Newcomers are a distinct student group characterized by their recent arrival to schools in the United States. This group can include refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors, and migratory students. There is no shared definition of what a newcomer student is, which is just one of the challenges that school systems face in meeting their unique needs. Beyond definition and data uncertainty, the field does not always get the chance to hear from those who are doing the work to help newcomers thrive. This is why we are so proud to take part in launching the California Newcomer Education & Wellbeing Webinar series.
Join expert practitioners and researchers for rich conversations and knowledge sharing on emerging best practices and resources for supporting newcomer education. The webinars are a project of the California Newcomer Education and Wellbeing Program, an ongoing initiative administered by the the California Department of Social Services in collaboration with the California Department of Education. Californians Together is engaged in webinar planning and technical assistance. Can’t make one of these sessions? Worry not–each webinar will be recorded and hosted on the California Newcomer Network website.
On this Zoom registration page, please fill out your basic contact information and check the boxes for each webinar you would like to register for. Invitations will be sent out on a weekly basis.
View the schedule below and explore these links to learn more about our expert panelists and the important work they are doing to meet the health, wellbeing, and academic needs of newcomer students. Presentations will be facilitated by Californians Together Director of Newcomer Policy and Practice Sam Finn.
Instructional Paradigms & Strategies for Newcomers
November 2nd, 2023, 3:30-4:30 PST
Newcomer pedagogy experts share their approaches to creating a responsive classroom environment, supporting the earliest stages of literacy and oracy, and leveraging technology to enable student language access.
- Helaine W. Marshall, Founder and Director, Mutually Adaptive Learning Paradigm
- Annie Smith, Co-Founder and Director, The SIFE Equity Project
- Efraín Tovar, Founder and Director, California Newcomer Network
Community Collaboration & Social Services for Newcomers.
December 7th, 2023, 3:30-4:30 PST
Social sector leaders share strategies for districts to collaborate with community-based organizations to support newcomer students.
- Jane Pak, Co-Executive Director, Refugee & Immigrant Transitions
- Reba Meigs, Senior Project Officer, Center for Community Health, Refugee Health Unit, UC San Diego
- Kristina McKibben, Executive Director, Community Justice Alliance
Newcomer Organizations Leading the Way
January 11th, 2024, 3:30-4:30 PST
Leaders from two newcomer education nonprofits share and discuss their models for creating schools where newcomers students can thrive.
- Lara Evangelista, Executive Director, Internationals Network
- Linda Le, Director of Bay Area School Supports, Internationals Network
- Leigh Anne Littlefield, Senior Program Director, Fugees Family
- Elisa Beth Brown, Director of Instructional Programs, Bowling Green Independent School District
Writing & Research on Newcomer Education
March 7th, 2024, 3:30-4:30 PST
Leading researchers discuss recent work exploring the school climate that newcomers experience, best practices in newcomer education, and the history of newcomer education in the United States.
- Carola Suarez-Orozco, Professor in Residence, The Immigration Initiative at Harvard
- Monisha Bajaj, Professor of International and Multicultural Education, University of San Francisco, Humanizing Education for Immigrant & Refugee Youth
- Jessica Lander, Teacher and Author, Making Americans
Past Webinars
Resources & Lessons for Districts Serving Newcomers
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