WAFLT Professional Development Opportunities for Summer
2026 WAFLT Summer Institute
Growing Global Voices
Monday, August 3 – Wednesday, August 5, 2026
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Dreyfus University Center
1015 Reserve St
Stevens Point, WI 54481
Reunite and Reenergize through:
- New professional learning
- Networking and collaborative planning with colleagues
- Access to professional resources
- Planning how to connect language learning with student identities, interests, and the world beyond the classroom
Participants will learn how to incorporate reading and speaking strategies within the world language classroom. Participants will also develop ways to increase the advocacy of world language learning.
WAFLT Conference
Summer Institute Schedule
| Monday, August 3rd | ||
| 5pm | Housing Check-In Begins | |
| 7pm-8pm | Optional: Schmeeckle Reserve Hike | |
| Tuesday, August 4th | ||
| 8:30am-9am | Registration Open. Join Us for a Breakfast Pastry & Beverage | |
| 9am-12pm | Advocacy in World Language Programs Lydia Odegard (UW-Madison), Iva McLean (Racine Unified School District), Ana Banomera (Madison Country Day School), Hannah Brockman (Rosendale-Brandon School District) Participants will learn ways to advocate for and increase enrollment in world language programs. Time will be devoted at the end for collaboration to implement ideas in Fall. |
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| 12pm-1pm | Keynote Speaker: Kara Torkelson - WAFLT Teacher of the Year Wausau School District Southwest Lunch & Prize Giveaways |
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| 1pm-4pm | Beyond the Book: Conversations That Matter Hannah Brockman (Rosendal-Brandon School District) Participants will learn about reading guides that help students connect the topics of short novels designed for language learners to their personal life or interdisciplinary topics. |
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| 4pm-5:30pm | Optional: Seal of Biliteracy Introduction & Collaboration Tanya Morin (DPI) |
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| 6pm-9pm | Optional: Networking Event at Local Restaurant | |
| Wednesday, August 5th | ||
| 8:30am-9am | Registration Open. Join Us for a Breakfast Pastry & Beverage | |
| 9am-12pm | Creating Tasks to Increase Oral Communication in the World Language Classroom Iva McLean (Racine Unified School District) Participants will be shown examples of speaking integrated performance assessments and tasks that are used to maximize student language production and increase student success. By the end of the session, participants will use the backward design process to create or improve summative assessments and unit tasks. |
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| 12pm-1pm | Picnic Buffet for Lunch & Prize Giveaways | |
| 1pm-4pm | Guided work time |
To obtain the team rate or if you have conference related questions, please contact Iva McLean (wafltsi@waflt.org ).
Registration includes parking fees, a light breakfast and lunch each day.
Summer Institute Conference Rates
| WAFLT Member (membership $35/year) Full time students Retired Teachers | Non-Member | |
| One-day Conference | $150.00 | $200.00 |
| Two-day Conference | $175.00 | $225.00 |
| Team Rate is available for two-day attendance: If there are two or more members of the same district, each participant will receive a 30% reduction in the above costs. All teachers on your TEAM must be WAFLT members in order to qualify for the group discount. Contact Iva McLean, Summer Institute Chair, prior to registering so your team can be provided a special coupon code that entitles you to the district discount. | ||
| Event details will be sent to registered participants by Thursday, July 23. | ||
Lodging
On campus: $65 for two nights
The recommended lodging for the summer institute is on the UW Stevens Point campus. A flat fee of $65 includes one single room for two nights. If you choose this option, you will need to bring your own linens for bedding and showering. Check-in will begin at 5pm on Tuesday evening and check out will be on Wednesday by 4pm.
Please note that there must be a minimum of 20 participants in order to use this option so early registration is highly encouraged. Individuals choosing this option will be notified by Tuesday, July 14 if they need to seek other housing accommodations.
Hotel: $161 per night + tax
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Cobblestone Hotel and Suites and is available at a discounted rate of $161 before taxes per night until June 30, 2026. This hotel is located about a 5 minute drive away from the UW Stevens Point campus. Please contact them directly at 715-343-0522 and mention that you are with the group “WAFLT Conference Group” in order to obtain the discounted rate.
PAYMENT OPTIONS: After making your selections on the online registration form, you may choose to pay by:
~MC/Visa
~Mail-in check. Print registration receipt (generated online) and mail with check to: Cathy Stresing, WAFLT Treasurer, W134 N11277 Martin Dr., Germantown, WI 53022
~Late or on-site registration is available for an additional $10.00.
REFUND PROCEDURE: WAFLT Summer Institute refund requests must be made in writing by July 2, 2026, and sent to treasurer@waflt.org and wafltsi@waflt.org. A service charge of $35.00 is applied to all refunds unless the request is made within forty-eight hours of initial registration.