#MIDTESOL24
September 27-28, 2024 | Council Bluffs, IA
Love, Language, and Literacy for ALL!
Invited Speakers
Amy Alice Chastain
Keynote Speaker
Amy Alice Chastain’s own teaching and learning ranges from France to China to the Middle East and covers the dominant cultures and languages in each as well with varying degrees of proficiency. Now the Executive Director of Global Ties Iowa, she served as an Associate Professor of Instruction in the University of Iowa’s Department of Linguistics and is proud to bring her diverse experience from her academic years here and abroad to her work with global exchange within Global Ties Iowa. Upon discovering this organization and the International Visitor Leadership Program, Amy knew she had found her people—her community—and could continue to maintain an international connection while living and working in eastern Iowa beyond teaching. Her driving vision is to make the benefits of global exchange inclusive of and accessible to everyone.
Don Vu
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Don Vu has been an elementary school teacher and principal for 25 years.
Don and his former school staff chartered a literacy campaign in 2013 to foster the love of reading in all students. In 2017, he received the Celebrate Literacy Award from the California Reading Association (CRA) for his outstanding leadership in literacy. In 2018, his school was one of five schools nationally to receive the Exemplary Reading Program Award from the International Literacy Association (ILA). In 2020, the school received the California Distinguished School Award for its work in closing the achievement gap for all kids. In 2022, Don received his second Celebrate Literacy Award from the California Reading Association for his literary contributions and advocacy in literacy.
He understands the challenges children face when learning a new language and culture, having fled Vietnam with his family in 1975. He also knows that reading can be transformative and life-changing. Don continues to spread the message that literacy can change the world through his work with state and national literacy organizations as well as his writing in publications such as Edutopia and Scholastic. He currently serves on the national advisory boards of Scholastic Book Fairs and the Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program. His book, Life, Literacy, and the Pursuit of Happiness (Scholastic), is a call to action for all educators who want to build a school culture of reading to empower all students– especially our immigrant and refugee children– as they pursue their American Dream.
Julia Cryne, Attorney
Julia Cryne is a bilingual attorney, specializing in the practice of Immigration law. Julia is a partner at the law firm of Carlson Blakeman LLP, located in Omaha, Nebraska. She has practiced as an attorney since 2010, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree.
Ann Mincks
Ann Mincks, the 2024 Iowa Teacher of the Year, is an English Language Learner (ELL) teacher at Hoover High School in Des Moines Public Schools, located in Des Moines, Iowa. She teaches various English classes for 9-12 grade students ranging from emerging to advanced language levels.
Mincks earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Education with a Minor in Spanish and an endorsement in English Language Learner instruction from Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Later, she earned her Master of Arts in Education with a Reading Endorsement and Literacy Specialist Endorsement from Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin. During her sixteen-years as an educator, Mincks has had various roles including professional learning community (PLC) leader, model classroom teacher, teacher mentor, curriculum developer, instructional coach and adjunct professor.
A lover of language and education, Mincks considers her most important job to support students with the language skills they need to navigate the forces that affect their lives. Her passion is working with both students and staff to support the language development of all learners and to improve literacy practices through evidence-based instruction. Seeing students grow inspires Mincks to continue to evolve in her teaching practice each year.
Shanna Opfer
Dr. Shanna Opfer has served at Concordia University, Nebraska since 2008, after spending six years teaching in grades 4-6 in public schools. She currently serves as an Associate Professor and Director of the Elementary Education Program. She is a graduate of Concordia University, Nebraska, with a B.S.Ed. in Elementary Education and Special Education as well as a M.A. in Elementary Administration. In 2020 she earned a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation from Walden University, studying the factors that influence the student-centered technology practices of elementary teachers. She is passionate about empowering educators with research-based instructional strategies, fostering a joyful enthusiasm for their vocation, and enhancing their skills in leveraging technology to elevate student learning outcomes.
Lee Perez
Lee Perez is a 9th-12th grade English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Omaha Benson High School in Omaha, Nebraska. Perez holds an Associate of Arts degree from Mid-Plains Community College, a Bachelor of Science degree in secondary education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Master of Science degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska. He holds two teaching endorsements in Nebraska: grades 7-12 social sciences and pre-K-12 ESL.
Perez has taught for 18 years in the diverse, urban Omaha Public Schools district. He started his career at Marrs Magnet Middle School teaching seventh-grade world studies for the dual language program. He then taught ESL at Alice Buffett Magnet Middle School and Omaha North High School. Currently, he teaches ESL at Omaha Benson High School. Additionally, Perez is an adjunct professor for Bellevue University in their Teacher Education Department.
Perez was featured in a professional development series through EdPuzzle, where he did five Professional Development videos on working with English Language Learners (ELLs.). Perez has received several recognitions for his work as a teacher. He was the recipient of the 2021 Award for Teaching Excellence through the Nebraska State Education Association and named a Cox Communications Education Hero for the Omaha area. In 2022, he was named the Nebraska Teacher of the Year. Perez was the first ESL teacher and person of color to receive this award in Nebraska’s history. He is also a member of the Commissioners of Education’s teacher advisory committee; the Hispanic/Chicano representative for the Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee; and a member of the National Education Association’s Teachers of Color cohort. In 2023, Perez received the national Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence award through the National Education Association (NEA) Foundation. He is the first person from Nebraska to receive this recognition.
Registration
Conference registration includes, but isn’t limited to, two full days of conference presentations, workshops and discussions, networking opportunities, access to the exhibitor hall, and continental breakfast and catered or buffet lunch on both Friday and Saturday.
Preferred rates are given the MIDTESOL members. For more information about MIDTESOL membership, go to the Membership page.
Early Bird Rate
Register by August 27, 2024
- Student & Paraprofessional Member: $139
- Student & Paraprofessionals Non-Member: $189
- Professional Member: $239
- Professional Non-Member: $299
Full Rate
Register after September 17, 2024
- Student & Paraprofessional Member: $359
- Student & Paraprofessionals Non-Member: $359
- Professional Member: $359
- Professional Non-Member: $359
Intermediate Rate
Register by September 17, 2024
- Student & Paraprofessional Member: $179
- Student & Paraprofessionals Non-Member: $229
- Professional Member: $279
- Professional Non-Member: $339
No refunds after September 4, 2024.
Hotel & Tourism
Conference Hotel
Hilton Garden Inn Omaha East/Council Bluffs
2702 Mid America Drive, Council Bluffs, IA 51501
The MIDTESOL Conference rate at the Hilton Garden Inn is $135/night for a room with 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds. Free parking and WiFi are included. To reserve rooms at the discounted rate, click here. A limited quantity of rooms at this rate are being held through Tuesday, August 27, 2024, so book early.
Attractions
Escape for a little evening or post-conference fun!
Gold Exhibitors
Bronze Exhibitors
Exhibitors
