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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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

7:30am PDT

Badge Pick-Up

Saturday October 17, 2026 7:30am - 10:45am PDT

Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

Saturday October 17, 2026 7:30am - 10:45am PDT
Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

General Information

7:30am PDT

Clock Hour Sign In

Saturday October 17, 2026 7:30am - 10:45am PDT

Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

Saturday October 17, 2026 7:30am - 10:45am PDT
Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

General Information

7:30am PDT

Exhibits Open

Saturday October 17, 2026 7:30am - 10:45am PDT

Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

Saturday October 17, 2026 7:30am - 10:45am PDT
Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

General Information

8:15am PDT

General Session Panel

Saturday October 17, 2026 8:15am - 10:45am PDT

Orchard South, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

Come enjoy an insightful discussion between Dr. Cassie Martin, Dr. Kristin Percy Calaff and Christina Lopez-Sanchez.

Speakers

Cristina Lopez-Sanchez

Co-President, Paridad

Dr. Kristin Percy Calaff

Director of Multilingual Education, OSPI

Dr. Kristin Percy Calaff is the Director of Multilingual Education for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. She has over 35 years of experience as a dual language teacher, principal, district administrator, and state leader. Kristin holds a Ph.D. in Multilingual/Multicultural... Read More →

Dr. Cassie Martin

Executive Director of Special Education, OSPI

Dr. Cassie Martin is WA state’s Executive Director of Special Education at OSPI. For over 25 years, Cassie has dedicated her professional life and learning to equitable and inclusive education for students with disabilities in support of strong educational outcomes for all students... Read More →

Saturday October 17, 2026 8:15am - 10:45am PDT
Orchard South, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

General Session

9:30am PDT

Break - Visit Exhibits!

Saturday October 17, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT

Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

Saturday October 17, 2026 9:30am - 10:45am PDT
Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

General Information

9:45am PDT

Effective Instruction for Multilingual Learners with Special Education Needs: For young and adolescent learners

Saturday October 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am PDT

TBA

In this session, participants will explore the characteristics of inclusive practices that welcome multilingual learners with disabilities into all of our classrooms. As a practitioner, Cristina will share strategies, and resources that have been found to support multilingual learners (both young and adolescents) with disabilities to develop language, literacy and content area knowledge in a...
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Speakers

Cristina Lopez-Sanchez

Co-President, Paridad

Saturday October 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am PDT
TBA

Breakout Session

9:45am PDT

From Fragmentation to Transformation: Aligning Priorities to Build Inclusive Education Systems

Saturday October 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am PDT

TBA

Transforming education systems requires more than implementing new priorities—it requires redesigning how systems work together. High-quality systems are built by intentionally centering the learners who have historically experienced the greatest barriers to access, opportunity, and educational success. By grounding transformation in inclusive systems, states can align priorities, funding,...
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Speakers

Dr. Cassie Martin

Executive Director of Special Education, OSPI

Saturday October 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am PDT
TBA

Breakout Session

10:45am PDT

Break - Visit Exhibits!

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

Lobby, Lower Floor @ Wenatchee Convention Center

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

General Information

11:00am PDT

Helping Multilingual Learners Show What They Know Across the curriculum: Integrating reading and writing into content area instruction

Saturday October 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

TBA

In this session, participants will explore a lesson cycle that can be used for instruction during whole class, small group and intervention with multilingual learners. We will explore strategies for integrating reading, writing and oracy in different content areas and across grade levels.

Speakers

Cristina Lopez-Sanchez

Co-President, Paridad

Saturday October 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
TBA

Breakout Session

11:00am PDT

Striving Towards a Culturally & Linguistically Responsive Tiered Support Team Process

Saturday October 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT

TBA

Have you ever been in a support team meeting for a student who is a multilingual learner and felt like the conversation didn’t sufficiently explore how culture and language played a role in their schooling? This session centers on one district’s journey to develop a tiered support teams (TST) process that takes a thoughtful approach to understanding how students’ linguistic and cultural...
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Speakers

Dr. Elena Kelley

Director of Multilingual Education and Student Supports, Mukilteo School District

Saturday October 17, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm PDT
TBA

Breakout Session

8:00am PDT

8:00am PDT

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10:45am PDT

11:00am PDT

11:00am PDT

11:00am PDT

12:00pm PDT

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1:30pm PDT

7:30am PDT

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7:30am PDT

8:15am PDT

9:30am PDT

9:45am PDT

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11:00am PDT

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