Join us for our next general meeting on Zoom.

AGENDA:

– Welcome and NCTA business
– Feature Presentation: Marifer Sager on Inclusive Language in K-12 Education
– Networking
– Closing

Inclusive Language in K-12 Education

Every day linguistically diverse students and their families experience stigma, discrimination, oppression, or isolation derived from the use of words, the assumptions made by educational staff, and the K-12 system. The failure to incorporate inclusive language undermines communications, limiting the readership, and undermining initiatives aimed at inclusivity. This session will explore how the K-12 system can implement inclusive language. We’ll be unpacking the concepts of gender and misgendering, ableism, and ageism. We’ll also explore when it’s adequate to implement strengths-based language, plain language, etc., and how it can increase a sense of belonging among linguistically diverse students.

About the Presenter

Marifer Sager is the director of strategic communications and public affairs for the Multnomah Education Service District in Portland, Oregon. She believes that language access and language justice are key components to racial equity and that the strategic use of language can reshape the narratives of traditionally marginalized groups and transform systems. She was recognized in 2022 by Education Week’s Leaders to Learn From district recognition program for K-12 education. In 2021 she received the Language Access Visionary Award from the National Association of Educational Translators and Interpreters of Spoken Languages. In 2023 she was shortlisted as Language Industry Person of the Year by Think Global Awards.

Please RSVP to receive the Zoom link. All registered participants will receive the Zoom link on Dec. 16 in the morning.