Impactful ideas grow from meaningful conversations. Since last year, the Dunn Community Talks have sparked much-needed dialogues on assessment in multilingual education, creating a lasting impact thanks to the vision and generosity of the Dunn Family Foundation.
With a focus on addressing assessment concerns in multilingual education across various disciplines, the Dunn Community Talks provide an avenue for educators, researchers, administrators, practitioners, families, and community stakeholders to increase their understanding and build skills to apply knowledge related to multilingual populations in their respective settings.
Why Assessment in Multilingual Education Matters
“Assessment in multilingual education is crucial because it allows educators to validate identity while testing knowledge,” said Sharolyn Pollard-Durodola, the Dunn Endowed Chair for Educational Assessment and host of the Dunn Community Talks.
The choice of topics and selection of expert speakers from across the country highlights the different perspectives from which assessment in multilingual education can be explored. The first two talks hosted in 2024 raised awareness on the best practices for supporting young multilingual learners in early childhood education and the assessment challenges for this population. They also explored how multilingual learners with special needs can be supported, particularly those struggling in reading, science, and social studies.
This year, the talks delved into numerous sides of assessment in multilingual education, from reading assessment for multilingual learners with learning disabilities to the three pillars of developing a multicultural orientation, and lastly, navigating multilingualism in early childhood leadership.
Combined, the talks have garnered excellent feedback from the participants.
Insights With Lifelong Impact
“As an educator, I believe it is essential to be a lifelong learner,” said Wendy Reyes, a regular participant at the Dunn Community Talks and a Counselor for the Clark County School District (CCSD).
“Staying informed about current research and best practices allows us to bring up-to-date knowledge to our students and support their success in meaningful ways,” she added.
For Wendy, the lessons from the series resulted in better connections with families and students. Hearing directly from professionals in the field and community members helps her stay grounded in the realities that families of multilingual learners face, while also strengthening her ability to advocate for her students’ needs.
The Bedrock of The Series
The Dunn Family Foundation has been supporting UNLV since 2016, focusing on programs that use education to develop a better society and devise innovative ways in which testing and support materials can contribute to educational initiatives.
The foundation reflects the values of founders Lloyd and Leota Dunn and their son, Douglas Dunn, who now oversees the organization. The Dunn family has been a long-time champion of lifelong learning. Education drives progress in society, and practical assessment and teacher support materials improve educational outcomes.
By financially supporting the Dunn Family Chair in Educational Assessment, the series continues to grow its reach and deepen its impact on Southern Nevada educators. It also creates a consistent space to include national experts in community-focused conversations.
What’s Next?
“I want to maintain an interdisciplinary approach because there are different perspectives from which assessment in multilingual education can be viewed,” Sharolyn said.
An interdisciplinary lens guides the series, fostering intellectual curiosity and growth within and across disciplines. With the success of the Dunn Community Talks, it is clear that the series is becoming a part of not just the College of Education, but UNLV and the greater Southern Nevada community. It is also clear that when supported, conversations like these hold lifelong value.