PODCAST · education
ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators
by Flashlight Learning
ML Chat explores everything to do with Multilingual student instruction. Do you oversee students that are learning English? ML Chat is the place to learn more and continue to refine your craft. In each episode co-hosts Mandi Morris and Andrew Brandt talk with experts, researchers, and district administrators to explore how to best serve our language learners.
Episodes
-
Putting Policy to Work with Dr. Megan Alubicki-Flick
Drawing on decades of experience from the classroom to research and state-level policy, Dr. Megan Alubicki-Flick shares what it takes to turn policy into action that supports multilingual learners. She explains why shared responsibility across systems, leaders, and educators is essential to...
-
The Lens Behind the Data with Dr. Doris Chavez-Linville
Dr. Doris Chavez-Linville challenges educators and leaders to question the framework they use to interpret data. Drawing on more than 25 years in EdTech and research on multilingual learner assessment, she explains why data should inform decisions, not make them. She encourages educators to...
-
Patrice Thompson: Making Room for Every Language
From her own journey as a language learner to teaching in South Korea, China, and Morocco, multilingual educator and consultant Patrice Thompson has seen firsthand how language policies shape students’ experiences. She shares how translanguaging can move classrooms beyond English-only practices,...
-
Dr. Simone Wilkinson: Leading Through Listening
Dr. Simone Wilkinson shares how her experience as a secondary administrator and current elementary principal has shaped a leadership approach grounded in listening. From student focus groups and family engagement to learning from staff, she emphasizes understanding a school community before...
-
Belonging Before Achievement with Dr. Marie Heath
Drawing from her own journey, Dr. Marie Heath explains why creating a sense of belonging helps multilingual learners thrive both academically and personally. She shares why acculturation and developing a bicultural identity are essential to student success. She also highlights how schools can…
more -
The Power of Teacher Agency with Sally Baer, NBCT
Sally Baer, NBCT, shares how teacher agency can transform professional growth by encouraging educators to take ownership of their learning. She explains why focusing on one area of genuine interest, rather than trying to improve everything at once, leads to more sustainable growth. Through...
-
Dr. Jennifer Lovellette: Seeing School Through Students' Eyes
Dr. Jennifer Lovellette shares how her district used student shadowing to better understand multilingual learners’ school experience. The process revealed that well-intentioned scaffolds often limited productive struggle and that students needed more opportunities for academic discourse. She also...
-
From Feedback to Curriculum with Dr. Lisa Auslander
Drawing on teacher feedback and classroom observations, Dr. Lisa Auslander shares how her team continually refines curriculum and resources for newcomers and SLIFE students. She explains why supporting implementation is just as important as developing materials, using coaching, office hours, and...
-
Language, Culture, & Community with Ndey Tida Kejera
Ndey Tida Kejera shares how growing up multilingual in Senegal and The Gambia shaped her belief that language, culture, and community are inseparable. Drawing from her experiences learning multiple languages and adapting to life in the United States, she explains why preserving home languages...
-
Dr. Carol Salva: Mindset, Motivation, & Student Potential
After struggling in school herself and entering education later in life, Dr. Carol Salva became passionate about helping multilingual learners recognize how smart they are. She shares how an asset-based mindset, intrinsic motivation, and “little wins” can build confidence and engagement…
more -
Turning Intention Into Impact for MLs with Carlene Thomas
Carlene Thomas, an educational consultant supporting districts nationwide, shares how to move from intention to impact by simplifying implementation and aligning systems. She emphasizes that lasting change is “simple, not easy,” requiring clear expectations, follow-through, and time. Through...
-
Dr. Dorina Sackman-Ebuwa: Supporting Neurodivergent MLs
Dr. Dorina Sackman-Ebuwa shares how to support neurodivergent, dually identified multilingual learners through empathy and research-based practices. She reframes diagnoses like autism and ADHD as tools for self-understanding, not limitations, and explores masking, emotional regulation, and...
-
Dr. Kate Seltzer: Translanguaging in Theory and Practice
Dr. Kate Seltzer, former South Bronx high school ELA teacher and co-author of The Translanguaging Classroom, introduces translanguaging as both a theory and practice. She explains how bilingual students use one integrated linguistic system, not separate languages, and how flexible language use...
-
Yip, Hunsberger & de Oliveira: Breaking Systemwide ELD Silos
In a district serving more than 156,000 students, including 30,000 multilingual learners speaking 162 languages, Daniel Yip, Michelle Hunsberger, and Dr. Luciana de Oliveira discuss shifting from a self-contained ELD model to shared responsibility for language development across content…
more -
Kate Morin: From Pullout to Integrated ELD
Curious what it takes to lead a districtwide shift from a pullout program to an in-class, integrated ELD model? Kate Morin, Director of Multilingual Education for Mount Vernon School District, shares how long-term planning, trust-building, and consistent support made the transition possible,...
-
Small Districts, Big Voices with Desiree Kiesel
Drawing from her work in small, rural districts, Desiree Kiesel explores how relationship-building, asset-based approaches, and adaptability play a key role in multilingual learner success. You’ll hear how smaller districts can move quickly to implement new strategies, like speech and debate, to...
-
Jeff Zwiers: Talk That Transforms Learning
What happens when student talk takes center stage? On the ML Chat Podcast, educator and Stanford researcher Jeff Zwiers discusses how academic discourse, teaching big ideas with flexibility, and student-centered oral language routines drive deeper thinking and engagement for multilingual…
more -
Supporting Newcomers & Educators with Christen Graham
President of Arkansas TESOL and Director of ESL, Christen Graham, shares how her district turned mission into action during a sudden influx of Afghan refugee students. She discusses building newcomer centers, engaging families through community partnerships, and equipping educators with practical...
-
Frameworks for Unified ML Instruction with Soledad and Vanina
Soledad and Vanina of Guilford County Schools join ML Chat to share how Pathway reading and writing strategies and the 3L’s Framework (Learning, Language, and Literacy) improve outcomes for multilingual learners. Their work coordinating PD, teacher onboarding, mentorship, and newcomer schools…
more -
Andrea Bitner: Resilience in Education
Today’s episode is like a pep talk from a friend! Author, speaker, and ELL specialist Andrea Bitner reminds educators to prioritize balance and self-care. Her newest book, When Niagara Falls, tells a story of resilience, a struggling student, and a teacher who never gives up. With over 24 years…
more -
Leading with Courage: Dr. Jobi Lawrence on the Power of Advocacy
As CEO of Kids Count and Read Too, Dr. Jobi Lawrence has spent 30 years advocating for English learners and at-risk students. In this ML Chat episode, she shares her journey from launching ESL programs in rural Iowa to shaping national multilingual education policy. She also highlights how...
-
Lynda Espinoza Idle: Empowering Multilingual Learners with Dual Needs
With nearly four decades in education, Lynda Espinoza Idle is a passionate advocate for all multilingual learners—especially those with dual needs. Today on the ML Chat Podcast, she shares how collaboration, tiered support systems, data, and family partnerships can transform outcomes. She also...
-
Beverly Kerr: Driving Equity and Success in ML Classrooms
With 26 years of experience, Beverly Kerr joins the ML Chat Podcast to share how Title I schools, among others, can create equitable and inclusive ML classrooms. She emphasizes the importance of building relationships and addressing the needs of dually identified and trauma-affected learners....
-
Honoring Language & Empowering Educators with Valentina Gonzalez
You’ll be inspired by this week’s ML Chat guest, Valentina Gonzalez. Her journey began as an immigrant and language learner, and she is now a 25-year veteran in multilingual education and co-author of Welcome to Teaching Multilingual Learners. An advocate for ML students and language-rich...
-
Dr. Merica Clinkenbeard: Maximizing Resources, Serving Every Learner
How do you serve multilingual learners across a large district using current resources? In this episode of the ML Chat Podcast, Dr. Merica Clinkenbeard, Director of ELD for Springfield Public Schools, Missouri, shares how she leverages collaboration, teacher leadership, and language-rich...
-
Maggie Churchill: Structure that Supports, Flexibility that Inspires
Join the ML Chat conversation with Maggie Churchill, veteran ESL Language Arts teacher and adjunct at William Paterson University. She shares how consistent routines and flexibility create stability for multilingual learners—especially those facing trauma, post-COVID challenges, and disrupted...
-
One District, 26 Languages: Building Literacy with Heather Benitez
Tune in to the ML Chat Podcast for practical strategies to create literacy-rich classrooms. Heather Benitez, ESL Coordinator and veteran teacher, shares how she fosters academic discourse and builds structured literacy routines across content areas. Serving a Texas district with 26 languages,...
-
Heather Nyseth: The Coach-Teacher Connection in ML Education
ELD coach and teacher Heather Nyseth brings a unique dual perspective to the ML Chat Podcast. She shares how coach-teacher relationship-building, professional development with teacher choice, and reflective practices have fueled growth across her district. Heather highlights the resilience of...
-
When Language & Literacy Meet with Floyd County Experts
Join our esteemed panel of educators as they reflect on their mission to integrate the science of reading into ESL instruction. Dr. Jennifer Pendergrass-Bennefield, Dr. Tabatha Tierce, Dr. David Chiesa, and Assistant Superintendent John Parker discuss Georgia’s dyslexia law and how ESL, special...
-
Dr. Marlowe Cross & Jon Auld: Multilingual Support in Secondary Education
In today’s MLChat, Dr. Marlowe Cross and Jon Auld from Metro Nashville Public Schools share their experiences supporting teachers and multilingual learners as EL coaches. Discover practical strategies for integrating English language development into secondary content classes for accelerated...
-
Co-teaching Models: Impacts on Multilingual Learners with Graham Litterst
If your goal is to offer multilingual students an inclusive and supportive environment, you won’t want to miss this episode of the ML Chat Podcast. EL Coordinator Graham Litters discusses the value of co-teaching models, sharing strategies to encourage student interaction, language usage, and...
-
Rewriting the Future with Martha Boisselle and Kristen Leathers
This episode of ML Chat is a love letter to multilingual learners and the teachers who fight for them. Mandi Morris sits down with Martha Boisselle and Kristen Leathers, whose work in Boston Public Schools is transforming what it means to teach English—not as a barrier, but as a bridge. It’s a...
-
Seeing Students, Changing Systems with Steve Gill & Marcelo Sousa
In this episode of ML Chat, Steve Gill and Marcelo Sousa engage in a powerful conversation about what it truly means to support multilingual learners. Drawing on their personal experiences and decades of work in schools, they discuss how empathy, mentorship, and listening to students' stories can...
-
The Multilingual Toolbox: Strategies That Speak Every Student’s Language with Dr. Sugely Solano
Join the ML-Chat Podcast as Dr. Suha Solano, a trailblazing leader for multilingual learners, shares her powerful journey from the Dominican Republic to Delaware’s Brandywine School District. With heart, humor, and hard-earned wisdom, she dives into the tools and strategies transforming…
more -
Dr. Ester De Jong: Building Strong Education from the Inside Out
Is curiosity the secret ingredient to success in education? This week’s ML Chat Podcast highlights Dr. Ester De Jong, a trailblazer in bilingual education. From beginning her career in the Netherlands to shaping ESL education in the U.S., Dr. De Jong shares why curiosity is key to a thriving...
-
Leslie Jones and Adriana Cernucan: Multilinguals are the Powerhouse of the Classroom
In this episode of the ML Chat Podcast, ML-specialist Adriana Cernucan and K-12 science coordinator Leslie Jones dish out how they’re supercharging language learning with content-based science classes. By blending language goals with science lessons, they’re helping students boost both writing…
more -
Jeanette Mercer: The Impact of Inclusivity
As the Director of Multilingual Instructional Support at Aldine ISD, Jeanette Mercer leads the charge in supporting over 57,000 students across 80 campuses. Jeanette joins the ML Chat Podcast and reveals the game-changing strategies behind her district’s success, and how teachers and students…
more -
Sarah Whitfield: Going with the Flow
On this episode of the ML Chat podcast, we dive into Sarah Whitfield’s rapidly changing world as a District ML Instructional Specialist for Cabarrus County Schools. As the ML population in North Carolina grows, Sarah and her district grow along with it, developing enrichment programs and…
more -
Lauren MacLean: Community Care and Collaboration
Educator Lauren MacLean has found a powerful community-based approach to teaching multilingual learners. In this week’s ML Chat podcast, Lauren shows us the importance of building meaningful connections with students and their families, playing to a student’s strengths, and how teachers can learn...
-
D-I-WHY: Creating Language-Rich Learning with Katie Toppel
Get schooled by our latest discussion with Dr. Kate Toppel, educator, organizer, and author of DIY PD: A Guide to Self-Directed Learning for Educators of Multilingual Learners. She shares strategies for successful co-teaching, balancing responsibilities with motherhood, and the power of K.I.S.S.…
more -
Erick Olivas: Kicking Down Barriers
Erick Olivas joins the ML Chat Podcast to share about his journey of immigrating to the U.S. with his family at age 2. Hear about his parents’ sacrifice, overcoming the language barrier, and how playing soccer kept his feet on the ground through it all.
-
Erick Casallas: Advancing Equity for English Learners
In this ML Chat Podcast episode, hosts Justin Hewett and Mandi Morris talk with Erick Casallas, Assistant Superintendent for English Learners in Clark County, Las Vegas. Erick shares his journey from school volunteer to district leader, offering insights on supporting English learners through…
more -
Jessica Payano: Strategies for Supporting Multilingual Learners in Content Classes
In this episode of the ML Chat Podcast, Justin Hewett and Mandi Morris chat with Jessica Payano, a former NYC science teacher and educational consultant. Jessica shares tips for integrating language learning into content classes, building schema, and activating prior knowledge. Learn high-impact,...
-
Meg Burke and Bethany Gale: Building Professional Learning Networks
In this ML Chat Podcast episode, hosts Justin Hewett and Mandy Morris welcome seasoned educators Meg Burke and Bethany Gale to discuss building impactful professional learning networks (PLNs). They share insights on creating effective PLNs, their WIDA conference presentation, and the power of...
-
Shawn Ford: Empowering Future TESOL Educators
In this episode of the ML Chat Podcast, hosts Justin Hewett and Mandi Morris dive into an inspiring talk with Shawn Ford, an educator from Kapi'olani Community College in Hawai'i. Shawn reveals his unexpected path into teaching and the game-changing Second Language Teaching Program that’s shaping...
-
Mary Castanuela: Balancing Heritage and Education
Don't miss this episode of the ML Chat Podcast, where Mary Castanuela, a first-generation Mexican American and Regional Testing Coordinator, shares her journey of balancing cultural heritage with educational success. Mary offers powerful insights on supporting bilingual students, fostering...
-
Navigating Education and Multilingual Learning with Fred Pleis
Join host Mandi Morris on the ML Chat Podcast as she interviews Fred Pleis, an instructional specialist for multilingual learners in Charleston County. Fred shares his journey from aspiring accountant to teacher, shaped by martial arts, and his work in multilingual education across Philadelphia,...
-
Mia Allen: Transforming Lives Through Language Education
In this ML Chat Podcast episode, hosts Justin Hewett and Mandi Morris talk with Mia Allen, a veteran educator with 25 years of experience serving language learners. Mia shares her journey as a teacher, coach, consultant, and WIDA certified trainer, discussing her work in dual language…
more -
A Journey Through Education with David Gomez
In this episode of the ML Chat Podcast, hosts Justin Hewett and Mandi Morris chat with Dave Gomez, Director of Educational Equity for Granite School District, about his 30-year career in education. He shares his journey from bilingual tutor to leadership roles, reflecting on his migrant…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
ML Chat explores everything to do with Multilingual student instruction. Do you oversee students that are learning English? ML Chat is the place to learn more and continue to refine your craft. In each episode co-hosts Mandi Morris and Andrew Brandt talk with experts, researchers, and district administrators to explore how to best serve our language learners.
HOSTED BY
Flashlight Learning
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators have?
ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators currently has 82 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators about?
ML Chat explores everything to do with Multilingual student instruction. Do you oversee students that are learning English? ML Chat is the place to learn more and continue to refine your craft. In each episode co-hosts Mandi Morris and Andrew Brandt talk with experts, researchers, and district...
How often does ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators release new episodes?
ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators has 82 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators?
You can listen to ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators?
ML Chat: Conversations with Multilingual Educators is created and hosted by Flashlight Learning.
URL copied to clipboard!