2019 CoTESCOL Spring Conference
Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6 is partnering with CoTESOL to co-host its 2019 spring conference at Greeley Central High School on Saturday April 6th. The conference theme will be “Engaging, Empowering, and Inspiring Our Diverse Communities.” The conference seeks to provide opportunities for networking and professional development to English language educators in Greeley and northeastern Colorado.
Armando Silva, a Greeley-based artist, will keynote the conference, speaking and performing on the topic, “Painting, Performance, and Inspiration.” Silva, a graduate of Greeley Public Schools and the University of Northern Colorado, moved to northern Colorado from Zacetecas, Mexico with his family when he was just five years old. In addition to his artwork, Silva will share his experiences as an English language learner. Although Silva’s talent has earned him a national reputation, he remains committed to pursuing his career from his adopted hometown. “I have used my artistic platform to pursue my passion and purpose,” explains Silva, “I believe with my artistic powers I have a responsibility within my community to lead, educate and give back.”
Over forty additional breakout sessions will be offered, allowing participants to earn credit towards the renewal of their teaching licensure through the University of Northern Colorado.
Brian Lemos, District 6’s ELD Director, expressed excitement about the upcoming conference. "Diversity is the strength of our community and we take great pride in the different cultures and opportunities we provide to our students, families and educators,” explained Lemos. “We believe community partnerships are the key to our success and we are excited to host the 2019 Spring CoTESOL Conference"
Daniel Schweissing, CoTESOL’s spring conference liaison, added, “Partnerships like this are a win-win, enabling CoTESOL to expand its reach beyond the Denver-Boulder area by providing a great training and networking opportunity for our colleagues in northeastern Colorado.”
Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6 boasts the fourth largest population of English language learners in the state of Colorado.
The conference will be CoTESOL’s first on the Front Range since 2014. During the past four years, Spring Conference has been held in various locations on Colorado’s Western Slope, including Grand Junction, Montrose, and Glenwood Springs.
In addition to Lemos, members of the local organizing committee include District 6 employees Jessica Cooney, Secondary CLD Specialist, Cassandra Guy, Elementary CLD Specialist, and Jamie Gallegos, Administrative Assistant.
For more information and registration visit www.cotesol.org
CoTESOL (Colorado Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages), an affiliate of TESOL International, is a non-profit organization whose primary purpose is to provide professional development opportunities to its members, primarily through its Annual Fall Convention in Denver and its Spring Conference, which rotates to different locations around the state each year. Founded in 1976, CoTESOL is one of the top five TESOL affiliates in the United States with over 700 active members.