427-822 Powerful Practices in the ACT 20 Era: Advancing Language, Literacy, and ML Achievement

Schedule:

• February 5, 2026: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm
• February 6, 2026: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Location: In-Person at CESA 2

Price: $450, lunch included

Content Questions: Audrey Lesondak (audrey.lesondak@cesa2.org)

Registration Questions: (events@cesa2.org)

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About this Event: This two-part series helps educators align early literacy and adolescent literacy efforts (for struggling MLs beyond 3rd grade) with the needs of multilingual learners under Wisconsin’s ACT 20 and beyond.  Learn how to adapt structured literacy, screeners, and interventions to support language development, and prevent misidentification. The series highlights effective approaches for MLs, including cross-linguistic considerations such as letter-sound correspondence variations and word pattern recognition across languages, motivation, and sense-making. Educators will leave equipped with practical strategies and systemic tools to build strong, literacy foundations for MLs in both earlier and later grades.

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Our Presenters:

Audrey Lesondak is CESA 2's Senior Director in the Language and Culture Center of Excellence. Audrey served for eight years as a consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Her work focused on designing and implementing policy, guidance, and practices to support multilingual learners. Specific endeavors include co-creating the EL Policy Handbook, developing Wisconsin's ESEA Title III plan, administering the ACCESS for ELLs assessment and data systems, managing bilingual and EL formula and discretionary grant programs, and supporting the WIDA English language development standards initiatives. Audrey’s commitment is to create positive, just, and inclusive learning opportunities for multilingual learners and their families.

Fran Veguilla is a transformational leader, committed to equitable practices that help eliminate barriers for our more marginalized students and their families, so that they can fulfill their true potential. Fran has over 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher, bilingual/EL teacher, mentor, instructional coach, PLC facilitator, and advocate for change. Fran holds a Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Rockford University and an Educational Leadership degree from Edgewood College. She is a collaborative leader who envisions schools and programs where diversity, inclusivism, and culture are seen, valued and celebrated.

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