2025 Keynote Speakers
Dr. Raichle (Rai) Farrelly
University of Colorado Boulder
Mapping Knowledge and Language for a Change Agent Mindset
This plenary explores how TESOL educators can advocate for their learners by amplifying learners’ capacity to be change agents. By integrating social-emotional, inquiry-based, and experiential approaches, participants will discover strategies to foster curiosity, build knowledge, and inspire meaningful action—transforming English classrooms into spaces for equity, connection, and global impact.
Dr. Katie Welch
University of Texas at Arlington
From Fatigue to Flourishing: Supporting Teacher Well-Being in Tough Times
Sponsored by Cambridge University Press & Assessment
From zoom fatigue to compassion fatigue and from paperwork to politics, teaching these days can be downright exhausting! For those who teach immigrants and multilingual learners, the emotional demands on teachers can be even higher. In this session, we will unpack how teachers can prioritize their own social and emotional well-being so that they can bring their best selves to the classroom each week. We will talk about how sustainable self-care must go beyond bubble baths and breathing exercises and instead address the underlying issues that make teaching so challenging. Attendees will leave with several practical, concrete solutions for how teachers can prioritize their own social and emotional needs.
