Lynbrook teachers took the spotlight at this year’s Long Island Teachers' Institute, an annual gathering of educators focused on supporting English Language Learners (ELLs). Hosted by the Long Island Regional Bilingual Education Resource Network (L.I. RBERN) in collaboration with The New York State Education Department, the event brought together teachers, administrators and ESOL specialists from across the region for a full day of learning and networking.

Held on March 5, 2025, at the Melville Marriott, this year's theme, Glob-ELL Perspectives: Embracing Inclusivity through Multilingualism and Multiculturalism, emphasized the power of language and culture in education. Among the standout presenters were Lynbrook’s own Karen Smith, Bryton LaMantia and James Wolf, who shared their expertise on innovative ways to support ELL students.

Karen Smith led a session titled Empowering Language Learners: Practical Strategies for Secondary ELA Classrooms. Her workshop was packed with practical techniques to help English learners thrive in English Language Arts, focusing on engagement, comprehension and confidence-building strategies.

Meanwhile, Bryton LaMantia and James Wolf teamed up to present Connecting Worlds: Thematic Units for ENL in Special Education Classrooms. Their session explored ways to create meaningful, language-rich lessons that support both language acquisition and academic success for students with special needs.

The Long Island Teachers' Institute is known for being a day of inspiration, collaboration, and fresh ideas for educators working with multilingual learners. We are #OwlProud that Lynbrook teachers played such a prominent role this year at the forefront of inclusive, innovative education for ELL students!

Date Added: 3/6/2025