Carlene Thomas Consulting LLC

Family! The school districts, regional educational centers, and state agencies I work with become family!

It’s been a joy this week to be in El Paso, TX, working with Tornillo ISD! In addition to providing training for teachers to prepare for the state ESL certification exam, I worked with their district leaders to plan for targeted, ongoing PD throughout the school year.

Before I came to Tornillo, their leaders asked me if I would come to such a “small and far away place”. I said, “Yes, of course!” There isn’t a place I wouldn’t go to support our teachers of multilingual learners. Each student deserves a voice, whether they’re in a large metropolis or a small, remote town. I’m so thankful to be a part of shaping their bilingual and ESL program services!

Last week, I had the opportunity to speak to the Region 13 ESC Secondary Newcomer Network in Austin. It was their end of the year event, culminating a year of learning together on how to best support recently arrived immigrant students in secondary grade levels. I’m so proud of Region 13 for creating this network with their school districts!

I’ll be back at ESC Region 13 on August 1st, conducting a training on Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Practices for Emergent Bilingual Students. If you’d like to join, see this registration link: https://ecampus.esc13.net/show_class_info.html?classid=51844

Getting messages like this warms my heart to the max! THIS is why I do what I do! If I can inspire one person with the message of equity for multilingual learners, they in turn can impact the students and families they serve! What a blessing!

My fellow advocates, keep pressing! Keep speaking up! Let the passion flow! You never know how it will impact beyond what you expected.

Connections!! Chidinma Amadi-Ihebuzor and I met last week at the NABE Dual Language Symposium in D.C. We had an immediate connection on our passion for multilingual learners, particularly those who are deaf/hard of hearing. Today, we had the opportunity to meet up while she is visiting Austin! What a joy! We’re so pumped about the possibilities for continued collaboration! More to come!!

Thanks, ChiChi, for sharing your expertise with me, nerding out on linguistic equity, and hanging out in the hot Texas weather at an outdoor coffee shop!

Thank you to Cypress-Fairbanks ISD for hosting and inviting me to present at the Rigor, Relevance, Relationships Leadership Conference! Today, I shared about how to overcome common pitfalls when instructing emergent bilingual students through content-based instruction.

I love when I read my feedback survey and see that participants got it! Here are the take-aways from the session that the Special Services Coordinator from Channelview ISD shared:

✅ “Switch the cognitive load back to the students.

✅ Maintain high expectations, while providing equitable scaffolds and supports.

✅ Also, make learning relevant through cultural sustainability.”

Yes! 🙌🏼

On my flight to D.C. for the NABE Dual Language Symposium and checking out Dr. Gholdy Muhammad's book, "Cultivating Genius". I'm already pumped and inspired as I read the Introduction and consider the parallels and connections to my work in advocating for equity for .

"If we aim to get it right with all youth, a productive starting point is to design teaching and learning to the group(s) of students who have been marginalized the most in society and within schools (p. 11)."

Can't wait to dive in more!

“Carlene, you are my hero! Thank you for the work you do!!!” - Naomi Knowlton, Program Supervisor for Port Arthur ISD, TX

I hesitated sharing this at the risk of seeming conceited, but I hope it encourages others to not lose heart in spreading the message on equity in education.

Today, I had the opportunity to present on content-based language instructional methods at Region 5 Education Service Center. After the session, a participant approached me and said, “I just had to tell you that you’re my hero.” (I quoted her feedback survey above as well.) She went on to explain that she had been following my work for years at the regional and state levels and how it had always encouraged her. She thanked me for not just what I’m saying but how I’m saying it that makes it easy to digest yet is packed with necessary mindset shifts.

Sometimes, it’s easy to get discouraged, thinking that we’re not making an impact, but reminders like today keep me steadfast. We never know who’s watching. At the end of every listening ear is someone with their own sphere of influence who will have an impact beyond what we see. I’m just so thankful to be a piece of the puzzle.

I’ll say it all day long… systems work is my favorite! Anytime I can help districts with how to better structure their bilingual and ESL programs, I know I’m having lasting impact on multilingual learners, their families, and their educators.

Today, I wrapped up individual staff interviews at Harmony Public Schools in order to provide my recommendations on meeting their goals for improving their ESL program through effective staff allocations. I’m so thankful to be a part of systemic change!

Thank you to the Idaho Department of Education for having me today in Idaho Falls! We had a great day of learning! I look forward to closing out this professional learning series on supporting newcomers with a final webinar in May. See you again soon, Idaho educators!

Carli Thomas

Quick layover in Vegas, headed to Idaho! Will be working with the Idaho Department of Education tomorrow, training educators on effective support for newcomer multilingual learners. I’m excited to be back in person with them as an extension to our webinar series. Idaho Falls, here I come!

Carli Thomas

Memories, Part 2

Joy, joy, joy! Being with these amazing people is why in-person conferences inspire us! I loved connecting with new and “old” friends, fellow leaders from the National Newcomer Network, affiliates and partners, and other colleagues that I work alongside in multilingual learner advocacy.

Come join us next year for in Atlanta!

NABE
Carli Thomas

Memories, Part 1

The NABE Conference was amazing this year! I’m proud to serve as the NABE Exhibits Coordinator, supporting all of our sponsors and resource providers and organizing all of the events in the Resource Hall. I also love working with my fellow NABE Staff!

Additionally, I was able to see my friends at the NAELPA co-conference and our board dinner, and I had the privilege of getting to interact with my own kids’ principal and dual language teachers who attended. Such great times of fellowship with incredible advocates!

More memories coming up…

That time at when Secretary Cardona stopped by the NABE booth and asked me an interview question… 😳 I’m not sure what words actually came out, but I hope it made sense! 😂 So honored to meet him and thankful for his advocacy for multilingual learners!

Carli Thomas

I took a break this week from to conduct webinar #2 in a 3-part series on supporting newcomer MLs for the Idaho Department of Education! I’ll be back there in person next month, and then we close out our virtual series in May. I’m so thankful to support their efforts in strengthening the effectiveness of the state’s educators of newcomers!

Who’s ready for this week in Austin?! Just picked up my badge! I’m excited to be a mentor in the Roundtable Discussion on Supporting Multilingual Learning & Learners! Join us on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m.!

https://lnkd.in/gNG_8EyC

New date! The final session in this virtual PLC series on supporting newcomers that I’m conducting through Education Service Center, Region 20 has been moved to tomorrow, February 29th! Join us!

What makes professional learning impactful? Connecting it to practice!

Earlier this month, I conducted round 2 of instructional coaching with middle and high school teachers from Los Fresnos CISD. Today, I talked through my summary report with district leaders so that we can coordinate next steps moving into 2024-2025.

Being a part of systemic change is what I love to do!

Just got to spend some time encouraging TexTESOLV leaders at their member luncheon! We talked about how to finish the year strong, combatting educator and student burnout through staying true to our purpose and commitment to equity. Thanks for having me, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Region 5!

was awesome! Such a great time of connecting with familia, representing NABE, and making new connections as well! Today, I was able to present a session on Incorporating Students’ Primary Languages in ESL Without the Overuse of Translation, and there was great energy and participation from attendees. Until next time, CA! 🙌🏼

Since I'm headed to California today for CABE 2024, I thought I'd share this throwback... check out my CABE TV interview from last year! If you're going to be at the conference, come see me at the NABE booth, number 403! CABE California Association for Bilingual Education

Conversations from CABE 2023—Carlene Thomas This video series shines a spotlight on some of the incredible stories within our field and features inspiring narratives, in-depth interviews, and remarkabl...

Coming up! I'm looking forward to presenting at these conferences this season. Will you be attending? Drop me a comment or message to let me know! Can't wait to connect!

What a great day at Region 8 ESC in east Texas! Just finished facilitating learning on Instructional and Systems of Success for Newcomer High School Students. We discussed instructional methods, enrollment processes, equitable assessments and grading, and effective program model design and co-teaching practices.

Thanks for having me, Deyanira Torres and Leonard Beles!

This month, I'm looking forward to supporting three regional education service centers (ESCs) across Texas! Tomorrow, I'll be in Midland, TX with Region 18, February 13th, I'll be in Pittsburg, TX with Region 8, and on February 1st and 27th, I'll be online with Region 20 for virtual PLCs. I'm so thankful to have partnered with half of the twenty ESCs over the last year. They are such a great value to the districts they serve! Check out the flyers for these events coming up, and I hope to see you there! If you're outside of Texas or from other ESCs, you can join the online PLCs with Region 20! See you there!

Shout out! I just have to take a moment to brag on this amazing science teacher, Laura Cruz-Gomez, from Fannin Middle School in Grand Prairie ISD. I have been coaching her for the last two school years, specifically on supporting her newcomer students. I have stood in her classroom and held back tears at how proud I am of what she’s doing, thinking THIS is what scaffolded, content-based instructional support looks like. She messages clearly an asset-based mindset not just by what she says but by how she instructs, giving her newcomer students the opportunity to leverage their primary language and acquire new content and language.

Laura, thank you for the honor of supporting you, and thank you for believing in your newcomer students!

Strategic interactions foster oral language development not just for basic proficiency, but for high levels of academic discourse. I had the privilege of modeling these structured conversations with AP Language Arts students at Dubiski Career High School in Grand Prairie ISD today! Small tweaks to “turn and talk” can increase effectiveness exponentially, particularly for multilingual learners!

I love instructional coaching! Today, I had the opportunity to conduct a model lesson at Young Men’s Leadership Academy in Grand Prairie ISD. In this 6th grade ELA class, we explored compound and complex sentences using a model text. It was a joy to engage with these students! I’m working this week to coach middle and high school teachers on supporting newcomer students. Looking forward to 3 more days of support to close out this third round of coaching!

District-wide systems of support are crucial to the success of bilingual and ESL programs. Helping districts to establish or improve these systems is one of my favorite things to do!

This week, I had the privilege of supporting Klein ISD in analyzing the effectiveness of their Multilingual Department. I must give them a major shout out because one of the most consistent themes that resonated in my analysis is the student-centerdness of their staff. I was full of admiration as I interviewed each team member and felt their dedication and passion oozing out. From compliance-focused to instructional-focused team members, EVERYONE knew their purpose was equity for emergent bilingual students and families.

Conducting these evaluations and providing recommendations for improvement is a joy and privilege. This is the work that I know will have lasting and widespread impact, and I feel honored to be a part of it. The pictures capture a few highlights from campus walks across their dual language Spanish, dual language Vietnamese, and ESL classrooms.

Texas educators! I’ll be presenting on content-based instruction at Region 18 Education Service Center on January 31st! Registration is open now! I hope to see you there!