Online Courses
Empowering Multilingual Learners with Adverse Childhood Experiences [Coming Soon!]
One of the most significant challenges facing students across the nation is the high prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Nearly half of all children and youth in the United States have encountered trauma, violence, or chronic stress due to abuse, neglect, or other household challenges. In addition to these alarming statistics, many multilingual learners and their families face unique disruptions, including living in war zones, experiencing persecution, undertaking perilous journeys to seek safety in the U.S., family separation, fear of deportation, and homelessness.
Despite extensive resources for counselors addressing trauma, there is a noticeable gap in materials designed specifically for educators working with multilingual learners who have experienced ACEs. This three-part interactive series will address this gap by presenting evidence-based strategies, tools, and examples of instructional and school-wide practices. The three sessions will focus on recognizing and leveraging the strengths and assets of these students and their families to foster a supportive and empowering educational environment.
Self-Paced Courses
Elevating Strengths: Supporting Multilingual Learners Facing Adversity [Coming Soon!]
This self-paced, asynchronous course equips educators with research-based insights, tools, and strategies drawn from Teaching to Strengths: Supporting Students Living with Trauma, Violence, and Chroic Stress by Zacarian et al. Through real-world examples, reflective exercises, and implementation planning, participants will learn to create strengths-based, responsive learning environments that promote safety, belonging, value, and competence—both in school and beyond.
Format: Asynchronous, self-paced. Total Duration: 10 hours (The PD Provider Registry of the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education approves this course).
Keynote Addresses and Professional Development Institutes
Dr. Zacarian’s keynote presentations and professional development experiences energize and inspire audiences to champion
multilingual learners. Whether at a conference, summit, or leadership retreat, her interactive sessions blend research-based
strategies, real-world insights, and practical tools. Participants leave motivated and equipped with concrete takeaways to lead
transformative change in their settings.
Sample of Topics
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Transforming Schools for Multilingual Learners
Explore inclusive, research-based policies and practices that help multilingual learners feel safe, valued, and academically empowered across all educational settings and instructional models. -
Teaching to Strengths: Supporting Students Facing Adversity
Learn a strengths-based, research-driven approach to supporting students affected by trauma, violence, and chronic stress while promoting resilience, equity, and engagement. -
Beyond Crises: Building Responsive School-Community Partnerships
Discover how to foster strengths-based school-family-community partnerships that move learning communities beyond crisis management toward sustainable, equitable transformation. -
Teaching to Empower: Cultivating Agency and Purpose
Gain evidence-based strategies to build student agency, confidence, and collaboration while advancing academic and social-emotional success in diverse, inclusive classrooms. -
The Power of Partnerships: Engaging Families and Communities
Explore practical approaches to creating responsive partnerships that strengthen student outcomes and foster equity in multilingual and diverse learning environments. -
Unleashing the Power of Academic Language
Learn a four-part, asset-based framework for building academic language and engaging families as partners in advancing multilingual learners’ success. -
Promoting Student Achievement with Research-Based Tools
Use strengths-based evaluation tools to equitably assess and support linguistically diverse learners, ensuring growth, access, and achievement.
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Technical Assistance & Activities
- Policy Analysis and Writing
- Strategic Planning
- Strengthening Instructional Practices (PreK-16)
- Leadership & Instructional Coaching
- Enhancing Family-School Engagement