top of page

PCI Workshop B

AMTESOL 2025 logo_hi res.png

Thursday,  January 16, 2025

1:00 - 4:00pm

Montgomery, Alabama

Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center

Implementing the Seal of Biliteracy: Voices from the Field

This session is a must for teachers and administrators who would like to establish a Seal of Biliteracy program in their school districts. The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded to graduating high school seniors who have earned qualifying test scores in English and in one or more other languages (including sign language). This accomplishment is recognized at high school graduation where students wear a Seal of Biliteracy medallion, and it can also be celebrated at an awards ceremony where students receive a certificate.

​

By offering the Seal of Biliteracy program at your school, you can broaden horizons for students who are learning English as an additional language and, also, for those who are learning a world language or sign language. By earning the Seal of Biliteracy, your students can benefit when seeking admission to college and, also, when exploring career options.


In this panel session, the English Learner directors from Mississippi and Alabama explain the requirements in their states for school districts to establish a Seal of Biliteracy program. This is followed by Voices from the Field — language educators from three school districts in Mississippi and three districts in Alabama. These six educators are from diverse districts regarding size, student demographics, location (rural, urban, suburban), years of implementing the Seal of Biliteracy, and languages in which students earned the Seal. As panelists, these educators share insights, challenges, successes, and recommendations based on how their districts have been implementing the Seal of Biliteracy. The session ends with breakout groups where attendees receive additional guidance and brainstorm how to bring the Seal of Biliteracy to their respective school districts.

Panelists

Sandra Elliott_round.png

Sandra Elliott

English Learner Intervention Support Specialist, Office of Elementary Education and Reading, Mississippi Department of Education (MDE), Jackson, MS

Sandra Elliott will share guidelines and requirements established by the MDE for what school districts need to do for implementing and awarding Mississippi’s Seal of Biliteracy, which began in 2018. In her role at the MDE, Sandra provides professional development and technical support to teachers and administrators throughout the state on best practices, instructional guidelines, intervention strategies, and instructional strategies to support English learners.

​

English learner educators from three Mississippi districts will share insights, challenges, successes, and tips based on their district having implemented the Seal of Biliteracy since the date in parentheses:

​

  • Melissa DeAngelo - Pascagoula-Gautier School District (2019)

  • Stephanie Murley - DeSoto County School District (2020)

  • Debbie Blackledge - Jones County School District (2020)

​

​

Maria Franco_round.png

Maria Franco

English Language Education and World Language Education Administrator, Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE), Montgomery, AL

Maria Franco will share guidelines and requirements established by the ALSDE for what school districts need to do for implementing and awarding Alabama’s Seal of Biliteracy, which began in 2022. In her role at the ALSDE, Maria provides professional development and technical support to teachers and administrators throughout the state on best practices, instructional guidelines, intervention strategies, and instructional strategies to support English learners.

​

English learner educators from three Alabama districts will share insights, challenges, successes, and tips based on their district having implemented the Seal of Biliteracy since the date in parentheses:

​

  • Nancy Blanco - Birmingham City School District, AL (2021)

  • Edmund Martinez - Russellville City School District, AL (2024)

  • Chad Strong - Etowah County School District, AL (2024)

Panel Moderator

Leah Dobbs Black_round.png

Leah Dobbs-Black, Ed.S.

English Learner Supervisor in Shelby County Schools, Alabama

Leah Dobbs-Black will provide background information, introduce panelists, monitor flow, and highlight accomplishments. As the session reaches closure, Leah will invite questions from the audience and encourage attendees to network with each other.

Panel Organizer

Spezzini_256x256px.png

Susan Spezzini, Ph.D.

Professor of English Learner Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)

In 2020, Susan Spezzini was asked to help draft a projected State Seal of Biliteracy Bill, for which she gathered input from stakeholders in 25 Alabama school districts. This draft served as the basis for Alabama Act #2022-200, which, upon being signed by Governor Ivey in April 2022, created the Alabama Seal of Biliteracy. Susan has also promoted the Seal of Biliteracy by giving presentations in college courses and at conferences, meetings, and other events: AMTESOL (2020, 2023), ALSDE’s MEGA (2019, 2024), Alabama Literacy Alliance (2020, 2024), CLAS chapter—Alabama Leaders Advocating for English Learners (2020), American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (2022, Birmingham Southern College), and Alabama International Economic and Education Partnership (2023).

bottom of page