437-822 Core EL Network
Description
Schedule:
- September 17, 2025: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
- November 19, 2025: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
- April 22, 2026: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: In-Person
Price: $1,100
Content Questions: Audrey Lesondak (audrey.lesondak@cesa2.org)
Registration Questions: (events@cesa2.org)
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About this Event:
Membership to the CESA 2 EL Network/Title III Consortium includes enrollment in one of our EL Network options: In-Person or Virtual. Districts have the option to sign up for either of the two options. Content for in-person and virtual meetings will be similar. The methods for networking, presenting, and resource sharing will be customized to maximize the members’ user experience to the medium: in-person at CESA 2 or online.
In-Person Network: Full-day network meetings from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm at the CESA 2 Whitewater Innovation Center 3 times per year: September 17, 2025, November 19, 2025, and April 22, 2026.
L3IFT Framework: Lesson Planning within the L3IFT Framework with an emphasis on disciplinary literacy practices, oracy, WIDA standards implementation, and progress monitoring.
Book Selections: We will continue to reference the book, Engaging Students in Academic Literacies: SFL Genre Pedagogy for K-8 Classrooms. María Estela Brisk. Routledge. 2023 and will also be using a book centered around students' social-emotional well-being with Cultivating Competence in English Learners: Integrating Social-Emotional Learning With Language and Literacy. Margarita Espino Calderón and Lisa Tartaglia. Solution Tree. 2023.
- Programming planning, data dives, state updates, and more
- Ready to use resources within your classroom, building, and district
- EL- newsletters, asynchronous shorts, and modules
Symposium: This virtual session, accessible to all in-person and virtual network members and Satellite members, will be held mid-Februay on Wednesday, February 18th. Whatever the weather outside, from the comforts of home, office or classroom, members will have an opportunity to learn about the motivating and inspiring initiatives happening all across the consortium. See and hear about local application of practices that we are all learning so much about. More information and communication regarding this Symposium to come later.
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Our Presenters:
Ruslana Westerlund, Ed.D., is a Ukrainian-born educational consultant at CESA 2 specializing in using the WIDA Standards for equity through rigorous and culturally relevant teaching, providing access to disciplinary genres for all students, and designing equitable instructional practices for English Learners. She is driven by the vision to transform schools where all teachers are equipped with the knowledge to meet the needs of English Learners at both systems and classroom levels. Her unique area of expertise and research is writing in the disciplines through an apprenticeship pedagogy called the Teaching and Learning Cycle.
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.
Gretchen Lettau is a consultant in the Language and Culture Center of Excellence supporting the areas of Language Acquisition, English Learners, and Dual Language Education. Gretchen has worked as a teacher and coordinator for 20 years with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. She comes to CESA 2 after working in the Menasha Joint School District as a high school history, ESL and Bilingual teacher, and coordinator for the EL and Bilingual Programs. Throughout her career, Gretchen has collaborated with school districts in the areas of best practices, EL Co-teaching methods, academic language development, literacy and language practices when implementing workshop models, program reviews, and professional learning. Gretchen has a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and holds administrative licenses for the principalship and director of curriculum and instruction.
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.
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