WIABE TV

In this inspiring episode of WIABE TV powered by Summit K12, we sit down with Dr. Jessie Rodriguez live from the 2025 WIABE Conference. Dr. Rodriguez shares his remarkable journey from arriving in Wisconsin as an English learner in middle school to becoming a superintendent, highlighting the power of resilience, community, and bilingual education. He reflects on the conference’s role in uniting educators, celebrating excellence, and advocating for opportunities for all students.

In this episode of WIABE TV powered by Summit K12, host Andrea Cano sits down with Milwaukee teacher Noelia Enriquez to discuss her impactful WIABE Conference session on improving bilingual literacy in secondary education. Noelia shares practical, research-based strategies for vocabulary development, close reading, and creating a vibrant reading culture—both in the classroom and at home. She also highlights ways to involve families through creative literacy events and the power of celebrating multilingualism.

In this episode of WIABE TV powered by Summit K12, host Andrea Cano talks with Audrey Lysandrech, Senior Director of the Language and Culture Center at CESA 2. Audrey shares how her team supports multilingual learners through coaching, workshops, and the LIFT framework, helping educators create culturally responsive classrooms and celebrate the power of language for all students.

In this episode of WIABE TV powered by Summit K12 interviews Olivia Hernandez, we explore the vital role of affiliate groups in strengthening state and national bilingual education organizations. Our guest shares insights from Texas and NABE on how regional affiliates honor local contexts, foster diversity, and drive growth, offering practical steps for starting and sustaining new groups. The conversation highlights the importance of unity, collaboration, and representation to better serve all students.

In this episode of WIABE TV powered by Summit K12, Yaribel Rodriguez shares her journey from growing up in Milwaukee’s bilingual programs to leading efforts that support school leaders across Wisconsin. She discusses the state of bilingual education, staffing challenges in rural and urban districts, and practical strategies schools can implement with the resources they have. Yaribel also highlights the value of conferences like WIABE for networking, refreshing best practices, and reigniting educators’ passion.

In this special episode of WIABE TV powered by Summit K12, Ricardo Santiago interviews Dr. Tony Baez, a veteran advocate and witness to the events leading up to Lau v. Nichols. Dr. Baez shares rich historical context—from Mendez v. Westminster to Aspira—and the community activism, legal battles, and cultural movements that shaped bilingual education policy. He reflects on the lessons of the past and offers a visionary call for the next 50 years: reimagining education so language learning is central, every student learns more than one language, and schools empower curiosity over assimilation.

In this episode of WIABE TV powered by Summit K12, host Andrea Cano speaks with Bob Peterson, recipient of the 2025 WIABE Lifetime Achievement Award. Bob reflects on his decades as a teacher, union leader, and educational activist, sharing how he fostered critical thinking in the classroom through creative projects and social justice curriculum. He also discusses the importance of bilingual education, the role of WIABE in defending it, and why teachers should connect, learn, and be inspired at conferences like this one.

WIABE 2025 President, Lori Manning, reflects on expanding bilingual education across Wisconsin, highlighting new district participation, regional collaborations, and the annual conference’s role in uniting educators, families, and communities to advance multilingual learner success.

WIDA shares its free Marco ALE framework, a Spanish language arts resource developed in collaboration with Latin American education departments.