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About MATSOL

Equity & Excellence for English Learners

MATSOL is hiring!

MATSOL is hiring a Program & Member Engagement Coordinator to support MATSOL board members and volunteers in planning, organizing and facilitating engaging and informative activities and events for educators of English learners.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Coordinate development of activities that promote member development, networking, professional learning, and advocacy. Oversee MATSOL volunteer initiatives. Do outreach to MATSOL members to join and lead member groups and committees. Assist volunteers in innovating new activities; Work with board and staff to increase member engagement and volunteer opportunities.
  • Support leaders of MATSOL special interest groups. Provide training on MATSOL resources and policies. Assist members in planning in-person and online meetings and events including agenda planning, site logistics, registration, communications, technology use, and publicity. Facilitate meetings if needed.
  • Coordinate communication with members and the public about MATSOL’s activities, positions, and strategic priorities. Create and disseminate information and publicity through MATSOL communication channels including email, MATSOL publications, and social media.
  • Coordinate development of regular webinars, blog posts, and other content presented/created by members and experts.
  • Work collaboratively with the board and staff to plan and deliver programs. Contribute to developing strategic objectives, planning activities, and evaluating programs. Take the lead in coordinating innovative programs and events.
  • Contribute to annual conference planning and management, and work on-site at the conference. Coordinate volunteer opportunities related to the conference.
  • Attend MATSOL events, meetings, and conferences to oversee or assist with site logistics, facilitation, and other tasks.
  • Perform other tasks as needed to support programs and member engagement.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including written communication, in-person and online presentation/facilitation, and social media.
  • Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
  • Demonstrated event management skills.
  • Strong technical skills including MS Office Suite, Google Suite, WordPress, ZOOM, Survey Monkey, WordPress, and social media platforms. Ability to learn new systems including the MATSOL association management system (member database, website, and event registration).
  • Ability to travel within Massachusetts to MATSOL member meetings and events. Occasional overnight travel required. Ability to attend evening and weekend meetings and events (in-person and online).

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

  • Three to five years of experience leading and managing in a collaborative environment.
  • Experience successfully recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers.
  • Experience planning and facilitating meetings (in person and online), events, webinars and professional learning activities.

ADDITIONAL PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Experience working with teachers or in educational or nonprofit settings.
  • Understanding of and experience with English learner programs in PK-12, adult and university settings.
  • Bilingual in any language.

View full job listing and apply!

Biliteracy Pathway Awards

Massachusetts schools can create a road map for language learning with Biliteracy Pathway Awards!

The Language Opportunity Coalition (LOC) Biliteracy Pathway Awards are designed to encourage long-term language study by recognizing and rewarding language learning in elementary, middle and high school. The awards can be given in addition to the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy, an award for graduating high school seniors.

The pathway awards were originally developed during the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy Pilot, which operated from 2016-18 before passage of the LOOK Act. The LOC is continuing to support the awards and provide resources for implementation.

LOC Biliteracy Pathway Award levels:

  • LOC Biliteracy Participation Award (ACTFL Novice-High): For preschool and elementary school Students & students with disabilities (all grades).
  • LOC Biliteracy Attainment Award (ACTFL Intermediate-Low): For elementary & middle school students.
  • LOC Biliteracy Achievement Award (ACTFL Intermediate-Mid): For middle and high school students.

Find out more at SealOfBiliteracyMA.org

New Seal of Biliteracy website

The Language Opportunity Coalition has a launched a new website at www.SealOfBiliteracyMA.org with resources developed during the SoBL pilot project from 2014-18. The site includes:

  • Criteria and certificates for the Language Opportunity Coalition (LOC) Biliteracy Pathway Awards, a compliment to the State Seal of Biliteracy that can be awarded to students at lower grade and language proficiency levels. 
  • Links to criteria and regulations for the MA State Seal of Biliteracy on the DESE website: http://www.doe.mass.edu/ell/biliteracy/
  • Implementation resources that can be used for the state and/or LOC awards, including timelines, best practices and exemplars.

Visit the new site at www.SealofBiliteracyMA.org!

Call for Nominations Extended – MATSOL Board of Directors

logo-matsol_181007_400x192Deadline extended to April 1, 2019!

Show your commitment to MATSOL and help shape our future! MATSOL seeks competent, energetic, committed members to take a leadership role, work on behalf of the organization, and represent MATSOL members and stakeholders.

By serving on the Board of Directors, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Provide leadership for achieving MATSOL’s mission to promote equity and excellence for English Learners;
  • Help shape development of member activities, professional learning opportunities, and conferences;
  • Participate in advocacy at the local, state, and national level;
  • Encourage engaged and active MATSOL membership;
  • Build on our affiliate partnership with TESOL;
  • Ensure that MATSOL continues to operate as a healthy and vibrant non-profit organization.

In return, you will have the opportunity to expand your professional network, learn new skills, build your resume, and make a positive impact in our field.

Candidates may self-nominate or be nominated by a colleague. Deadline extended to April 1, 2019.

Find out more!

MATSOL Presentations at #TESOL19

We asked MATSOL members presenting at the 2019 TESOL Convention in Atlanta GA to share their presentation schedules. Congratulations to all MATSOL members presenting at TESOL!

  • Investigating Novice ESL Teachers’ Advocacy Beliefs and Practices, Stephanie Garrone-Shufran – Wednesday, March 13, 12:00
  • PMAERA at TESOL: Talking back: Preparing TESOL teachers well while working to transform educational policies with research-based responses, Ester De Jong, Guofang Li, Hayriye Kayi-Aydar, Laura Schall-Leckrone, Manka Varghese, Yasuko Kanno – Wednesday, March 13, 3:00 PM
  • Demystifying the Academic Publishing and Review Process (a panel of affiliate journal editors), Lubie Alatriste, Margi Wald, Mary Clark, Scott Douglas – Thursday, March 14, 3:00 PM
  • Being a Reflective Practitioner and Scholar in TESOL: Methodological Considerations, Judy Sharkey, Megan Madigan Peercy, Laura Schall-Leckrone, Ana Solano-Campos, Maggie Hawkins – Thursday, March 14, 4:00 PM
  • Building Knowledge: Scaffolding Informational Text for SLIFE, Nicoleta Filimon & Christi Cartwright – Thursday, March 14, 5:00 PM
  • Engage Your Long Term ELLs for Language Success, Stella Dubish and Nereida Cheney – Thursday, March 14, 5:00 PM
  • Academic Language: A Developmental and Contextual Perspective in B-MEIS & SLW intersection session, María Estela Brisk – Friday, March 15, 11:30 AM
  • Organizing a Successful and Sustainable State-Wide English Learner Leadership Group, Ann Feldman & Yvonne Endara – Friday, March 15, 1:00 PM
  • Fostering Communication during Service-Learning: Goals, Strategies, and Outcomes, Ilka Kostka and Lucy Bunning – Friday, March 15, 3:00 PM
  • Alliances with ELs: Goal setting as a tool for empowerment, Leah Richardson, Tracey Spence, Sara Hamerla – Saturday, March 16, 11:00 AM

Conference Networking Sessions – Call for Proposals

The MATSOL Conference Committee is seeking proposals from members to plan and facilitate networking sessions at the MATSOL 2019 Conference.

networking_session2019Networking sessions are informal facilitated sessions that provide opportunities for members to connect and share ideas with other members around areas of common interest. The sessions take place each day of the conference for 30 minutes after the lunch and keynote. A networking session may be repeated on two or three days, to allow conference participants to attend a different session on each day. Networking sessions may have more than one facilitator.

See the 2018 Networking Session list for topic ideas, but we welcome other topics and formats that encourage connection between members, discussion, and sharing.

Find out more!

Call for Nominations – 2019 Awards

MATSOL awards and grants recognize excellence, creativity, and innovation in our field. Awards are presented at the annual MATSOL conference.

Nominations and proposals are due Monday, March 25, 2019. View MATSOL Awards…

MATSOL Teacher of the Year

2018-toy-award-img_1444

2018 MATSOL Teacher of the Year Nicoleta Filimon with President Vula Roumis

The MATSOL Teacher of the Year Award was established to recognize excellence in the education of English language learners.

  • Successful teaching of English language learners as shown through evidence of best instructional practices and incorporation of students’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds within the classroom.
  • Long-term commitment to the education of ELLs.
  • Leadership roles at the school, district, and/or state level on behalf of English language learners.
  • Mentoring and supporting of new teachers to the field through both informal and formal induction programs.
  • Strong relationships with the community and (for K-12) parents of ELLs.

The Anne Dow Award for Excellence and Creativity

The Anne Dow Award for Excellence and Creativity is given annually to a professional who has made outstanding efforts that reflect enthusiasm and creative, energetic, independent thinking. This professional displays the ability to take risks, solve problems, support colleagues, and model ethical behavior. Specific criteria vary from year to year, to reflect the many facets of Anne’s career and interests. The 2019 award will be granted for culturally and linguistically responsive teaching. The award includes a $1,000 honorarium

Linda Schulman Innovation Grant

The Linda Schulman Innovation Fund welcomes proposals for projects that promote English language learning and embody a spirit of creativity, sensitivity and community. We give grants of approximately $500 – $1,000 for pedagogical plans that benefit English language learners by improving their language competency or increasing their understanding of American culture.

New Course! Expeditions in Collaborative Practice: The Collaboration Tool and Multilingual Learners

This new course Expeditions in Collaborative Practice: The Collaboration Tool and Multilingual Learners draws on the deep and practical knowledge and experience of educators of multilingual learners across our Massachusetts school districts, and the emerging body of research and evidence-based collaborative practices that undergird high-quality, coherent and connected curriculum, instruction and assessment of multilingual learners. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is generously sponsoring 4 different opportunities to take the course this Spring! See the registration flyer!

Cost: Free!

DESE will sponsor the participation of each registered team.

DESCRIPTION

This course provides active engagement and exploration of two important aspects of teaching multilingual learners. First, for language and content teacher teams who participate, the course builds competency around collaborative pedagogical practices and tools that create shared knowledge of students, and coherent curriculum (written and taught) across or within classrooms, given different teachers may provide different components or hold different teaching roles for students who are multilingual learners. Second, the course provides participants with more in-depth knowledge of both academic language development and integration of language and content standards, for purposes of strengthening and sustaining curriculum, instruction and assessment of multilingual learners and creating coherence across classrooms. The course is set up as a series of collaborative expeditions (in class, in your school and online) using the evidence-based Collaboration Tool as a central guide. These expeditions draw on your knowledge and current classroom contexts, build collaborative experiences of your team, leverage and expand your language and content knowledge, and strengthen your shared responsibility for the educational progress and success of multilingual learners in their grade or schools. See the registration link for more information and all course dates.