Multilingual Family Connections: Strategies to Build Relationship and Positive Connections

Partnering with families and school communities benefits all involved with supporting multilingual learners, but a lack of intentional planning to motivate and close that "knowing-doing gap" oftentimes results in last-minute decisions and/or nonexistent school-family-community connections. This professional learning session targets the following topics/actions:

• Exploring school culture and cultures of multilingual learners.

• Discovering four important elements of ML family outreach.

• Making time to plan for implementation.

This will enable participants to better bridge any culture gap between school and home, increase understanding of how best to connect with families of multilingual learners, and plan one or more action steps during the session. Making time for these topics always proves to be worthy of the effort. PLUS, each participant will receive their own copy of Debbie Zacarian's "Transforming Schools for Multilingual Learners" to reference during and after the session. Want to find out more? Register for this relevant and practical day of professional learning!

Workshop Details:

• Date: November 17, 2025

• Time: 9:00 am - 2:30 pm EST

• Location: SIEC, 1102 Tree Lane Drive, Jasper, IN 47546

• Fee: SIEC Member - $225/Non-member $315

• Other Details:

  • Please bring a laptop computer so online resources can be accessed.

  • A catered lunch will be provided.

  • Participants will receive Professional Growth Points.

  • Deadline to register is 2 weeks before each workshop.

  • See the embedded registration form below.

Presenter: DeAnne Taggart

DeAnne Taggart is the Solutions Specialist at the Southern Indiana Education Center and has 30 years of experience in K-12 education including two years as a Director of Curriculum & Technology and six as a Director of Professional Learning. She is a graduate of Indiana University and Indiana Wesleyan University and is currently enrolled at Ball State University pursuing her doctorate in educational studies with a focus on educational technology. She is a curriculum development trainer, an instructional leader, and continues to consistently focus on the needs of educators at all levels. DeAnne’s professional mission is to provide high-quality, authentic learning to all educators that inspires, empowers, and enriches, and as a result, reaches all students. Her personal interests include pursuing continual home improvement projects as well as the mountain of good books on her must-read list.