Core EL Network

Description: Membership to the CESA 2 EL Network/Title III Consortium includes enrollment in one of our EL Network options: In-Person or Virtual. While In-person and virtual offering are held on the same day so that members can switch how they participate if needed, the EL Network will not be offered as a hybrid meeting. Methods for networking, presenting, and resource sharing will be customized to maximize the members’ user experience to the medium: in-person at CESA 2 or online.

This is registration pricing for non-members of the Title III Consortium. Consortium members who have not already done so should fill out this form to register for our Language & Culture Networks.

Cost: $695

Presenters: Dr. Brook Goralski-Cumbajin, Gretchen Lettau, Audrey Lesondak, Dr. Robin Rivas, Fran Veguilla, Dr. Ruslana Westerlund

About the Presenters: 

Brook Goralski-Cumbajin, Ph.D. is a Title III, Language Acquisition, and Culture Consultant at CESA 2. For more than 20 years she worked as an educator, instructional coach, program coordinator, and curriculum developer serving Wisconsin’s linguistically and culturally diverse students and families. Brook is a certified PreK-12 ESL and Spanish teacher, Principal, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. She earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction and Second Language Acquisition at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and approaches consultation and collaboration via a growth mindset. She strives to foster the development of positive, reflective, and sustainable communities of practice that are committed to working towards social justice by connecting theory to practice and is driven by her passion for serving first-generation, low-income, and immigrant students and families.

Gretchen Lettau is a consultant in the Language and Culture Center of Excellence supporting the areas of Language Acquisition, English Learners, and Dual Language Education. Gretchen has worked as a teacher and coordinator for 19 years with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. She comes to CESA 2 after working in the Menasha Joint School District as a high school history, ESL and Bilingual teacher, and coordinator for the EL and Bilingual Programs. Throughout her career, Gretchen has collaborated with school districts in the areas of best practices, EL Co-teaching methods, academic language development, literacy and language practices when implementing workshop models, program reviews, and professional learning. Gretchen has a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, and holds administrative licenses for the principalship and director of curriculum and instruction.

Audrey Lesondak enthusiastically rejoins CESA 2 as Senior Director in the Language and Culture Center of Excellence. Audrey served for eight years as a consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Her work focused on designing and implementing policy, guidance, and practices to support multilingual learners. Specific endeavors include co-creating the EL Policy Handbook, developing Wisconsin's ESEA Title III plan, administering the ACCESS for ELLs assessment and data systems, managing bilingual and EL formula and discretionary grant programs, and supporting the WIDA English language development standards initiatives. Audrey’s commitment is to create positive, just, and inclusive learning opportunities for multilingual learners and their families.

Robin Rivas is a Language Acquisition Consultant at the Language & Culture Center of Excellence. She has worked as a teacher and administrator for 34 years with culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Robin is a certified ESL teacher and administrator who is bilingual (Spanish/English). She did her undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee where she majored in education (ESL). Subsequently, she received a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction, with an emphasis on multicultural education from UWM. Robin has recently received her Ed.D in curriculum, instruction, and assessment from Walden University with a research focus on RTI and English Learners.

Fran Veguilla is a transformational leader, committed to equitable practices that help eliminate barriers for our more marginalized students and their families, so that they can fulfill their true potential. Fran has over 15 years of experience as a classroom teacher, bilingual/EL teacher, mentor, instructional coach, PLC facilitator, and advocate for change. Fran holds a Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Rockford University and an Educational Leadership degree from Edgewood College. She is a collaborative leader who envisions schools and programs where diversity, inclusivism, and culture are seen, valued and celebrated.

Ruslana Westerlund, Ed.D., is a Ukrainian-born educational consultant at CESA 2 specializing in using the WIDA Standards for equity through rigorous and culturally relevant teaching, providing access to disciplinary genres for all students, and designing equitable instructional practices for English Learners. She is driven by the vision to transform schools where all teachers are equipped with the knowledge to meet the needs of English Learners at both systems and classroom levels. Her unique area of expertise and research is writing in the disciplines through an apprenticeship pedagogy called the Teaching and Learning Cycle.

Cancellation Policy: Registered participants will receive a refund if they cancel prior to 3 working days before an event, minus any material costs that have already been incurred. Cancellations must either be made on MyQuickReg or by emailing cancel@cesa2.org. Because of our commitment to the presenter and the food vendor, participants who cancel less than 3 working days prior to the event or who do not attend the event, will be billed the full fee. CESA 2 reserves the right to cancel any event. Registered participants will be notified via phone and email if a cancellation occurs and will receive a full refund. 

Inclement Weather Policy: Every effort will be made to hold an event. CESA 2 will notify participants via email as soon as possible if an event has been cancelled due to weather conditions.

Disclaimer: CESA 2 will do its best to accommodate general dietary requests; if your dietary need is very specific or severe, you may want to bring your own lunch to ensure your comfort and health. CESA 2 does not assume liability for adverse reactions to food consumed or items one may come into contact with while eating at a CESA 2 event. If you have a dietary need or food allergy, please go into your MyQuickReg profile and update the special accommodations section. Notice of a special dietary need must be made 2 weeks in advance of the event.

By registering for an event with CESA 2, participants agree to grant to CESA 2 and its authorized representatives permission to record digital photos and/or video, of their participation. Participants further agree that any or all of the material photographed may be used, in any form, as part of any future publications, brochure, or other printed materials used to promote CESA 2, and further that such use shall be without payment of fees, royalties, special credit or other compensation. If you do not wish to have your photo or image used, please contact us at info@cesa2.org.

In-Person Events: Restrictions on our in-person events due to COVID-19 have been lifted. We will be responsive to what's happening within our communities, and guidelines from the CDC and local health agencies for future offerings and will update guidelines when necessary.