TAP the Potential: SIEC ML Conference 2026

Mark your calendars for September 24, 2026!

The Southern Indiana Education Center is hosting an exciting day to support all who lead and instruct Multilingual Learners (MLs). We have designed a day of professional learning that includes the following topics:

• Trauma-Informed Instruction

• Family & Community Engagement

• Bridging Cultures

• IDOE: EL Updates

• EL TOR Support: Experiences and Questions

• Supporting Newcomers

• Leveraging technology to save time and improve student outcomes

In addition, we have two fantastic keynote speakers prepared to share their expertise and provide guidance. Carly Spina will present the morning keynote address and a follow-up breakout session focused on supporting newcomers, effective family outreach, and iginiting real change for MLs. Elise White Diaz will share a mid-day keynote address and a follow-up breakout session focused on trauma-informed instruction and reaching multilingual learners through her Discover, Connect, Respond approach.

Plan now to attend this special event on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EST) at the Huntingburg Event Center. The agenda for the day will be shared in August along with session descriptions for your convenience. During the conference, a catered lunch will be provided, along with PGP certificates for all. Plus, stick around until the end of the day for door prize giveaways. See below for more details!

Workshop Series Details:

• Date: September 24, 2026

• Time: 8:30 am - 3:00 pm EST

• Location: Huntingburg Event Center

• Fee: 2025-27 Title III Consortorium Members Attend Free! All are welcome to attend! Not a member of the 2025-27 Title III Consortium? If you're an SIEC Member School, conference registration is $200 (Non-member $280).

• Other Details:

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

  • A catered lunch will be provided each day.

  • Participants will receive Professional Growth Points.

  • Deadline to register is August 21, 2026.

  • See the registration link on this page to register.

Carly Spina, Keynote Speaker

Carly Spina has 16 years of experience in Multilingual Education, including her service as an EL teacher, a third-grade bilingual classroom teacher, and a district-wide Multilingual Instructional Coach. She is currently a multilingual education specialist at the Illinois Resource Center, providing professional learning opportunities and technical assistance support to educators and leaders across the state and beyond. Her first book, "Moving Beyond for Multilingual Learners" (2021), was a 2023 Equity in Excellence Award Winner, and her latest book, "Igniting Real Change for Multilingual Learners: Equity and Advocacy in Action," was just released in June, 2025.

Elise White Diaz, Keynote Speaker

Elise White Diaz gained rich experience in a diverse district in North Texas, where she integrated principles of culturally relevant, trauma-informed education with language acquisition strategies, driving substantial growth in student performance on standardized tests. Her innovative approach quickly gained recognition, leading her to mentor and coach fellow educators in replicating her success. Elise has held various roles in multilingual education, including instructional coaching, co-teaching for newcomer support, curriculum development, and professional development. Now a full-time consultant with Seidlitz Education, Elise travels nationwide to assist districts in fostering language development and cross-cultural connections. She has been a keynote speaker at several state conferences and is the author of "Discover, Connect, Respond: A Practical Approach for Trauma-Informed Education."