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Welcome

The 2018 CATESOL Northern Regional Conference offers professional development to California ELL K-12 educators, adult-ed instructors, teacher trainers, administrators and a broad range of professionals that support English Language Education across the state. The conference theme builds of the fertile soil of the Santa Rosa region that offers a multitude of bounty to the state and beyond and has chosen "Planting the Seeds of Change" to reflect what the conference aims to achieve while honoring the region in which it is being held. The conference theme highlights that trough professional engagement and development we sow the seeds of our learning a professional and also that of our students.This year the Northern Regional Conference is focusing on K-12 educators through the plenary speakers, Dr. Yvonne Freeman and Dr. David Freeman, as well as through conference streams.

 

As Conference Chair, Kara Mac Donald, encourages a variety of instructors across foreign language teaching, not only English as a foreign language, to consider presenting and/or attending the conference. She also encourages teachers to join CATESOL and become involved in local chapter and state-wide events, as the pedagogical issues relevant to Californian English language learners are also relevant to teachers of other languages within the state.

Meet the Conference Committee

 

Kara Mac Donald is an Associate Professor, Faculty Development Trainer, at the Defense Language Institute. Her background consists of over twenty years in foreign language teaching and teacher training. She earned a Masters in Applied Linguistics, TESOL and a Doctorate in Applied Linguistics. 

Kara Mac Donald

Conference Chair

Ava Fruin, a Bay Area native and ELT professional, has years of teaching experience both locally and internationally in adult schools, community colleges, and IEPs. She works in edtech management and implementation, specifically in the ongoing training and professional development of teachers. She has been involved with CATESOL for six years as a conference attendee and presenter, has been on the Board of the CATESOL Bay Area Chapter for three years, and is thrilled to be serving for the second time as Co-Chair of the CATESOL Northern Regional Conference. 

Ava Fruin

Conference Co-Chair

Ondine Gage

Publisher Coordinator

I joined CATESOL in 1990, while a graduate student in Linguistics. As a new teacher, the CATESOL community introduced me to amazing colleagues, who were tackling the tough issues of that time, provided professional development to guide me in developing my craft, and mentored me into leadership roles. I then became active in the Saroyan Chapter, where I served as coordinator twice, held several committee roles on the 1997 Annual Conference in Fresno, and continued to contribute to the Chapter as others moved into leadership. After many years of teaching ESL as well as TESOL professional development, I returned to pursue a doctorate at U.C. Santa Cruz. During this time, I helped to revive the Steinbeck Chapter and again served as a Chapter Coordinator. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor of Education in the Department of Liberal Studies at CSU Monterey Bay, where I work with pre-service multiple subject teachers. I currently serve CATESOL in a new role, aiming to be the CATESOL community, which guides new teachers, tackles contemporary issues, and encourages a new generation into leadership.

Lian Partridge is a MA TESOL candidate at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies and the MIIS student representative to the CATESOL Steinbeck Chapter. She received her BA in English from Northeastern University with a double minor in Cinema Studies and Chinese Language & Culture. Lian hopes to teach in an English for Academic Purposes context following her completion of the MIIS MA TESOL program.

Lian Partridge

Food Committee

Dr. Navarrette García has been an educator for over 18 years, and she is currently in her fourth year of teaching English for multilingual learners at Santa Rosa Junior College. She also teaches in the TESOL Master's Degree program at the University of San Francisco, her alma mater. Dr. Navarrette García's passion for issues regarding social justice, equity in education, community building, and student support keep her motivated to continuously search for and refine ways to meet the needs of diverse students. 

Dr. Navarette Garcia

Program Co-Chair

Food Committee

Cindy Avenell

Publisher Coordinator

 I started teaching ESL in 1990 at adult schools in Berkeley, then in Santa Rosa.  After I completing my M.A. in teaching through School of International Training in Brattleboro, VT, I started as adjunct faculty at the Santa Rosa Junior College teaching in College Basic Skills and the ESL department.  I have taught at a variety of ESL levels from literacy to advanced, including mixed levels of vocational classes.  I've enjoyed meeting students from around the world and love the challenge of making class interactive and fun.  I enjoy music, movies and hiking.  

Jessica Pardoe is the chair of the ESL Department at Santa Rosa Junior College. Prior to beginning her dream job at SRJC six years ago, she taught reading and composition courses for multilingual students at San Diego State University, and EFL integrated skills classes for K-12 students in Seoul, South Korea. She has her BA in International Relations and her MA in TESOL/Applied Linguistics.

Jessica Pardoe

Sign Chair

Advertising and Outreach

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