EL Professional Learning
Athens State Regional Inservice Center
The ALSDE is building on the successful implementation of High-Quality Instruction and Assessment for English Learners (HQIA for ELs), with a strong focus on personalized strategies to accelerate EL academic achievement. Originating from an in-depth study across 22 schools, we are now scaling the HQIA program statewide in alignment with the Alabama Framework for English Learner Success.
In partnership with the Athens State University Regional Inservice Center, educators will receive specialized training on HQIA’s foundational components: Asset-Based Instruction, Student-Centered Engagement, Academic Discourse, Scaffolding, and Formative Assessment. Additionally, we offer a session on Differentiation, which serves as an introduction to HQIA.
Join us to elevate your instructional practices and boost student outcomes! Session details are listed below.
Description: Participants will learn a variety of activities to teach vocabulary and plan ways to engage learners in the use of all four language domains (listening, reading, writing, and speaking).
Date: February 24, 2025
Time: 8:30-10:00
Format: In Person
Location: Regional Inservice Center
1115 Hwy 31 S
Athens, AL 35611
Facilitator: Robin Stutts, Education Specialist, English Learners
Clock Hours: 1.5 Hours
Register HERE
Description: Participants will learn how to consider students’ zone of proximal development and select scaffolds appropriate to the level of support that students need to progress.
Date: February 24, 2024
Time: 10:30 - 12:00 noon
Format: In Person
Location: Regional Inservice Center
1115 Hwy 31 S
Athens, AL 35611
Facilitator: Robin Stutts, Regional EL Specialist
Clock Hours: 1.5 Hours
Register HERE
Description: Formative assessment provides teachers with real-time feedback necessary to adjust instruction to better meet the needs of learners. Participants will explore multiple forms of formative assessment activities to allow English learners to demonstrate their understanding and progress.
Date: February 24, 2025
Time: 1:00 am - 2:30 pm
Format: In Person
Location: Regional Inservice Center
1115 Hwy 31 S
Athens, AL 35611
Facilitator: Robin Stutts, Education Specialist, English Learners
Clock Hours: 1.5 Hours
Register HERE
This two-day professional learning opportunity is designed for educators responsible for supporting language development within content learning. Participants will gain practical strategies and resources to integrate the WIDA ELD Standards into instructional planning effectively.
Through engaging, hands-on sessions, educators will explore how the WIDA ELD Standards can enhance instructional planning by identifying and supporting the academic language students need to engage meaningfully in content learning.
This training consists of two five-hour sessions:
- Day 1: Introduction to the WIDA ELD Standards 2020 – Big Ideas
- Day 2: Deep Dive into the WIDA ELD Standards 2020
By the end of the training, participants will leave with a stronger understanding of the ELD Standards and how to apply them to foster language development and content learning in their classrooms.
Day 1: April 9, 2025
Time: 9:00-3:00
Format: In Person
Location: Athens State University
Classroom Building 412 Pryor Street East, Athens, AL 35611
Room 104
Day 2: April 10, 2025
Time: 9:00-3:00
Format: In Person
Location: Athens State University
Classroom Building 412 Pryor Street East, Athens, AL 35611
Room 106
Facilitators: Mayté Cotton, Stephanie Reynolds, Robin Stutts, Kelly Vaziri
ALSDE Education Specialists, English Learners
Clock Hours: 3.0 Hours
Register HERE
Robin Stutts
Robin is an Education Specialist for English Learners at the Alabama State Department of Education. With a career spanning over two decades, she began teaching in 1997 and has since gained extensive experience across multiple grade levels and educational settings. Her background includes teaching preschool and third grade, as well as nearly 20 years dedicated to K-12 ESL instruction. Robin holds a B.S. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education, an M.A. and Ed.S. in TESOL, and an Educational Administrator Certification.
Email: rstutts@alsde.edu