Calendar and Speakers - Annual Convention - 2025
PANAMA TESOL CONVENTION 2025
IN-PERSON EVENTS
July 4 at Quality Leadership University, 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Academic Sessions and Networking Event)
Time | Location |
2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Registration |
2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. | Room 301: Opening by Panama TESOL President – Zuleika Zapateiro |
3:00 p.m. to 3:45 | Room 301: Motivating and Engaging Students in the Four English Skills by Sandra Story Room 302: Student-Centered Learning Activities to Increase Student Engagement by Chelsea Olsen |
3:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. | Break |
4:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. | Room 301: Let Them Lead: Scaffolding Strategies to Foster Learner Agency by Ana Palencia Room 302: Designing Your AI Teaching Assistant: A Guide for ESL Educators by Daniel Chavez |
4:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Break |
5:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. | Room 301: Embracing Your Musical Identity in the English Language Learning Classroom by Graziela Camacho. Room 302: Using Formative Assessments to Foster Student Ownership of Learning by Kathleen Hamel |
5:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. | Room 301: Closing by Panama TESOL President Elect – Ricardo Acosta and Networking Event |
Friday, July 4, 2025
Motivating and Engaging Students in the Four English Skills by Sandra Story
English teachers worldwide strive to engage students through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. However, some students may be reluctant to participate fully. In this interactive workshop, explore how drama, drawing, and other techniques can ignite a passion for these skills. Be prepared to read, share, and actively participate as you learn strategies to motivate and captivate learners.
Sandra Story is the director of the Regional English Language Office at the U.S. Embassy in Peru. She holds master’s degrees in Special Education from Marymount University, TESOL/Bilingual Education from George Washington University, and Educational Administration from the University of Notre Dame. She completed the Project Zero Classroom Course at Harvard University and earned a Certificate in Technology and Education Integration from James Madison University. Sandra was a
teacher and principal in Washington, DC, and Virginia for more than 20 years. She has completed tours with the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C., and Bahrain (covering the Gulf countries), and is now serving in Peru, where she covers seven countries in the Andean region and the Southern Cone.
Session Type: Forum, including Q&As, Workshop / Demonstration
Focus: Higher education, High School, Middle school, Elementary School
Student-Centered Learning Activities to Increase Student Engagement by Chelsea Olsen
Engage with fellow teachers in an interactive session exploring student-centered activities to apply in your classroom! Immerse yourself in active learning strategies, such as gallery walks, learning stations, and jigsaws, and reflect on their application in your teaching context. Gain confidence in designing communicative activities and leave empowered with practical strategies to implement in your language classroom.
Chelsea Olsen is a passionate educator of multilingual learners with eleven years of teaching experience in higher education, community-based programs, virtual EFL programs in Colombia, China, and Egypt, and most recently in K-12 public
schools. Currently, she lives in Lima, Peru, and works with the Ministerio de Educación and Comisión Fulbright, developing curriculum and leading professional development workshops for teacher trainers of future English teachers as an
English Language Fellow. She was also a Virtual Educator with the U.S. Department of State’s English Language Programs in Bogotá, Colombia. She has experience in teacher training, designing workshops for educators on multilingual education, and is an experienced presenter at conferences, both in-person and virtually. She holds an M.Ed. in TESOL from Mthe University of Missouriand a B.A. in English and French from Michigan State University. Before arriving in Lima, Peru, she taught middle and high school math and language arts with Wisconsin Virtual Academy and supported teachers in Wisconsin by serving on the board of WITESOL.
Session Type: Workshop / Demonstration
Focus: Higher education, High School, Middle school
Let Them Lead: Scaffolding Strategies to Foster Learner Agency by Ana Palencia
How can we empower English Language Learners (ELLs) to take ownership of their learning? In this interactive session, participants will explore a range of scaffolding strategies designed to foster learner agency in the language classroom. Presenters will share classroom-tested practices used at the primary level, with an emphasis on how these strategies can be adapted for use across different age groups and contexts. Through small-group discussions and collaborative reflection, attendees will explore how to apply these approaches in their settings. The session will conclude with time to share practical ideas and gather a collection of strategies to support learner agency in their own teaching and learning contexts.
Ana Palencia is an experienced TESOL professional with over 30 years in English language education. She holds a B.A. in Modern Languages, an M.A. in Applied Linguistics, and a second M.A. in Educational Leadership. Ana has taught TESOL certificate and master’s degree programs at various universities and presented at TESOL affiliate conferences. She has also contributed to TESOL associations in Panama and Venezuela by serving on their boards and organizing professional development initiatives to strengthen English language teaching. Currently, Ana is the Primary EAL Coordinator at UWC South East Asia (UWCSEA), where she promotes inclusive, student-centered learning.
Session Type: Workshop / Demonstration
Focus: College-level, High school, Middle school,Elementary
Room 1 Room 2: Designing Your AI Teaching Assistant: A Guide for ESL Educators by Daniel Chavez
This presentation provides practical guidance for English teachers on utilizing ChatGPT and other free tools as effective teaching assistants. It will explain the theory behind how we interact with chatbots and provide tips on structuring queries to obtain reliable and valuable results. At the end of the session, participants will be guided in designing their virtual assistant.
Daniel Chavez is originally from Washington, D.C.. After completing his undergraduate studies at Brandeis University, he moved abroad, first as a US Fulbright scholarship recipient in Sweden, and then as an English teacher in Turkey, Mexico, and Ireland. He completed a master’s degree in English Language Teaching at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. He worked with asylum seekers in Ireland for two years before returning to the United States in 2020 to teach English as a Second Language (ESL). He was selected as
an English Language Fellow for the 2023-2024 academic year to teach in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, and is now in his second year of the fellowship, teaching at the Federal University of Santa Catarina in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina.
Session Type: Workshop / Demonstration
Focus: Higher education, High School, Middle school, Elementary School, Pre-K to K
Room 1: Embracing Your Musical Identity in the English Language Learning Classroom by Graziela Camacho
Linking musical identity traits to teaching style opens up creative ways to think about pedagogy. This workshop will explore how musical identity can influence an English Language Teacher’s classroom presence, materials, and instructional methods. The core focus is to demonstrate how teachers can authentically incorporate their musical backgrounds and preferences into effective language instruction, with musical recommendations for classroom use.
Ms. Camacho is a native of Los Angeles, California, and an English Language Fellow in Central America. She holds an MA in Teaching from the Franklin Institute at Universidad de Alcalá and in Interactive Content Development from California State University, East Bay. Her background includes a BA in Music and Graphic Design, as well as experience as a Music Therapist for individuals with developmental and neurodevelopmental disorders. Before transitioning to education in 2014, she was a Senior Web Project Manager and Web Design Corporate Trainer in Lake Forest, California. She now merges her expertise in new media and music with classroom practice to create dynamic, learner-centered instruction. She also plays the violin.
Session Type: Workshop / Demonstration
Focus: Higher education, High School, Middle school, Elementary School, Pre-K to K
Using Formative Assessments to Foster Student Ownership of Learning by Kathleen Hamel
How can formative assessments help students become more engaged and reflective learners? This session examines exit tickets, free writing, and peer feedback as tools for self-assessment and progress tracking. Attendees will explore research-backed methods, practical examples, and interactive activities that cultivate a student-centered learning environment.
Kathleen Hamel has been teaching English as a second/foreign language for over 10 years after receiving her Master’s in the subject from Colorado State University. Primarily, Kathleen has taught English at universities and in adult education settings, both in the United States and abroad. Last year, she taught English as a Second Language (ESL) in Osaka, Japan, to first-year university students preparing to study abroad in the United States and Canada. Currently, she works as an English Language Fellow at UFAM in Manaus, Brazil. In the classroom, she focuses on fostering cross-cultural communication while incorporating technology to enhance students’ intrinsic motivation.
Session Type: Talk / Lecture, Workshop / Demonstration
Focus: Higher education
July 5 at Marriott Hotel Albrook, 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Time | Location |
8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. | Registration |
8:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. | Opening by Panama TESOL President – Zuleika Zapateiro |
9:00 a.m. to 9:45 am | Empowering Families for a Bilingual Future: Inclusive Strategies for Schools and Communities by Jeremiah Tarbutton |
9:50 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. | Enhancing English Teaching and Learning through Graphic Organizers by Pearlie Lubin and Sara Vasquez |
10:40 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. | Exhibition Hall and Coffee Break |
11:05 a.m. to 11:50 pm | Improvisation Comedy in the Classroom: Play with a Purpose by Astrid Lange
|
11:50 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Exhibition Hall/ Lunch |
1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. | Seven Key Strategies for Teachers of English Learners by Laurah Jurca
|
2:20 p.m. to 3:05 p.m. | Can I talk about La Tajada de la Sandia? by Juan Ríos Vega |
3:10 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Exhibition Hall and Coffee Break |
3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. | Ways to Get Students Speaking Confidently by Johanna Baker-Raivo
|
4:20 p.m. to 5:05 p.m. | Creating Interactive, Language-Rich Online Activities With H5P To Empower Learners by Birdget Green
|
5:10 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Closing by Panama TESOL President Elect – Ricardo Acosta and Networking Event |
Empowering Families for a Bilingual Future: Inclusive Strategies for Schools and Communities by Jeremiah Tarbutton
Discover how a U.S. public middle school advanced bilingual education by transforming family engagement. Based on TESOL principles and real-world strategies, this session shares how educators created an inclusive, culturally responsive school recognized as “Family Friendly.” Attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen school-family partnerships and support English learners through community-based, student-centered initiatives.
Jeremiah (Jeremy) Tarbutton is an educator and English Language Fellow with experience in the U.S. and abroad. A former Secondary Science Teacher of the Year, he has taught,
trained educators, and led community-based projects across Latin America. Jeremy holds degrees from the University of Georgia and the University of Houston.
Session Type: Talk / Lecture, Workshop / Demonstration
Focus: Talk / Lecture, Workshop / Demonstration
Session 2: Enhancing English Teaching and Learning through Graphic Organizers by Pearlie Lubin and Sara Vasquez
This interactive workshop explores a variety of graphic organizers tailored for both younger and older learners. Participants will engage in hands-on activities to discover how different organizers—such as bubble maps, Venn diagrams, story maps, and T-charts—can be effectively used to improve all four skills. The session will provide practical strategies for adapting these tools to different proficiency levels. By the end of the workshop, educators will be able to utilize a variety of graphic organizers to enhance their English teaching and promote student success.
Dr. Pearlie Lubin is an English language educator with over 16 years of experience in the field. She has taught English language learners in Florida, Texas, and virtually in Costa Rica during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has worked with adult learners at colleges, a parent academy, and in a virtual high school English club. An active member of the TESOL community, she is a Past President of Texas TESOL Region 5. In all her work environments, she seeks to create a dynamic learning community and inspire others to achieve their goals. Her research interests include intercultural communication, ethnic identity, and culturally relevant teaching in the ESL classroom. She is currently an English Language Fellow with the U.S. Department of State in Costa Rica.
Sara is a retired administrator with over thirty years of experience in education. The first half of her career was spent teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to adults in various settings, including universities, community colleges, and adult education centers. She took a detour as an administrator in Special Education, working with students from preschool through college. During the second half of her career, she worked as an administrator in early childhood education, where she applied her skills to both young learners and adults. Upon retirement, she served in the Peace Corps as a Preschool Specialist in 2024, and currently serves as an English Language Fellow at the University of Panama.
Session Type: workshop/demonstration
Focus: Higher education, High School, Middle school, Elementary School
Improvisation Comedy in the Classroom: Play with a Purpose by Astrid Lange
Improvisation comedy principles applied in the classroom promote 21st-century skills. For second language or bilingual education, these techniques enable students to define themselves, discover commonalities, and build on their shared culture while accommodating varying levels of language fluency. Participants will learn and practice specific techniques to balance student agency and learning goals while extending language development. It is play with a purpose.
Astrid holds two master’s degrees from Texas A&M University: an M.S. in Educational Human Resource Development and an M.A. in Performance Studies. Her research for the latter created
a new scholarly body of knowledge in bilingual improvisation comedy techniques practiced worldwide. She created and performs in Houston’s only bilingual improvisation comedy troupe,
!No Me Digas!. She was a Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms in 2013 and an English Language Fellow in Rio de Janeiro in 2024 with the Universidade Federal Fluminense-Gragoatá. She is currently a 2025 English Language Fellow with Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. She is also a writer, performer, artist, and musician.
Session Type: Workshop/demonstration
Focus: Higher education, High School, Middle school, Elementary School
Seven Key Strategies for Teachers of English Learners by Laurah Jurca
Laurah Jurca is a dedicated and experienced educator specializing in English language development and instructional coaching. With 16 years of experience in K-12 ELD education, her last assignment was as an Elementary ELD Instructional Coach for Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland, where she led professional development, designed curriculum, and supported teachers in implementing effective strategies for multilingual learners. Prior to that, Laurah contributed to higher education and teaching assessment courses. Her passion for supporting teachers of English reaches beyond the US; Laurah has conducted teacher training on Content-Based English Instruction for public school teachers in Busan, South Korea. Laurah has presented at national and international conferences, including TESOL International, WIDA National Conference, and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Her work has also been featured in Educational Leadership Magazine. As a Google Certified Innovator and Trainer, she is enthusiastic about leveraging technology to enhance language learning.
Empower your EFL students with research-backed strategies that make language learning more accessible and engaging! In this session, we’ll explore seven key ELD strategies—visuals, sentence frames, learning by doing, direct vocabulary instruction, modified graphic organizers, collaborative conversations, and building background knowledge. You’ll leave with practical, ready-to-use techniques that enhance comprehension, communication, and confidence in the EFL classroom.
Session Type: Talk / Lecture
Focus: Higher education, High School, Middle school, Elementary School
Can I talk about La Tajada de la Sandía? by Juan Ríos Vega
Drawing from critical race theory, LatCrit theory, and global South epistemologies, the author uses autoethnography as a qualitative method to document his experience as a Fulbright scholar in Panama. In his presentation, the author shares how he introduced the use of a culturally responsive curriculum and funds of knowledge as part of his teaching repertoire to prepare pre-service high school English teachers in a local university. The attendees will be able to learn about the author’s journey as an instructor and researcher while navigating systemic and institutional challenges. Finally, the author will end his presentation with some recommendations.
Juan A. Ríos Vega is an Associate Professor in the Department of Education, Leadership, and Counseling at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. He earned his doctorate in Philosophy in Educational Studies, Cultural Studies Concentration from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (2014), Women’s and Gender Studies Certificate (2014). His research focuses on multilingual learners, critical race theory, queers of color epistemologies, and social justice education. In 2020, Dr. Ríos published High School Latinx Counternarratives: Experiences in School and Post-graduation. This book was selected as one of the 2021 Critics Choice Awards Books by the American Educational Studies Association (AESA).
Session Type:Worskshop /Demonstration
Focus:College-level high-school, Middle school, Elementary
Ways to Get Students Speaking Confidently by Johanna Baker-Raivo
The session will explore how to help students feel confident in speaking through structured student-to-student interaction strategies and how to use these strategies to promote the development of vocabulary, target grammar structures and as a springboard for writing.
Johanna Baker-Raivo is from Minneapolis, Minnesota. She received a bachelor’s in International and Environmental Studies, and Spanish from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. She has taught
English as a foreign language in Japan for a year and a half and English as a second language in the Minneapolis Public Schools for over 16 years. During this time, honed her skills in content-based instruction,
structured student-to-student interaction and curriculum design.
Session Type: Workshop / Demonstration
Focus: Higher education, High School, Middle school, Elementary School
Creating Interactive, Language-Rich Online Activities With H5P To Empower Learners by Birdget Green
This session showcases H5P, an open-source tool for creating interactive, reusable language learning content. Grounded in sociocultural theory and recent research, H5P promotes engagement, autonomy, and skill development. Participants will explore activity types, create tasks, and discuss effective classroom integration for flipped, online, or traditional settings.
Bridget Green has 35+ years’ experience teaching English in the US, Japan, Spain, the UAE, and elsewhere. She has master’s degrees in International Studies (University of Sheffield, UK) and in
TESOL (Gonzaga University, USA). She is currently an English Language Fellow working with Centro Colombo Americano Medellín, in Colombia.
Session Type: Workshop / Demonstration
Focus: All levels