Celebrating the NYS Seal of Biliteracy
Presenters: ÌýShirley Vargas & Candace Black
Webinar date & time:Ìý Tuesday, March 24th, 2026, 3:30-4:30 pm via Zoom
The Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages (OBEWL) of the Â鶹¹ÙÍø (Â鶹¹ÙÍø) presents Celebrating the NYS Seal of Biliteracy.Ìý This webinar is offered free of charge for educators and administrators working and studying in New York State educational institutions.Ìý 1 hour of CTLE credit is offered.
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Webinar description:Ìý The official recognition of a student’s achievement of the New York State Seal of Biliteracy (NYSSB) is truly a cause for celebration.Ìý Schools and districts can honor this accomplishment in a variety of ways, depending on the available resources.Ìý This webinar will present practical ideas and tools that can be implemented at any school district at little to no cost.Ìý Participants will hear concrete examples from Westbury High School, including how the school has evolved its NYSSB celebration over the years into a meaningful event that highlights student achievement, engages the community, and provides networking opportunities for multilingual learners.Ìý
By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:
- explain the value of the NYSSB and why it is worth celebrating;
- identify the main tasks involved in planning a simple, low cost NYSSB celebration;
- describe how to leverage existing school resources to implement a NYSSB celebration; and
- identify options for a more comprehensive celebration that involves the broader school community.Ìý
Join us to learn (and share) ideas for meaningful ways to celebrate NYS Seal of Biliteracy recipients!
Click here to access the webinar flyer.
Registration process: ÌýAll participants are encouraged to pre-register for this event.Ìý Pre-registration will close on Friday, March 20, 2026; there will be no same-day registrations. ÌýOnce the registrant's email address has been verified as being from a New York State school, college, or university, an email confirming their registration will be sent.Ìý Twenty-four hours prior to the event, all registered individuals will receive login the link to join the webinar.Ìý Only pre-registered attendees will be eligible for a certificate documenting attendance and/or CTLE hours.Ìý
Click to access the registration form.Ìý
Webinar presenters:
Shirley Vargas is the Chairperson of World Languages and Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator at Westbury High School on Long Island. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the New York State Association for Bilingual Education (NYSABE). With 25 years of experience in education, she has dedicated her career to the development of high-quality language programs and the advancement of bilingual education. She is especially proud of the New York State Seal of Biliteracy program and the meaningful recognition ceremony she and her Seal Committee have established to celebrate students who earn this distinguished honor.
Candace Black is the World Languages Associate in the Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages. ÌýShe is currently leading the implementation of the revised NYS World Languages Standards and oversees the NYS Seal of Biliteracy program.Ìý Candace graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in French from SUNY Potsdam and earned both her M.B.A., and M.A.T. from the University of Rochester. A National Board-Certified Teacher from 2005-2025, Candace taught French for 21 years and served as an IB Diploma Coordinator. In 2025, she was named the State Supervisor of World Languages of the Year by the National Council of State Supervisors of Foreign Languages (NCSSFL).Ìý In all her roles, most especially her current one, Candace is deeply committed to the professional learning and support of World Language teachers and the promotion of the NYS Seal of Biliteracy.Ìý
Webpage last updated on February 7, 2026