Who We Are

About WIDA Licensed WORKSHOPS

Workshops are one- to two-day professional learning offerings that can be purchased by a school or district. A WCEPS facilitator will come to your school(s) or district and engage participants in relevant and research-based teaching and learning practices that support multilingual learners. Workshops can be structured together to create a long-term professional learning plan to align with your school or district goals. Now available in webinar format!

All workshops are:

Developed by WIDA and based on the WIDA Standards and Assessment System
Designed specifically for districts and schools
Focused on practical classroom applications

OUR Team

Ellen Parkhurst M.Ed.

Lead WIDA MODEL Trainer and Assessment Solutions Account Manager at WCEPS

Ellen Parkhurst has dedicated over 25 years to supporting educators and students. Her experience includes teaching Multilingual Language Learners (MLL) in Spain, North Carolina, and Maryland. At the Center for Applied Linguistics, she contributed to the development of the first iteration of ACCESS for ELLs. For many years, she served as an education consultant for WIDA and WCEPS, leading numerous professional development sessions on WIDA’s standards and assessments both domestically and internationally. Additionally, she has coached MLL and classroom teachers, and facilitated many professional learning communities, and online courses for educators.

Currently, Ellen is the Lead WIDA MODEL Trainer and Assessment Solutions Account Manager at WCEPS, providing training and support to international and domestic account holders.

Ellen holds an MA in Curriculum and Instruction from The George Washington University, a BA in English from Guilford College and a BA in Elementary Education from North Carolina Central University

Nora Delgado Burton

WIDA Español-Trained WCEPS Facilitator

Nora has been a Dual Language educator for the past 12 years and is now a Dual Language Instructional Coach and Teaching & Learning Administrator in North Chicago, IL. She holds a BA in Communication and Latino Studies, a MA in Elementary Education, a MA in Curriculum & Instruction with ESL/Bilingual endorsements, and is finalizing her dissertation for a PhD in Educational Leadership. Her research centers around building capacity, confidence, and community through leadership and coaching in Dual Language. She is passionate about elevating the voices of teachers and students to cultivate a love of learning, increase teacher retention, and improve learning outcomes for our multilingual students.

Laura Chávez-Dávalos

WIDA Español-Trained WCEPS Facilitator

With over 25 years of experience in both private and public education as an English, ELL and Bilingual instructor, Laura Chávez-Dávalos is currently the director of the Office of Learning Services at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago). In this role she oversees the provision of the college’s Bridge Program, academic strategies courses, peer tutoring, peer mentoring, academic coaching, study tables and disability services.
A former high school ELL department chair, she has taught all levels of high school ELL and team-taught content courses to multilingual learners at the high school level. At the college level, she has taught ELL Composition and Bilingual Methods to aspiring educators.
Chávez-Dávalos is a native of El Paso, Texas, who obtained a BA in English and MA in Curriculum and Instruction from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Cross-cultural and bilingual, Chávez-Dávalos is dedicated to removing barriers to student success at all levels.

Anne Dolan

English Language Development Facilitator

After her tenure as ESL, Bilingual Special Education teacher, Title Vll Administrator and ESL Specialist for the Boston Public Schools, Anne Dolan joined the Professional Learning Team of MATSOL: Massachusetts Educators of English Language Learners, to focus her experience and expertise on supporting teachers and leaders with their roles in instruction, curriculum, assessment and leadership related to ELLs. Anne designs and implements professional development initiatives that are tailored to district needs and also supports a range of educator collaboration groups in MATSOL, the annual conference, and strategic planning for professional development capacity.Anne is a highly skilled and sought after licensed WCEPS/WIDA Trainer. She is responsive to the multiple entry points in learning about English language learners, and to the different educator roles and needs. Anne is also part of WIDA’s Master Cadre of instructors supporting early childhood and PK teachers with Early ELD Standards for 2.5-5.5 year olds. Anne’s hallmark is modeling and engaging participants with effective strategies and practices for ELLS in her coursework. You can be confident that her WCEPS WIDA presentations will be thoughtfully and responsively designed with great pacing, time for reflection and practical application.

Gwyneth Dean-Fastnacht

English Language Development Facilitator

Gwyneth Dean-Fastnacht is an ELS Instructional Specialist with over twenty-five years of experience working with culturally and linguistically diverse students in the K-12 educational system in the United States and abroad, including South Dakota, Bolivia, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, and China. As an endorsed English as a New Language teacher (ENL), Gwyneth has had a varied career in education with language learners. She has held positions as a high school Newcomer Program ESL teacher, a multi-age/multi-grade EL classroom teacher, and a Professional Development Facilitator.

Gwyneth coordinates the SD State-Wide Title III & Migrant Consortia, working with districts across South Dakota including Native American schools, Hutterite Colony schools, and small rural schools with low incidence of ELs. Her work at the Consortia includes providing on-site and regional professional development, preparing in-service teachers for the ENL Endorsement, and serving on SD Department of Education committees that impact English Learner programs.

She has a B.A. in Child Development from South Dakota State University, a Master’s in Leadership & Administration in Education from Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD, and a Specialist in ESL Degree from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Gwyneth is a licensed WIDA facilitator.

Jacob Johnson

English Language Development Facilitator

Jacob Johnson is an educator with 18 years of experience in elementary education, including 13 years as a classroom teacher in third and fourth grades and 5 years as an ESOL teacher. He currently serves multilingual learners in Fort Mill, South Carolina, where he provides direct language support to students and collaborates with classroom teachers to support language development, academic access, and inclusive instructional practices.

Jacob earned his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Winthrop University and his Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction from Western Governors University. He holds South Carolina certifications in elementary education and ESOL, along with literacy teacher and literacy coach endorsements. He is also a trained mentor teacher and teacher evaluator and is currently completing LETRS professional learning.

As a consultant, Jacob brings a practical, collaborative, and classroom-centered approach to supporting educators. His experience as both a classroom teacher and an ESOL teacher shapes his commitment to helping teachers use clear, responsive strategies that strengthen instruction for multilingual learners and support success for all students.

Babatunji Ifarinu

English Language Development Facilitator

Babatunji Ifarinu has been working with a wide variety of students since 1997. He was formerly a sheltered social studies teacher in which he delivered instruction to immigrant and refugee students. Babatunji (Tunji) graduated from Florida A & M University with an undergraduate degree in History and Geography. He earned a M.Ed at Georgia State University in Educational Leadership and Supervision.

He was also an ESOL Academic Data Coach at a Middle School that has a student population that is more than a third English language learners. In this position he provided support with content delivery, data collection, and developed an instructional plan called “Planning To S.W.I.R.L.” focusing on teaching using the WIDA standards, language domains, and the can do philosophy. While working in this position he also worked as a School Improvement team member where the instructional plan was adopted as a school wide initiative.

As an ELL Success Facilitator in the largest and most diverse school district in Georgia, he has facilitated workshops to improve instruction for culturally and linguistically diverse students. His workshops and seminars have been delivered at the district level and at local schools.

Mishelle Jurado

English Language Development Facilitator, WIDA Español-Trained WCEPS Facilitator

Mishelle is a veteran bilingual teacher from the state of New Mexico. In her 16 years in the classroom she has taught Spanish as a Modern Language, Spanish for Heritage Speakers and for the last five years was instrumental in developing and aligning Spanish and English language arts for emergent bilingual students and multilingual students in a secondary environment. She was the Bilingual Coordinator at Albuquerque High School, the oldest public high school in the state of New Mexico. Although she currently works as the biliteracy coach at Atrisco Heritage Academy while teaching AP Spanish Literature.

Together with her colleagues, she developed a portfolio process for her students to attain the Bilingual Seal of Literacy offered by Albuquerque Public Schools. Mishelle also worked along with many other New Mexicans to create a book of guidance for the State of New Mexico’s Bilingual Seal of Literacy. She has a BA in Spanish and Sociology, an MA in Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural studies with an emphasis in Bilingual Education, and is ABD at the University of New Mexico.

Mishelle has also been on the board for Dual Language of New Mexico for 12 years. She has worked with WIDA in her state and as an employee. She is very excited to come back and work with WYCEPS as a contractor. She believes that true innovation and collaboration is at the hands of empowered teachers. The more knowledgeable to teachers, the better served the students.

Mishelle is married and has two bilingual children in college. In her home, bilingualism is celebrated and exalted to the point that her children could someday become stand-up comedians dedicated to the fusion of Spanish and English. For Mishelle and her family, bilingualism is not just something out of a book or a theory—it’s a way of life.

Angelica Kalat

WIDA Español-Trained WCEPS Facilitator

Dr. Angelica Kalat is an experienced Bilingual Reading Specialist with over 25 years of teaching expertise in Special Education, English Language Learners and historically underserved populations. She has taught students at the elementary and secondary levels. Dr. Kalat is known for her commitment to fostering inclusive learning environments, nurturing critical thinking skills and empowering students to reach their potential. Currently, Dr. Kalat teaches literacy and provides academic support for high school students in the western suburbs of Chicago.
Dr. Kalat holds a BS in Special Education, MA in School Administration, M.Ed in Reading and Literacy, Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with ESL/Bilingual endorsements and is a National Board Certified teacher in English as a New Language. She is passionate about being involved in promoting literacy at the secondary level and connecting with educators to share in discourse and advocate for literacy-based instruction that is accessible to all learners.

Marisa Silva

WIDA Español-Trained WCEPS Facilitator

Marisa Silva is a native of the New Mexico borderlands and was born and raised in Las Cruces. She grew up immersed in the vibrant English-Spanish environment of the sister cities of Las Cruces, El Paso, and Ciudad Juarez. Marisa received a master’s degree from New Mexico State University in Curriculum & Instruction with a minor in bilingual education in 2005, and returned again to graduate school as a James Madison Memorial Foundation fellow to the University of New Mexico, where she graduated with a master’s in United States history in 2013.
Marisa began her career in Albuquerque as a bilingual program coordinator and bilingual social studies teacher at Valley High School, where she also served as director of Ballet Folklórico del Sol, as well as on the first APS district-wide committee to craft and execute a uniform exit exam for the Bilingual Seal Program. In 2013, she moved to the Washington D.C. metropolitan area to work as an English Language Learner teacher at Alexandria City Public Schools, where she also served as ELL Department Co-Chair for eight years; she also completed a two-year foreign teaching leave in China and Indonesia. Over her fifteen-year teaching career, Marisa has taught bilingual U.S. history and world history; International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and Middle Years Programme English language and literature, and English language B. She has also supported STEM program multilingual learners in the English for Academic Purposes Biology I and World Civ. I courses and is a veteran co-teacher of World Civilization I, Biology I, and U.S./Virginia history.

Katie Vázquez

WIDA Español-Trained WCEPS Facilitator

Katie is a dual language educator from Woodstock, Illinois. She began her career as a primary Spanish-English dual language teacher and has spent nearly 15 years as a dual language facilitator, working to help grow and strengthen the dual language program which spans PreK-12th grade.

Katie enjoys working with teachers to expand their capacity to help language learners thrive. She has undertaken various professional development initiatives in the areas of language acquisition and literacy and has led the development of units of instruction for biliteracy. She teaches in a local university’s ESL endorsement program, preparing educators to meet the needs of their diverse learners. Katie holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a minor in Spanish and she holds a masters degree in educational leadership with an endorsement in bilingual and ESL education. Katie is passionate about additive language acquisition. She and her husband are raising their young children bilingually and Katie marvels at the language and literacy development of her two young children.