Registration is OPEN for the 2025 Annual Spring Virtual Tutor Training! You can register here: https://bit.ly/2025TutorTraining
Scroll for more information about the presenters and their presentations.
9:00-9:45 – Keynote Speaker
10:00-10:45 – Sessions A, B, C
10:45-11:00 – Break
11:00-11:45 – Sessions D, E, F
11:45-12:00 – Break
12:00-12:45 – Sessions G, H, I
12:45-1:00 – Closing Activity
KEYNOTE – 9:00-9:45 AM
Presenter: Louise El Yaafouri, DiversifiED Consulting
Title: “Healing Communities: Restorative Practices to Support Adult English Learners“
Description: Kicking off this year’s Literacy Coalition of Colorado Spring Training, Louise El Yaafouri, a leading voice in trauma-informed and culturally responsive education, will energize and equip educators to transform their classrooms into spaces of trust and empowerment. Designed for volunteer tutors and educators in Adult Basic Education (ABE) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), this session will explore practical strategies for nurturing inclusive, motivating learning environments for adult learners, many of whom bring with them complex life experiences, including backgrounds of trauma and culture shock.
Grounded in the understanding that learning happens most effectively when participants feel safe, this session explores the critical intersection of mental health, wellness, and cultural understanding. Educators will learn how different cultures interpret mental health and trauma, and how these cultural reference points provide clues for adjusting our instructional approaches to create meaningful connections.
Participants will discover:
- The connection between trauma and adult learning/language acquisition, and how to recognize its subtle impacts in the classroom.
- Simple yet powerful strategies to create predictable and supportive structures that benefit all learners, including those still navigating the effects of trauma.
- How cultural frameworks of wellness and resilience can inform responsive teaching practices, fostering trust and engagement.
- Practical tools that can be implemented immediately to build an inclusive classroom environment where adult learners feel valued, safe, and ready to engage.
Whether you’re a seasoned educator or a volunteer tutor, this session will provide both inspiration and actionable strategies, reminding us all that every interaction is a chance to drive growth, prosocial integration, and community.
Bio: Louise El Yaafouri is an internationally recognized expert in trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices, specializing in multilingual learner education and community integration. As the founder of DiversifiED Consulting, she and her team lead complex projects, provide direct client-facing support, and develop innovative solutions for schools, organizations, and communities. Louise has been privileged to work with individuals from over 116 countries across four continents, fostering resilience and belonging through equitable, strengths-based approaches.
Louise has written three books and dozens of articles focused on strategies to support refugee and immigrant newcomers. Her publications and in-person training offer practical insights on creating inclusive, trauma-responsive classrooms and empowering multilingual learners to thrive. A sought-after speaker, educator, and project manager, Louise’s work bridges the gap between theory and practice, creating meaningful change for diverse and multilingual populations.
Session A 10:00 to 10:45 AM
Presenter: Michael J. Williams, USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services)
Title: “Naturalization 101“
Description: Michael will walk participants through the citizenship process and will cover the basics of how a person can become a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Strand: Citizenship
Bio: Michael is a USCIS Community Relations Specialist for the Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming region.
Session B 10:00-10:45
Presenter: Dr. India White, India-White.com
Title: “The Power of G.R.I.T.“
Description: This session addresses low graduation rates among first-generation students, highlighting insights from Dr. India White’s TEDx Talk on “The Power of G.R.I.T.” Attendees will learn practical strategies to foster grit, improve connections with students, and enhance academic achievement, ultimately helping underserved students overcome obstacles and thrive in their education.
Strand: Writing, Listening, High School Equivalency (HSE) / GED, Math / Numeracy, Beginning Levels (ESOL), Multilevel Classes / Differentiation, Assessment, Program Administration
Bio: Dr. India White is a TEDx speaker, national educational consultant, author of 60+ books, and co-author for Savvas Learning. India is a 3-time graduate of the University of Florida, majoring in math, educational leadership and educational leadership and administration.
Session C 10:00-10:45 AM
Presenter: Leah Gonzalez, Jeffco Adult ESL & Literacy Program
Title: “Teaching Pre-Literate Adult Learners ESL: Unique Challenges and Effective Strategies“
Description: This presentation will discuss challenges and strategies for effectively teaching pre-literacy adult learners with low oral language skills. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of this group’s characteristics, and will learn a variety of strategies aimed at improving oral language and supporting literacy development.
Strand: Refugee Adult Learners/SLIFE (Students with Interrupted Formal Education)
Bio: Leah Gonzalez has two masters degrees in Linguistics and has been working in the ESL field for more than 15 years. Leah now teaches ESL to beginning, pre-literate adult learners.
Session D 11:00-11:45 AM
Presenter: Dr. India White, India-White.com
Title: “How Cross-Cultural Communication and Interhumanism Helps Bridge the Achievement Gap“
Description: Learning Objectives:
- Understanding the Cultural Disconnect: Analyze root causes of cultural gaps in education and their impact on student success, enabling educators to identify improvement opportunities.
- Building Cross-Cultural Communication Skills: Engage in interactive exercises to develop effective strategies for fostering empathy and understanding across cultural differences.
- Embracing Interhumanism: Explore interhumanism as a principle for collaboration and respect, enhancing connections with diverse students for better academic outcomes.
Participants will leave with practical strategies to bridge cultural gaps and promote an inclusive educational environment.
Strand: English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), Refugee Adult Learners/SLIFE (Students with Interrupted Formal Education), Beginning Levels (ESOL), Multilevel Classes / Differentiation, Program Administration
Bio: Dr. India White is a TEDx speaker, national educational consultant, author of 60+ books, and co-author for Savvas Learning. India is a 3-time graduate of the University of Florida, majoring in math, educational leadership and educational leadership and administration.
Session E: 11:00-11:45 AM
Presenter: Dr. Shineth Cunanan Gonzales, The Excel Center
Title: “Dynamic Activities and Lessons for Adult Learners”
Description: In this 40-minute presentation, we will explore innovative and interactive activities designed specifically for adult learners. Our objectives include understanding adult learning principles, discovering engaging lesson strategies, and applying practical tools to enhance participation and retention, ultimately creating a more effective and enjoyable learning experience.
Strand: Adult Basic Education (ABE), High School Equivalency (HSE) / GED
Bio: Dr. Shineth Cunanan Gonzales is an accomplished educator with over 26 years of experience in school leadership and teaching, dedicated to fostering academic excellence and inspiring the next generation of learners.
Session F: 11:00-11:45 AM
Presenter: Hassaan Idrees, Denver Islamic Society
Title: “Teaching Math“
Description: This presentation will equip tutors and teachers with effective strategies for high school and college students. It will cover teaching objectives, proven methodologies, ways to connect with students, and the importance of incorporating student feedback. The goal is to enhance mathematical understanding and foster a positive learning environment.
Strand: Math / Numeracy, Program Administration
Bio: An electrical engineer with bachelor’s and master’s degrees, volunteering with Denver Islamic Society and Colorado Association of Black Professional Engineers and Scientists helping high school and college level math students.
Session G: 12:00-12:45 PM
Presenter: Aziz Vahobov, Consultant
Title: “Engaging Adult Learners“
Description: Objective 1: To reimagine the “Tell, Show, and Let Them Do” approach as a powerful tool for transforming adult learning experiences.
Objective 2: To explore a participatory-based teaching framework for determining effective levels of learner participation, fostering inclusivity, and creating dynamic and motivating learning environments for adult students.
Strand: Multilevel Classes / Differentiation, Assessment
Bio: Aziz is an innovator and strategist who can successfully identify individuals’ and organizations’ challenges and develop strategies to address them. He is a dynamic educator and facilitator who creates engaging learning experiences and empowers individuals to reach their full potential. Aziz brings over 10 years of expertise in adult education and training development, using effective teaching approaches to keep adult learners engaged and motivated while creating an inclusive environment and fostering meaningful, transformative learning experiences. Aziz holds certifications in Effective Teaching Practice (ACUE), Assessing Learning in Welcoming and Inclusive Teaching (Colorado Community College System), and Training of Trainers (ToT).
Session H: 12:00-12:45 PM
Presenter: Val Ponce Nájera, Aliadxs LLC
Title: “All About Culture: The Importance of Cultural Relevance in Education“
Description: Culture is one of the main elements of our identity. It is the lens through which we understand, contextualize and respond to our environment. In this way, it informs the way we learn and our ability to acquire new knowledge. With this workshop, you will learn how to make cultural relevance a powerful ally to your teaching practice. We will learn what it means to create culturally relevant curriculums, the role of cultural relevance in learning and tips and tricks to integrate culture into our lessons.
Strand: English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Adult Basic Education (ABE), High School Equivalency (HSE) / GED, Refugee Adult Learners/SLIFE (Students with Interrupted Formal Education), Cultural Relevance and Diversity
Bio: Val Ponce Nájera is an LGBTIQ2S educator, inclusive language in Spanish expert and founder of Aliadxs LLC. Their work exists at the intersection of cultural relevance, language, and inclusivity education. They wish to support the inclusion of LGBTQ2S and Latinx communities through the power of education and language.
Session I: 12:00-12:45 PM
Presenter: Cara Messick, Independent Educator
Title: “AI tools for the multi-level classroom“
Description: This training will provide learners with background in AI technology and review AI instructional tools with a focus on evaluation of the benefits for use in the multi-level classroom.
Strand: Multilevel Classes / Differentiation
Bio: Cara has over 20 years of experience in learning and organizational development. She has also taught ESL and motivational interviewing.
Closing Session 12:45-1:00 PM
Join LCC Board Member and Training Coordinator Karin Bates for a short closing session to think on the key points learned in the sessions and to set intentions for classroom action.
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