute

8:00am PDT

8:00am PDT

8:00am PDT

9:00am PDT

Cristina Lopez-Sanchez

10:45am PDT

11:00am PDT

Rachel Hoff

11:00am PDT

Bibiana Bermudez Stosberg

11:00am PDT

Dr. Elena Kelley

12:00pm PDT

1:30pm PDT

Cristina Lopez-Sanchez

1:30pm PDT

Cristina Nelson

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