Alberto Retana, director of community outreach, will deliver the keynote address at the Maryland English Language Learning Family Involvement Network’s (MELLFIN) seventh annual conference on Friday, May 13, at the Church of Philippi in Hanover, Md. Retana will speak at 9:30 a.m., and following his remarks, MELLFIN will present its first ELL Family Engagement Award to honor a partnership between Bollman Bridge Elementary School and Coastal Sunbelt Produce.
The conference, which is entitled “Closing the ELL Achievement Gap through Family and Community Engagement,” will highlight information and resources that can support English Language Learner (ELL) families in Maryland. The ELL Family Engagement Award recognizes outstanding programs which are effective in meeting the needs of ELL populations. The recipients of the award actively work to support and educate international families in Maryland with the ultimate goal of contributing to ELL student achievement.