Participants gather during OCDE’s 10th annual Interpreters and Translators Conference, which drew 160 language professionals from California and across the country. 
OCDE leaders and staff surprise Language Services Coordinator Natalia Abarca, center, with a Visionary Leadership Award in recognition of her work advancing language access in education. 
Attendees check in for the 2026 Interpreters and Translators Conference, held Sept. 24-26 at the Orange County Department of Education in Costa Mesa. 
Presenters lead a breakout session for language professionals during the 2026 Interpreters and Translators Conference at OCDE. 
Language professionals attend a presentation during OCDE’s 10th annual Interpreters and Translators Conference in Costa Mesa. 
Attendees participate in a session on interpreting in educational settings during OCDE’s 10th annual Interpreters and Translators Conference. 
Jasmin Anaya of the Anaheim Elementary School District, left, receives a 2026 Multilingual Award of Distinction alongside Stacy Deeble-Reynolds, OCDE executive director of Student Initiatives, Partnerships and Events. 
Marcela Cardenas of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, left, receives a 2026 Multilingual Award of Distinction alongside Stacy Deeble-Reynolds, OCDE executive director of Student Initiatives, Partnerships and Events. 
Dr. Erlinda Soltero-Ruiz of the Fullerton School District, left, receives the 2026 Language Access Administrator of the Year award alongside Stacy Deeble-Reynolds, OCDE executive director of Student Initiatives, Partnerships and Events. 
Attendees applaud during the 2026 Interpreters and Translators Conference, which celebrated the event’s 10th anniversary. 
OCDE Principal Christa Paul, second from left, speaks during a panel discussion at the 2026 Interpreters and Translators Conference. Paul serves as principal of Connections at Harbor Learning Center South. 
Mariachi Band El Toro performs for attendees during OCDE’s 10th annual Interpreters and Translators Conference.
Quick look: OCDE’s 10th annual Interpreters and Translators Conference brought together 160 language professionals from California and across the country for professional learning, networking and recognition focused on strengthening language access in education.
A decade after launching as a small local gathering, the Orange County Department of Education’s Interpreters and Translators Conference marked its 10th anniversary by bringing together 160 language professionals from across California and the nation.
Held Sept. 24 through Sept. 26 at OCDE in Costa Mesa, the three-day conference drew participants from counties including Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Ventura and Fresno, as well as attendees from 12 other states.
This year’s theme, “Rooted in Growth: A Decade of Dedication to Professionalize Language Access in Education,”reflected the evolution of a field that organizers say has developed stronger professional standards, ethical guidance and opportunities for training over the past decade.
Natalia Abarca, coordinator of OCDE’s Language Services team, said one of the strongest takeaways from the anniversary conference was the sense among interpreters and translators that their work is increasingly being seen, valued and recognized as a profession.
Sessions explored family engagement, interpreting during board meetings and professional growth, along with artificial intelligence and its impact on interpreting and translation. Discussions around AI emphasized that evolving technology does not replace the cultural understanding, professional judgment and human connection language professionals bring to their work.
The conference also incorporated opportunities to celebrate culture and build community, including a mariachi performance that organizers said helped participants connect through music and shared cultural experiences.
Recognizing language access professionals
OCDE also recognized three education professionals for their work supporting multilingual students and families.
Dr. Erlinda Soltero-Ruiz of the Fullerton School District was named the 2026 Language Access Administrator of the Year. Jasmin Anaya of the Anaheim Elementary School District and Marcela Cardenas of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District each received a 2026 Multilingual Award of Distinction.
For Abarca, the conference has grown into more than an annual professional learning event. She said participants have come to view it as a place to reconnect with colleagues, exchange knowledge, celebrate their profession and build relationships with others doing similar work in schools and communities.
To learn more about upcoming professional development opportunities, visit the Language Services webpage.