K-12 Pathways to Equitable Biliteracy

The Seal of Biliteracyrecognizes learners' proficiency in English and another language. Inspired by examples of school, district, and state responses to the challenges in nurturing biliteracy, design your implementation plan to bring this opportunity to all learners

Issues addressed include challenges of equity and access for language development, evaluation of language proficiency, and creating pathways from primary to secondary to postsecondary levels.

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MEET THE PANELISTS

LINDA EGNATZ

Executive Director, Global Seal of Biliteracy 

Linda L. Egnatz (NBCT) has served the Global Seal of Biliteracy as its Executive Director since its foundation in 2018.  She is an educator emeritus of Lincoln-Way Community High School District #210 in Illinois, where she taught all levels of Spanish including both AP Spanish Language & Culture and AP Spanish Literature & Culture and has taught at DePaul University, Purdue University and Joliet Junior College. Egnatz is a Board Member of the Joint National Committee for Languages--National Council for Languages and International Studies (JNCL-NCLIS) and the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ICTFL) of which she was President (2013-14).  Egnatz has received multiple awards including the prestigious Golden Apple Award and was named the 2014 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year. She is a popular keynote speaker and consultant in the areas of language proficiency and provides professional development offerings for language educators internationally. Her work on the Seal of Biliteracy was featured in interviews with Univision and the Chicago Tribune and her articles have appeared in the Foreign Language Annals, Hispania, The Language Educator, Language Magazine and Education Weekly. Egnatz holds a B.A. from Olivet Nazarene University and an M.A. from Purdue University.

JESSICA HAXHI

President, ACTFL 

Jessica is ACTFL President for 2021.  She is Supervisor of World Languages for New Haven Public Schools in Connecticut, overseeing 85 world language teachers and six languages.  Previously, Jessica taught Japanese for 20 years in a PreK-5 program. She served on the Board of the Northeast Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, as President of the National Council of Japanese Language Teachers, and as Co-President of the American Association of Teachers of Japanese. Jessica worked with CT COLT to advocate for Seal of Biliteracy and has awarded it to 373 students in 14 languages over the last 4 years.

PATRICK WALLACE 

Program Specialsit for World Languages and Global Workforce Initiatives, Georiga Department of Education

Mr. Patrick Wallace has served 5 years with the Georgia Department of Education in his role as Program Specialist for World Languages and Global Workforce Initiatives.  His duties in this role include supporting statewide initiatives, such as the Georgia Dual Language Immersion Initiative, the Georgia Seal of Biliteracy and International Skills Diploma Seal programs.  His a former German teacher of the Year for Georgia, two time School level teacher of the year and recipient of the SCOLT Award for Leadership in World Language Education.  He is currently serving as the Vice President of NCSSFL and is a board member for multiple non-profit entities related to global education and travel.

MICHELE ANCIAUX AOKI, Ph.D.

Advocacy Chair, NCSSFL 

Dr. Michele Anciaux Aoki is an International Education and World Languages Advocate. She previously served as World Languages Program Supervisor at the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, developing the World Languages Competency-Based Credit Program that lay the foundation for the State Seal of Biliteracy. Michele also served as International Education Administrator for Seattle Public Schools until she retired in 2019. Currently, Michele volunteers with the Washington Association for Language Teaching (WAFLT) Testing Team and on the Advisory Board of the Global Seal of Biliteracy. Michele has a Ph.D. in Slavic Linguistics from the University of Washington.

DR. JOAQUIN VILLEGAS

Associate Professor Emeritus, Northeastern Illinois University 

Dr. Joaquin Villegas is an Associate Emeritus Professor at Northeastern Illinoi University (NEIU). His

research agenda has concentrated on teacher certification, access to higher education to students of

color, parental involvement, teaching strategies and practices in the classroom with English Language

Learners (ELLs) and most recently the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy Initiatives and Pathways from

Prek-8 th grades.

He holds memberships with the Illinois Association of Multicultural Education, the National

Association of Bilingual Education, the Kappa Delta Pi: International Honor Society in Education,

University of Notre Dame Alumni Association, and the English Learners Advocacy Council in Higher

Education (ELACHE).