NABE 2025: Inspiration, Innovation, and a Whole Lot of Advocacy!

What a week at NABE 2025! If you were in Atlanta, you know the energy was electric. If you missed it, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered!

From thought-provoking sessions to hallway conversations that sparked new ideas, this conference was all about empowering multilingual learners, elevating educators, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in bilingual education.

I had the incredible opportunity to present four sessions on AI & Literacy, Brain-Based Learning, Supporting Latina Leaders, and Empowering Reluctant Leaders. The engagement, passion, and real talk in every room were exactly why I love being part of this community.

And let’s talk about the keynote lineup!

• Retired Lt. Col. Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch reminded us of the power of leadership and cultural identity.
• Former Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director U.S. Department of Education, Montserrat Garibay broke down critical policy shifts.
• Bilingual Education Student Organization Panel (BESO) featured future educators who shared their perspectives on becoming bilingual teachers and the impact they hope to make in the field.
• Motivational Speaker, Trainer, & Researcher, Dr. Dorina Sackman-Ebuwa fired us up with her  “B.E.L.I.E.V.E.” message.
• Former U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Miguel Cardona made a surprise appearance, leaving us all inspired to  continue advocating at the highest levels and reminding us that, "Multilingualism is a Superpower" and that our work has only begun.

Another historic moment? The first-ever Multilingual Education Hall of Fame Induction! Where NABE honored twelve trailblazers in bilingual education including Jim Cummins, Stephen Krashen, and Margo Gottlieb—absolute legends in our field whose work have shaped the way we support multilingual learners today. Thank you, NABE, and SummitK12 for this momentous event.

The exhibit hall was packed with innovation, featuring game-changers like Summit K12, Vista Learning, ¡Wepa! Libros, AVID Center, WIDA, Center for Applied Linguistics, Imagine Learning, ELLevation, and so many more. And we can’t forget the emotional impact of the La Lucha film screening—it was a powerful reminder of the challenges bilingual students face and why we must keep fighting for equity.

But let’s be real—NABE isn’t just a conference. It’s a movement. It’s a place where ideas turn into action, and where we remind ourselves why we do this work.

And guess what? They’re doing it again next year in Chicago! NABE 2026 is set for February 9-13, with proposal submissions opening April 1 and Early Bird Registration launching May 1.

If NABE 2025 showed us anything, it’s that the work we do matters. So, let’s keep the conversation going! What was your biggest takeaway? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear them!