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World Languages

World Languages

Promoting the Seal & Recruiting Students

Presenters:  Candace Black & Francisco Alberto García-Quezada

Date & Time:  Monday, December 4th, 2023, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

1 hour of CTLE credit offered.

The Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) presents this fourth webinar in its 2023-24 NYSSB Professional Learning Series:  Promoting the Seal & Recruiting Students.  This webinar is offered free of charge for educators, counselors, and administrators working and studying in New York State educational institutions.

Webinar description:  Did you know that less than 3% of all NYS high school graduates earn the NYS Seal of Biliteracy?  Did you know that there are thousands more students who speak or are learning English and another language and who are ideal candidates for the NYS Seal of Biliteracy?  This webinar will present tools and strategies to promote the Seal of Biliteracy and recruit participants that have proven successful at both large and small schools across the state.  Come away with ideas to both identify and recruit students to be honored for their skills and hard work in developing language proficiency.  Then, learn how to successfully engage with stakeholders in your school community to ensure they have a solid understanding of the Seal and can assist you in recruiting students.

Link to Webinar Flyer

Registration process:  All participants are encouraged to pre-register for this event.  Pre-registration will close approximately 24 hours prior to the event; there will be no same-day registrations.  Once the registrant's email address has been verified as being from a New York State educational institution, an email confirming their registration will be sent.  Twenty-four hours prior to the event, all registered individuals will receive login instructions with the link to join the webinar.  Only pre-registered attendees will be eligible for a certificate documenting attendance and/or CTLE hours. 

Link to registration form

Additional webinars on the Seal offered this year will include:

For more information on the NYS Seal of Biliteracy, please visit our website or contact nyssb@nysed.gov. 

Webinar Presenters: 

Candace Black is the World Languages Associate in the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages at the New York State Education Department.  She is currently leading the implementation of the revised NYS World Languages Standards and oversees the NYS Seal of Biliteracy program.  Candace graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in French from SUNY Potsdam and earned both her M.B.A., and M.A.T. from the University of Rochester. A National Board-Certified Teacher, Candace taught French for 21 years and served as an IB Diploma Coordinator. In 2021, she was the recipient of the President’s Award for both NYSAFLT and NYSAWLA and was elected as a Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Palmes académiques by the French government.  In all her roles, most especially her current one, Candace is deeply committed to the professional learning and support of World Language teachers and the promotion of the NYS Seal of Biliteracy. 

 

Francisco Alberto García-Quezada, known as “El Profe,” is a humanistic education practitioner with a mission to highlight the students’ qualities and capabilities as intentional, critical, creative thinkers and leaders. He has been an educator for over 36 years, teaching in secondary, community college and undergraduate private and public schools. He retired from North Rockland Central School District as the district’s World Language Department Coordinator. In 2021, he joined the Center for Educational Partnerships at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education, where he is part of a team developing initiatives for NYC's Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network. He is an Officer of the Board of Directors of the AATSP Metropolitan NY Chapter, and an active member of the AATSP National. He is also an active member of ACTFL, in which he serves in various capacities. He has presented in local, regional, national and international language conferences.