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Posted: 1/16/20

TAMIU Hosts “Unidos Para Texas” Conference on Bilingual, Multilingual Student Education Saturday, Jan. 18

 

Dr. James O'Meara
Dr. James O'Meara  

Over 300 educators from United Independent School District (UISD) and Laredo Independent School District (LISD) will convene at Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) Saturday, Jan. 18, from 8:30 a.m.- 3 p.m. for a conference focused on bilingual education and biliteracy.

Hosted by the TAMIU College of Education, the conference is titled, "Unidos Para Texas." The event aims to promote advocacy for educational equity and academic excellence for bilingual and multilingual students in a global society and to improve instructional practices for linguistically and culturally diverse children.

Dr. James O'Meara,TAMIU College of Education dean, said the Conference's goal is to provide bilingual educators with high-quality professional development opportunities to meet the needs of bilingual and multilingual learners.

"We know that teachers have the greatest impact on student achievement," Dr. O'Meara said, "Unidos Para Texas is our flagship event for the educators of South Texas as part of The Texas A&M University System's 'We Teach Texas' initiative. The TAMIU Bilingual conference has attracted teachers from the local school districts who are committed to closing student achievement gaps in their schools."

"We Teach Texas" is The Texas A&M University System's state-wide campaign focused on encouraging teaching careers. TAMIU and the 11 universities of the A&M System produce more fully certified teachers than any other university system in Texas.

The event's keynote speaker is Dr. Josefina Villamil-Tinajero, professor of Bilingual Education at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP). She will present on "Closing the Achievement Gap for English Learners through Evidence-Based Instructional Programs and Practices." Her presentation will be from 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. in the Student Center Ballroom.

Also, Pamela Wallace, a TAMIU student majoring in Education, and Dr. Puneet Gill, TAMIU assistant professor of Curriculum and Instruction, will lead a session titled, "Culturally Relevant Language Strategies for Discrepant Event in Science and Math." The session will be from 9:45-10:35 a.m. in Bob Bullock Hall, room 104.

A total of four sessions are scheduled throughout the day. Other session titles also include "Instructional Strategies for K-12 Mainstream teachers," "South Texas Rural Schools' Math and Science Lessons' Study," Critical Components to Building Comprehension and Creating Meaning in Content Literacy," and "Closing the Gap through Implementation of Bi-Literacy and Cultural Efficiency Development Strategies with Technology."

The full event schedule is located here: https://www.tamiu.edu/coedu/unidos/schedule.shtml

For more information, please contact O'Meara at 956.326.2680, email james.omeara@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 429A.

University office hours are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

TAMIU offices and the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library will close Monday, Jan. 20 in a State-authorized observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Registration for TAMIU Spring Semester 2020 classes continues online through Monday, Jan. 27 via UConnect or on location. Classes begin Tuesday, January 21.

TAMIU offers over 90 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degree programs. A catalog containing a list of degree programs can be found at: http://catalog.tamiu.edu/appendix-b-degrees/

TAMIU is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and its 25th Anniversary at its north Laredo campus throughout 2019-2020. A dedicated website shares the University's transformation from a hybrid upper-level university to a full doctoral degree-granting University enrolling over 8,400 students with over 29,000 graduates worldwide. It includes a calendar of Anniversary events and more at tamiu.edu/50.

For more information, please contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu or visit offices located in the Sue and Radcliffe Killam Library, room 268.