Friday, May 15, 2026
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Opening Session
SAAABE Board Lead
May 15, 8:00am – 8:25am25 minBexar (Level: 1st Floor, Cap 400) -
Keynote Session
Keynote SessionDr. Miguel Cardona Lead
May 15, 8:25am – 9:30am65 minBexar (Level: 1st Floor, Cap 400) -
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Math Talk Matters: Building Content & Language Together Through CBLI
Instructional Practices in ESL ClassroomsEduardo Perez Lead
May 15, 9:40am – 10:50am70 minRiverwalk (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 40)Show details
Math Talk Matters: Building Content & Language Together through CBLI explores how intentional math discourse can simultaneously develop conceptual understanding and academic language in bilingual, dual language, and ESL classrooms. Grounded in the CBLI framework, this session highlights explicit instruction, structured discussion routines, visual scaffolds, and sentence rehearsal as tools to bridge content and language without lowering rigor. Participants will analyze classroom examples and teacher moves that position students as active meaning-makers who justify, question, and build on one another’s thinking. Educators will leave with practical, ready-to-implement strategies that elevate student voice and honor linguistic and cultural assets while strengthening mathematical achievement. -
From Prompt to Practice: GenAI Strategies for Bilingual Classroom
Hybrid International StrandDr. Carlos Lindade (Portugal) Lead
May 15, 9:45am – 10:40am55 minLa Villita (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 30)Show details
This session will offer a series of hands-on, classroom-ready examples showing how generative AI can support key areas of teaching and learning in bilingual classrooms. Participants will explore practical ways in which these tools can assist with lesson planning, the design of engaging bilingual materials, formative assessment, and the development of student-led activities that encourage creativity and autonomy. The session will introduce a range of accessible, easy-to-use tools that teachers can adapt to their own educational contexts while ensuring alignment with curricular standards and learning objectives. Attention will also be given to the development of students’ and teachers’ digital literacy, with particular emphasis on critically evaluating AI-generated content and understanding its pedagogical potential and limitations. Participants will leave the session with a clear idea of the importance of establishing clear guidelines and classroom practices that foster the responsible, ethical, and purposeful use of AI in educational settings. -
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From Insight to Impact: Aligning Data, Funding, and Equity
Sponsored by Summit K-12 (Diamond) Sponsored SessionsEricka Avila Dillon Lead
May 15, 9:45am – 10:40am55 minLaurel (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
Equitable instruction for Emergent Bilingual (EB) students requires more than just good intentions—it requires a data-backed blueprint. In this session, we dive into the "how" of supporting district-wide EB initiatives. We will audit multi-year data trends, map evidence-based resources to specific funding streams, and bridge the gap between financial planning and instructional achievement. Attendees will walk away with a ready-to-use implementation framework that equips them to advocate for EB students and lead their districts toward a more equitable and inclusive future. -
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NeuroLectoGramática: domina la gramática y libera tu potencial lingüístico
Effective Instructional Practices in Elementary DLBE ClassroomsJaime Leal Sotelo Lead
May 15, 9:45am – 10:40am55 minReal (Level: 1st Floor, Cap 40)Show details
¿Buscas una estrategia sólida y científicamente validada para que tus estudiantes no solo memoricen, sino que comprendan y dominen la gramática? Acompáñanos en esta sesión interactiva para explorar la Rutina de NeuroLectoGramática, un poderoso protocolo de lectura de 3 pasos diseñado a partir de los últimos estudios sobre el cerebro y la adquisición del lenguaje. -
Voces del mundo: enseñando español en Costa de Marfil
Hybrid International StrandKante Kadjatou (Costa de Marfil) Lead
May 15, 10:55am – 11:50am55 minLa Villita (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 30)Show details
¿Alguna vez te has preguntado cómo se vive la enseñanza del idiomas más allá de nuestras fronteras? Esta ponencia te invita a descubrirlo a través de la inspiradora experiencia de una docente en Costa de Marfil. Exploraremos qué impulsa a una maestra a dedicarse a la enseñanza de idiomas, la extraordinaria diversidad y riqueza lingüística del país y cómo transcurre un día en su aula. También se abordarán elementos como el perfil de los estudiantes, los recursos didácticos que emplea, así como los retos y oportunidades que enfrenta en su contexto educativo. Acompáñanos en este recorrido y aprende de la valiosa experiencia de Kante, profesora de español en Costa de Marfil. -
Building Bilingual Teacher Pipelines Through Leadership
Administrator/ AdvocacyDr. Lorena Claeys Lead with Dr. Karina Villa, Ms. Christina King, M.a., Mrs. Renee Tondre-garza, Lpc Dr. Claudia Garcia-treviño, M.a. Sr. Alejandra Treviño, Fma, M. Ed
May 15, 10:55am – 11:50am55 minLaurel (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
This session examines how educational leaders can expand bilingual teacher pipelines through advocacy, policy-informed decision-making, and strategic partnerships. Participants will explore the Culturally Efficacious Signature Teacher Residency (CESTR) model developed by the Academy for Teacher Excellence Research Center at UT San Antonio and how the model supports paraprofessionals and community members in becoming certified bilingual educators.
The session highlights leadership practices that support Grow‑Your‑Own programs, including mentorship structures, district‑university collaboration, and policy strategies that remove barriers and expand access to bilingual programs for aspiring teachers. Presenters will also discuss culturally sustaining leadership approaches that value multilingualism and cultural identity as essential assets.
Attendees will leave with actionable strategies for building sustainable Grow Your Own pathways, cultivating community-rooted educators, and rising together as champions of language, culture, and community. -
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Effective Instructional Practices in Dual Language earning all points on TELPAS
Effective Instructional Practices in Elementary DLBE ClassroomsDora Leija Lead
May 15, 10:55am – 11:50am55 minReal (Level: 1st Floor, Cap 40)Show details
Presentation will include videos, examples and modeling of the 3 dual language techniques:the dictado: diario duo and lota Lara to lead our students to high academic achievement in both English and Spanish. These strategies have led our campus to earn our 10 points for the last 3 years on TELPAS and to outperform monolingual academic achievement. -
Scaffold Writing Across Mixed Proficiency Levels
Instructional Practices in ESL ClassroomsAbraham Perez Lead
May 15, 10:55am – 11:50am55 minRiverwalk (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 40)Show details
This interactive session models a scaffold progression from vocabulary development to collaborative paragraph writing in mixed proficiency ESL/ELD classrooms. Teachers will explore how to use a visual stimulus to activate background knowledge and generate student created vocabulary, which is then analyzed and grouped by language features such as cognates, verbs, nouns, and synonyms to build metalinguistic awareness. Participants will engage in randomly grouping strategies where students collaboratively construct sentences based on group size, requiring each member to contribute one word, followed by whole class analysis of sentence structure and language targets. The lesson culminates in a roving paragraph activity that transforms oral rehearsal into written production, demonstrating how structured interaction, movement, and student generated anchor charts support academic writing development across proficiency levels. This progression centered approach shifts writing instruction from teacher centered delivery to scaffold, student driven language production. -
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Awards Ceremony
SAAABE Board Lead
May 15, 1:00pm – 1:45pm45 minBexar (Level: 1st Floor, Cap 400) -
“Tejiendo Puentes entre México y las Américas: Identidad Transnacional y Colaboraciones Educativas Interculturales”
Hybrid International StrandMargarita Machado - Casas (Mexico - USA) Lead
May 15, 1:45pm – 2:40pm55 minLa Villita (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 30)Show details
This presentation highlights an innovative cross-cultural initiative that strengthens educational experiences through collaboration among the United States, Mexico, and Latin America. Centered in Oaxaca, the project demonstrates how international partnerships can create meaningful opportunities for both local communities and students in U.S. educational settings. Participants will learn about Oaxaca Vive, a model that brings together educators, students, artists, and community leaders in shared spaces of learning that connect language, culture, the arts, and education. -
Bilingual Flourishing Champions through Love and Character Education
Effective Instructional Practices in Elementary DLBE ClassroomsMaricarmen Esper Lead
May 15, 1:45pm – 2:40pm55 minReal (Level: 1st Floor, Cap 40)Show details
This session shows bilingual educators how to integrate love, cultural identity, and character development into everyday teaching. Participants will learn simple, bilingual strategies that strengthen relationships and nurture virtues like empathy and perseverance. Through practical examples, teachers will discover how to weave character and culture into lessons and routines. Attendees leave with ready‑to‑use tools to help every student feel valued and encourage to flourish and to thrive. -
Jugando y Aprendiendo: Gamifying SWIRL in HS for Multilingual Success
Instructional Practices in ESL ClassroomsBailee Thompson Lead with Jose Solis, Myra Chavez, Edgar Sifuentes, Shantell Colebrooke
May 15, 1:45pm – 2:40pm55 minRiverwalk (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 40)Show details
Jugando y Aprendiendo: Gamifying SWIRL in HS for Multilingual Success
How do we move beyond passive language learning and create classrooms where Emergent Bilingual students actively engage in academic language across all domains? This highly interactive session showcases how the LEE High School ESOL and ELD team leverages gamification to promote SWIRL (Speaking, Writing, Interaction, Reading, and Listening) in culturally and linguistically responsive ways at the secondary level.
Participants will not just learn about strategies—they will experience them firsthand. Attendees will actively engage in a variety of classroom-tested games that promote academic language development, collaboration, and student discourse across content areas. Through guided play, participants will see how these strategies increase engagement while providing meaningful opportunities for students to practice language in authentic, low-risk environments.
Grounded in research on translanguaging (García & Wei), comprehensible input (Krashen), and Funds of Knowledge (Moll et al.), this session demonstrates how game-based learning supports both language acquisition and academic success while honoring students’ cultural and linguistic assets.
In addition, participants will take part in a “make-and-take” experience, where they will create and leave with ready-to-use game materials and templates that can be immediately implemented in their classrooms. Whether you are new to working with Emergent Bilinguals or looking to elevate student engagement, this session provides practical tools and strategies to transform instruction and empower multilingual learners. -
Click, Scroll… What’s Next? Cyber-Wisdom in the Digital Age
Hybrid International StrandMercedes Del Rocío Valderrábano Zamorano (España) Lead
May 15, 2:55pm – 3:50pm55 minLa Villita (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 30)Show details
En una sociedad hiperconectada, esta ponencia plantea si la educación actual está formando personas capaces de vivir bien en entornos digitales. Frente al predominio de competencias técnicas, se propone la educación del carácter como base para desarrollar el juicio moral y la acción ética.
Desde este marco, se introduce la cibersabiduría como la capacidad de ejercer un juicio práctico éticamente informado en contextos digitales, inspirada en la phronesis aristotélica. Este enfoque integra cuatro dimensiones: alfabetización, razonamiento, autorreflexión y motivación moral.
Se argumenta que los enfoques tradicionales de educación digital —centrados en habilidades técnicas o normas— son insuficientes ante la complejidad del entorno digital, caracterizado por la sobreinformación, la mediación algorítmica y la ambigüedad moral. La cibersabiduría emerge así como una competencia clave para promover el florecimiento humano, permitiendo actuar con prudencia, responsabilidad y orientación al bien común.
Asimismo, se subraya la necesidad de integrar este enfoque tanto en la educación escolar como universitaria. Finalmente, se presenta el trabajo del Centro de Educación en Virtudes y Valores (UFV), orientado al desarrollo de programas y formación docente en cibersabiduría -
The Fab 4: Four Non-Negotiable Scaffolds to Support EBs
Administrator/ AdvocacySonya Monreal Lead with Elizabell Garcia
May 15, 2:55pm – 3:50pm55 minLaurel (Level: 2nd Floor, Cap 45)Show details
This hands-on session will showcase how our department operationalized four required daily scaffolds (The Fab 4) to ensure consistent language support for emergent bilingual students across all content areas. Rather than positioning scaffolds as optional strategies, our district embedded them into curriculum design, instructional expectations, and professional learning structures so that every teacher shares responsibility for language development.
Participants will examine real classroom examples and before-and-after lesson slide decks to see how intentional scaffold integration strengthens rigor while increasing access. -
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El dictado: A routine to promote cultural and linguistic competency
Effective Instructional Practices in Elementary DLBE ClassroomsAloise Miller Lead
May 15, 2:55pm – 3:50pm55 minReal (Level: 1st Floor, Cap 40)Show details
In this bilingual session, participants practice a step-by-step approach to implementing dictados in their classrooms. Through “structured conversations” and guided writing activities, they experience several dictados and identify ways to develop students’ oracy, metalinguistic, and cross-cultural awareness. In addition, the use of innovative strategies to teach phonology, morphology, and syntax across both program languages is a part of this language-rich presentation. Participants will learn how to maximize transfer opportunities across program languages and deepen their understanding of contrastive analysis. -
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Rising Together: Elevating Language and Content Through Comprehensible Design
Instructional Practices in ESL ClassroomsGabriela Sandoval Lead with Heather Williams, Ariana Garza, Melissa Olivarez
May 15, 2:55pm – 3:50pm55 minRiverwalk (Level: Ground Floor, Cap 40)Show details
This interactive session highlights how intentional instructional practices in Content-Based Language Instruction (CBLI) empower educators to support emergent bilingual (EB) students in every classroom. Participants will explore how to design comprehensible learning intentions and align them with purposeful success criteria, using targeted EB supports as actionable “SWIRLing moves” that drive both language and content mastery.
Presenters will model how structured conversations, real classroom scenarios, and reflective planning can shift mindsets—helping all educators see themselves as language teachers. Through discussion, modeling, and collaborative practice, participants will engage in creating their own aligned learning intentions, success criteria, and SWIRLing with supports.