Hosted by: Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN)
Date: October 8, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Location: PaTTAN Office, Harrisburg, PA
Presenter: Maria Ronneburger, Educational Consultant and State Lead, PaTTAN English Learners Initiative
Assistant Presenter: Patricia Barnes, Supervisor of Community Education, Lancaster-Lebanon IU13

Attendee: Zahra Sultani – International Service Center (ISC)

On October 8, 2025, I had the honor of representing the International Service Center (ISC) as an official delegate at the professional development training titled “IEP Best Practices for Interpreters and Cultural Liaisons,” hosted by the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) in Harrisburg.
My attendance was assigned by ISC leadership to promote the organization’s mission of fostering cultural understanding, language access, and equitable communication through the ISC Language Bank program.

This full-day training gathered 27 professionals representing PaTTAN, the Capital Area Intermediate Unit (CAIU), Wilson School District, Lancaster-Lebanon IU13, ISC, and other regional organizations dedicated to advancing educational equity for multilingual learners.
Among the participants were ten professional interpreters representing Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Nepali, and Urdu, creating a dynamic and multicultural learning environment.

The session emphasized the ethical, cultural, and procedural responsibilities of interpreters in Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and underscored their vital role in ensuring family inclusion and equitable access to education.

Presenters:

Maria Ronneburger, Educational Consultant and State Lead for the PaTTAN English Learners Initiative, led the training with over 28 years of experience in Special Education, ESL, Applied Linguistics, and Second Language Acquisition. Her session emphasized the importance of culturally and linguistically responsive systems that guarantee equity for multilingual learners across Pennsylvania schools.

Patricia Barnes, Supervisor of Community Education at Lancaster-Lebanon IU13, co-presented with deep expertise in cultural liaison work, refugee engagement, and family literacy. With 15 years of experience as an ESL instructor, Spanish teacher, and citizenship coordinator, she offered valuable insights on building trust with families through cultural awareness and effective communication.