SE SIG FEATURED SPEAKER: Every Teacher is a Language Teacher: Building Systems that Empower CLDE Staff and Multilingual Learners

As the population of multilingual learners continues to grow across Colorado, schools face the dual challenge of ensuring equitable access to content while accelerating language development. This session will highlight how Harrison School District 2 is reimagining professional learning through a coaching model grounded in Jim Knight’s Impact Cycle and districtwide initiatives such as Newcomer Support, Co-Teaching Academies, Comprehensible Input, Translanguaging, and increasing high-quality student output.  Participants will explore how to design and implement systems that (1) empower CLDE teachers as experts in their buildings, (2) position every teacher as a language teacher, (3) provide asset-based support for students and families, and (4) hold staff accountable for student growth without losing the relational core that makes professional learning effective. Attendees will leave with ideas and examples that they can adapt to their own contexts. This session is designed for educators, coaches, and leaders who want to move beyond compliance and create sustainable, relationship-driven systems that raise expectations and outcomes for multilingual learners. CDE CLDE Credit: 5.12(1) ELEMENT A Audience: Secondary Education