Por Victor Escalante
The Teacher Leader Summit 2025, held from June 10–12 at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, marked a pivotal moment in Louisiana’s educational journey. With the theme “A New Story for Louisiana Education,” the summit brought together over 7,000 educators from across the state, all united by a shared commitment to enhancing student achievement and fostering growth.
Organized by the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), the summit is the state’s premier professional learning event. It provides educators—from classroom teachers to school and system leaders, district administrators, counselors, and early childhood professionals—with opportunities to gain new skills, share expertise, and collaborate with peers. This collective effort aims to make a greater impact on student achievement, preparing educators for the upcoming school year.
The World Languages Department contributed dynamic sessions centered on innovation, technology integration, and student engagement in language classrooms. These sessions were especially popular among language educators looking to stay ahead of the curve:
1. Strategies for Diverse Learner Success in the World Languages and Dual Language Immersion Classroom by Dr. Erin Fell.
2.- Louisiana’s Novice Level Curriculum for World Languages by Specialists Michelle Braud, Melissa Monroe, and Corinne Nutt
3.- Enhancing World Language Instruction with Digital Tools by Joy Stalnaker from Lafayette Parish.
My reflections:
The first workshop was extremely valuable to me, as it created a space for world language teachers to share and reflect on key strategies focused on second language acquisition. Dr. Fell addressed highly relevant topics, particularly strategies to support students with dyslexia who are learning an additional language. Her insights were both practical and impactful for inclusive classroom practices.
The second session became a particularly engaging workshop in which participants explored the newly designed novice-level world language curriculum. This resource-rich framework is designed to support future language educators. It is clearly outlined and offers a broad and inclusive perspective, encouraging teachers to plan based on the unique contexts of their school districts. Rather than imposing a one-size-fits-all model, the curriculum serves as a comprehensive and flexible educational support tool.
Another session that deserves continued inclusion in future summits was led by World Language Specialist and Teacher Leader Advisor Joy Stalnaker. Her presentation showcased a wide array of digital tools that are especially effective for supporting all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The resources shared in this session are essential for enhancing language instruction in today’s classrooms.
