Webinars Webinars

Shannon Smith, MEd
Multilingual Learner Coach & Technical Assistance Specialist, SupportEd

Shannon is an ML Coach and Technical Assistance Specialist with SupportEd, specializing in professional learning and tailored consultations to support multilingual learners (MLs) and their educators. She has collaborated with districts across multiple states to develop ML Master Plans, improve SLIFE programming, and enhance newcomer student support through partnerships with state education agencies and organizations like AIR and Education Resource Strategies. With a background as an ESL teacher, instructional coach, and district leader, Shannon is passionate about equipping educators with the tools and strategies to help MLs meet grade-level content and language goals.

Allison Balter
Director of the Office of Language Acquisition, MA Dept. of Education

Allison is the Director of the Office of Language Acquisition at MA DESE where she oversees programming and policy for English learner and multilingual education, including dual language and bilingual education and the Seal of Biliteracy. Her team supports the implementation of the LOOK Act, which ended nearly two decades of English-only education in MA, by supporting districts to expand multilingual education through seed grants, technical assistance, bilingual leadership networks, and development of guidance and resources. This year she has overseen a comprehensive landscape analysis of bilingual education across the Commonwealth and participated as co-PI in the IES-funded study: Does Expansion of Bilingual Programming Support Equitable Access for Multilingual Learners?: An Examination of LOOK Act Implementation in Massachusetts.