Minnesota TESOL Advocacy Dinner & Meeting Report
On the evening of February 28, the passionate MinneTESOL advocates gathered at Babani’s Restaurant, a family-owned establishment in St. Paul, to share a meal and engage in meaningful discussions about supporting multilingual learners in Minnesota. Hosted by Yacoub Aljaffery and Sergio Madrid, the dinner meeting provided a welcoming space for educators and advocates to connect, exchange ideas, and strategize for future advocacy efforts.
We began with introductions, getting to know one another and strengthening our network of dedicated professionals. The discussions then shifted toward three key advocacy topics:
- State-Level Advocacy for Multilingual Students – We explored how we can elevate our efforts to support multilingual students within Minnesota’s school system. Many insightful ideas emerged, including the development of workshops for content-area teachers, not just ESL educators, to better equip them to support multilingual learners in their classrooms.
- TESOL Advocacy & Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. – With the upcoming summit this summer, we discussed the importance of staying informed about policy changes and educational trends to be well-prepared in our advocacy efforts for multilingual students at the national level.
- Minnesota ESL Credit Recognition Act (MECRA) – We revisited the ongoing initiative to recognize ESL coursework for college credit in Minnesota, strategizing on the best pathways to introduce and advance this effort. Several ideas were proposed, and we are eager to take the next steps toward making MECRA a reality.
The meeting was incredibly productive and energizing, filled with strong voices eager to drive change. It was especially inspiring to see young educators stepping forward, eager to make a lasting impact on multilingual education. The energy in the room was one of hope, determination, and collaboration—a clear sign that our collective efforts are moving in the right direction.
As we continue this important work, we will keep everyone updated on new developments and upcoming advocacy events. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive future for multilingual students in Minnesota and beyond.
Retirees Report
Debbie Hadas from the Retirees Interest Section reports, “We went to the Art Institute for lunch and a book tour, featuring James McBride’s Deacon King Kong.” (Due to the winter weather, they had to reschedule the events across two days. Pictured in the photos are (left-right) Juliane Kvalbein, Ann Mabbot and Jenise Rowekamp; Woody Parks, Debbie Hadas, and Colleen
Save the Date – April 26 – Upcoming Events
Adult Education Event “Leading from Within: Fostering Teacher Growth through Communities of Practice” on April 26
Mark your calendars! The Spring 2025 Adult Basic Education MELEd Interest Section Event will take place on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 10 AM to Noon at Hamline University, our event co-sponsor. Enjoy refreshments and light snacks as we gather to learn and connect.
We’re thrilled to feature Professor Betsy Parrish, who will lead the session:
“Leading from Within: Fostering Teacher Growth through Communities of Practice.”
Discover how Communities of Practice (CoPs) can support teacher development, foster collaboration, and enhance learner outcomes. You’ll engage in hands-on activities and leave with tools to implement CoPs in your own teaching context.
Feel free to invite colleagues, but please RSVP to help us plan for refreshments. Parking details coming soon—stay tuned!
MinneSLIFE Spring Fling on May 3
8th Annual Minnesota Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education (SLIFE) Conference
For educators and researchers interested in English learners with unconventional and non-school based educational and life experiences. Conference sponsors: MinneSLIFE Standing Committee, Teacher Education Interest Section, St. Olaf College, University of Minnesota Department of Curriculum & Instruction.
Join us for this free, one-day conference. Membership is not required, but registration is. CEUs will be available.
Date: May 3, 2025, Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm Location: Coffman Union University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus 300 Washington Ave. SE. Minneapolis MN, 55455
Keynote Speakers
Annie Smith
Co-Founder, SIFE Equity Project, NY
Julie Kessler
Director of Newcomer and ELL Programs, Oakland Unified School District, CA
MinneTESOL Presidential Book Club on May 27 at 4pm
Get ready to level up your teaching game and connect with fellow ML educators and professionals!
Join MinneTESOL President Qurina Slayhi for our second virtual book club on May 27th at 4 PM! We’ll be exploring “The 6 Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Learners” – get ready for great discussions and insights!
It’s FREE to join, just register here: bit.ly/Minnetesolbookclub25 (book not included).
Questions? Email Qurina at [email protected].
See you there for some engaging book talk!
MELEd 2025[a]– November 20-22, 2025
The Minnesota English Learner Education (MELEd) Conference will be held November 20-22 2025 at the Saint Paul Rivercentre MELEd is a partnership between MinneTESOL and the Minnesota Department of Education. It is a merger of the annual MinneTESOL Fall Conference and the Minnesota ESL, Bilingual, and Migrant Education Conference. The Call for Proposals will open in June.
Check out the Latest Issue of MinneTESOL Journal!
Featured Articles
In “Learning to teach science to multilingual learners: A study of preservice teachers,” Walter Aminger presents his research on what secondary science teachers learned about effective instruction for MLs during a 13-month, post-baccalaureate teacher education program. Findings indicate that education courses and field work experiences can strengthen preservice teachers’ understanding of effective science instruction for MLs.
Journal submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.
Did you know?
Past MinneTESOL newsletters can be found on our website, at http://minnetesol.org/minnetesol-newsletters
We want to hear from you
We are always looking for information to share from our members. Please send newsletter submissions to [email protected].
