Welcome to the 50th Anniversary Conference of the New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE). This year, we proudly celebrate a powerful milestone: half a century of advocacy, service, and unwavering commitment to advancing equity for multilingual learners across New York State.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Delegate Assembly, and Executive Director, it is my pleasure to invite you to join us for this year’s conference. Our theme, “50 Years of NYSABE: Breaking Barriers through Bilingual Education,” honors the visionary educators, students, families, and community leaders who have built and sustained this movement. We recognize their resilience in the face of systemic challenges and celebrate the triumphs that have expanded bilingual education as a pillar of justice and cultural pride.

This year’s conference is both a celebration and a call to action. Even as we commemorate our collective achievements, we remain deeply aware of the persistent inequities faced by bilingual students. In an era of political uncertainty and shifting demographics, bilingual education must be defended and expanded with urgency, innovation, and collective resolve.

Our mission is more urgent than ever. Through engaging keynotes, cutting-edge research, interactive workshops, and collaborative leadership and special education strands, we renew our pledge to advocate for inclusive, well-funded, and accessible bilingual education, prepare and support a diverse pipeline of bilingual teachers and leaders, share transformative classroom strategies that affirm identity and promote academic excellence, and build stronger partnerships with families and communities.

Join us as we honor our past, reflect on our present, and together shape the future of bilingual education.

We look forward to seeing you in White Plains, NY, where we will embark on this exciting journey of professional development and collaboration. Let’s engage in enriching conversations and work together to advance our commitment to bilingual education!

In partnership,

Eliezer Hernández, EdD
President, NYSABE