Spring Conference Registration and More!

We are so excited to announce that registration is open for the 2026 NJTESOL/NJBE Spring Conference. Our theme this year is Unlock Your Potential: BE Multilingual. We hope you can join us as we celebrate 50 years since NJBE joined NJTESOL!

Our 2026 conference has two components to choose from: an In-Person Conference or Video Library Conference

The In-Person Conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in New Brunswick on May 19, 20 & 21. You can register for one, two or all three days. We have three fantastic keynotes scheduled to present at the conference: Dr. Elsa Cárdenas-Hagan, Dr. Sharroky Hollie, and Dr. Margarita Machado-Casas. You can choose from many presentations approved for the continuing education requirement. Come and network with colleagues and obtain the latest information on state and national initiatives. You will have the opportunity to meet with the representatives at our Sponsors & Exhibitors booths to find the latest and greatest teaching tools. You can earn 6 professional development hours each day of the conference.

The Video Library Conference is a select collection of presentations you will have access to view starting on May 27 using our conference platform. There is no set schedule, and you will be able to view the workshops from May 27 to August 20. By using your unique login, your hours will be tracked so that you can earn PD hours through August 20. Please note that the select collection of presentations will not include the keynotes or special invited guest speakers.

For both conference formats, presentation topics will include: Advocacy, Social Justice, & Policy; Supporting Newcomers, SLIFEs & Refugees; Family and Community Engagement; Dual Identified/Special Populations; Early Learning and Family Practices; Social Emotional Learning; Content-Integrated Approaches; Reading, Writing, Listening & Speaking; Technology; Language Assessment; Program Administration & Evaluation

Register early for a discounted rate. Registration includes one free year of membership.

Visit https://njtesol-njbe.org/spring-conference/ for more information and to register.
For other conference questions, email Caia Schlessinger, Conference Coordinator, at conference-coordinator@njtesol-njbe.org.

Announcements

The Burlington County Chapter will have a virtual meeting on Wednesday, October 29th at 4:00. We will be discussing Professional Development at NJTESOL/NJBE & NJEA, NJ, school district Advocacy for MLs, and making professional connections. Register on Eventbrite. School websites often reject Eventbrite emails, so please use a personal email address and check to ensure you receive an email confirmation when you sign up.

Your Voice for Weekly Voices – Lessons and activities Thanksgiving and other holidays
Do you have a lesson plan and/or activity for Thanksgiving or other holidays that you like to do with your MLs? Here is an opportunity to share it with other teachers through Weekly Voices.
We will need a brief description of the activity in 100-600 words with links to whatever resources you use: websites, shared Google docs, or files.Not acceptable are items you are selling or materials that are copyrighted. Shareable materials that require attribution are fine. Please include the link or links for these.Yes, you can share more than one activity.

Thanksgiving lessons and activities will be published in the November 18th issue and other holidays in December in time for other teachers to use them. Please submit your lessons and activities here at least three weeks before the holiday. Of course, you can share other ideas as well. Questions? Email Marilyn at tech1@njtesol-njbe.org

Bergen County Chapter – Join us virtually on Thursday, November 13 @ 4:30 for High School to College Pathways presented by Leah Carmona of Bergen Community College. She will discuss the survey NJTESOL/NJBE is using to gather information about pathways to higher Education for high school students and college readiness programs for ESL high school students. The survey aims to learn ways to improve communication between institutions and foster partnerships that will help ESL high school students succeed in their academic life and the workforce.
Register here and the email link with the Zoom information will be sent to you the day of the meeting. School email addresses tend to reject Eventbrite emails, so please use a personal email address and check to make sure you get an email confirming registration.

More about the Conference

When you visit the Spring Conference page, you will be able to find more helpful information and details about the conference.

First, don’t miss the blast from the past in the photo galleries from previous conferences. If you submitted a picture in any of our photo caption contests in 2023, 2024, or 2025, yours might be there!

If you need a letter to justify your attendance, there is one that you can download and customize for your situation.

If you have a successful lesson or strategy, you can share that with other teachers by presenting a workshop or, if it only requires a few minutes to explain, a poster session. Both options are on the 2026 Call for Presentation Proposals. (Due November 9, 2025) You will be notified around the middle of December if your proposal is accepted. Presenters receive a discount on the registration fee..

For an exciting evening celebrating students’ and teachers’ accomplishments, join us for the President’s Award Reception, Wednesday, May 20th at 6:00 PM. The applications for the awards and scholarships will open in January.

If your district is looking for teachers, there may be an opportunity for them to have a booth on Thursday, May 21st.

You will be able to find more about our keynote speakers, and once they are confirmed, the invited speakers for each day.

You can also preview the list of sponsors that will have booths with reps to talk to and materials for you to examine.

Below the sponsors are links to follow NJTESOL/NJBE on social media.

Besides all of this, there are links at the bottom of the page for:

Know Before You Go
2026 T-Shirt Sale – coming in the spring
NJTESOL_NJBE Travel Waiver 2026
Hyatt Overnight Reservations
Scholarship Donations
Directions to the Hyatt and Parking Information
2025 Spring Conference Booklet
Reserve a room at the hotel

Here’s the link to everything!

2025 Spring Conference Platinum Sponsor

What is Academic Language?
and
Strategies for Teaching Academic Language to ELLs

Spring Conference Registration and More!

Announcements

More about the Conference

Articles