When Dr. Isabela Carias-Vazquez and Dr. Chastity Martinez-Morales took the stage at the 55th Annual National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) Conference in Chicago this year, they weren't just be carrying their presentation slides—they were carrying the pride of the entire Newburgh Enlarged City School District (NECSD).

This year’s conference theme, "Language is Power," resonates deeply with the mission of our district. It is a philosophy we live every day in our classrooms, where multilingualism is celebrated as a superpower and equitable education is the standard, not the exception.

A Voice for the District

For Dr. Carias-Vazquez and Dr. Martinez-Morales, the opportunity to present on a national stage is a moment of deep reflection.

"We are incredibly grateful and humbled to represent our district," she shared. "There is so much great work happening within NECSD, and we see this as a chance to shine a light on the amazing things our educators and students do day in and day out."

Sharing the Newburgh Way

The presentation focused on the "best practices" that have made Newburgh a leader in bilingual education. From innovative instructional strategies to fostering a culture of belonging for every learner, the duo aimed to provide a blueprint that other districts across the country can use to support their own multilingual populations.

By sharing the successes found within our buildings and classrooms, they are ensuring that the hard work of our teachers and the achievements of our students help shape the future of bilingual education nationwide.

Language as a Bridge

As the conference highlighted how language empowers individuals and communities, NECSD stands as a testament to that truth. Dr. Carias-Vazquez and Dr. Martinez-Morales presented in Chicago not just as facilitators, but as ambassadors for the "Newburgh Gold Standard," proving that when we invest in multilingual learners, we empower the entire world.

Title of Session Presented:

Building Bridges to Biliteracy: A Journey from Elementary Dual Language to the Seal of Biliteracy

Description of Session Presented: 

This inspiring session features NECSD district-school shared leadership practices that will help drive positive changes in your school, as we share our strategies on how to restructure your elementary dual language instructional program in an effort to align literacy instruction to the Science of Reading, providing students access to culturally responsive instruction, capitalizing on biliteracy through cross-linguistic connections. Explore innovative ways to support your multilingual learners’ journey across elementary, middle school, and high school for achieving excellence and becoming critical thinkers, effective communicators, and global citizens, who are biliterate across content areas and graduate with statewide educational leadership opportunities and recognitions.