Avant MORE Learning

Empowering Educators to Elevate Multilingual Learners

Improved language outcomes begin when educators understand proficiency-based instruction and know how to leverage data to drive growth. Teacher recruitment and retention thrive when schools invest in up-to-date strategies and meaningful professional learning. Programs succeed when learners see—and feel—their language progress.

At Avant MORE Learning, we understand that what comes after the assessment is just as important as the test itself. 

We partner with World Language, Dual Language Immersion, Bilingual Education, Heritage Language, and Higher Education programs at every stage—from initial design to ongoing growth and impact monitoring. Our expert team helps you build proficiency-focused programs that engage educators, empower students, and deliver lasting results.

Educators Rooted in Evidence-Based Strategies

Avant MORE Learning is the leading language proficiency professional learning and training provider. All of our courses and coaching are designed and delivered by accomplished language educators who have used these practices with success. Meet our team.

What We Offer

Customized Sessions and Coaching

Customized support from national experts in multilingual education. Our team collaborates with you to deliver high-impact, hands-on professional learning—virtually or in person.

On-Demand Courses

Flexible, self-paced learning designed for busy educators. Our courses focus on actionable strategies grounded in real-world classroom experience and the latest research in language acquisition and assessment.

Wrap-Around Program Support

From curriculum mapping to strategy implementation, we provide targeted guidance that centers educators and aligns with your goals. We can help you throughout the learn, assess, certify cycle and maximize your proficiency outcomes.

Data Analysis

Dashboards, analysis, storytelling– why you need our help with it, and what we can offer here.

Keynote & Conference Sessions

The Avant MORE Learning team is available for keynote addresses and conference sessions worldwide. Our expert presenters bring deep knowledge of data-driven instruction, delivering inspiring, research-based talks that move the field forward and empower educators.

We offer language proficiency professional learning and training packages designed to flex to your needs, schedules, and desired team members.

An Avant MORE Learning team member will consult with you before you purchase. This helps ensure you get the professional learning that is right for your team. 

Which solution is right for you? Our professionals will partner with you to provide the best possible solution. Contact us today.

MORE Effective Dual Language Immersion (MEDLI)

Dual Language Immersion Specialists

Language is the heart of dual language immersion. That is what makes these programs so special: a student’s language proficiency is the foundation for all other core subjects.

Learners thrive in an environment where they are challenged linguistically in everyday contexts and develop holistic knowledge of real-world language use. Parents enroll their students for the purpose of achieving proficiency in two or more languages.

So why is language proficiency often overlooked? With MEDLI, it’s not.

MORE Effective Dual Language Immersion (MEDLI) is comprised of a specialist team within Avant MORE Learning. It is a global initiative with a mission to fulfill the promise of DLI– to create a world where every child is multilingual.

What makes for a high-quality and long-lasting DLI program? Accountability. How do you get accountability? Proficiency-based assessment.

Gregg Roberts, Founder and Director of Dual Language Studies for the State of Utah, Retired

Testimonials

Custom Workshops

Onsite Full Day Workshop

Price: $3,400 Includes an 8 hour 1-day workshop

Virtual Full Day Workshop

Price: $1725 Up to 8 hours

Need help making your data actionable? We’ve got you. Whether you’re in DLI, bilingual, world language, or higher ed, our team builds learning that fits your needs.

Let’s start with a free consult and make sure it’s the perfect match.

Unlock the Power of Data-Informed Teaching

Avant MORE Learning is part of Avant Learn, our suite of tools and experiences designed to accelerate language growth. As part of Avant’s comprehensive Language Proficiency Platform™, MORE Learning delivers customized professional development that transforms assessment data into actionable insights.

Teachers often face a familiar challenge: understanding student proficiency data but not knowing how to use it to drive instruction. Even more, many educator teams lack a shared language around proficiency. Without that foundation, setting goals, tracking progress, and staying accountable becomes difficult.

That’s where MORE Learning steps in.

We build professional learning experiences around your goals—rooted in data, grounded in real classrooms, and customized to your team’s context. Whether you’re just beginning to integrate proficiency targets or ready to deepen your approach across a district, we tailor every session to your needs.

Examples of What We Offer—But Never the Limit

Every program is unique. That’s why these session types are just the beginning:

• Translating Data into Instruction: Practical strategies for using assessment insights to plan next week’s lessons.
• Building Shared Proficiency Language: Help your team communicate clearly about performance levels and goals.
• Curriculum and Assessment Development: Design tasks that raise the bar for proficiency—like Integrated Performance Assessments.
• Supporting Dual Language and Multilingual Learners: From immersion strategies to literacy development.
• Instructional Coaching and Mentorship: Coaching cycles for educators and leaders focused on growth.
• New Teacher and International Staff Support: Acclimation training and pathways to certification.
• Leadership Development: Equip chairs, coaches, and administrators to lead proficiency-driven programs.
• Long-Term Professional Learning Models: Custom packages for year-long, hybrid, or virtual implementations.

Every learning opportunity is tailored. Every outcome is connected to student success.

With Avant MORE Learning, your goals guide our work. Let’s turn data into growth—together.

Meet the Team

World Language Educators and Trainers

Avant MORE Learning was established as a division of Avant in 2019. We work with a variety of programs centered around proficiency and achieving higher learning outcomes.

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Brandee Mau, Ed.D.
^{VP of Professional Learning}

Dr. Brandee Mau joined Avant after eight years as a German and Russian Dual Language Immersion director in Utah and 16 years as a Wyoming high school German teacher and district curriculum facilitator. During this time, she developed curriculum and coached language teachers of all grades, contributed to multiple state standards revisions, served on state and national language association boards and committees, and worked to align proficiency and course expectations. Additionally, as part of the College Board committee, she created and developed the new AP German Language and Culture exam. She was also a Wyoming Department of Education Teacher of the Year finalist and an ACTFL National Teacher of the Year finalist. 

At Avant, she works with language learning leaders to support and grow language programs of all types. Her research interests focus on effective language learning, assessments, and fostering potential in our profession and our language students. After hours, Brandee loves spending time with family and friends, reading, planning and enjoying new adventures, and working in her flower beds.

Our mission is to build shared learning communities through proficiency-driven practice. 

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Amanda Minnillo, Ed.D.
^{Senior Professional Learning Specialist}

Dr. Amanda Minnillo is a former high school French teacher, Amanda most recently served as the World Language and Dual Language Immersion Teacher Support Specialist for Lexington County School District One in South Carolina. In this performance-based district, Amanda supported teachers through curriculum writing, individual coaching cycles, and whole-group professional learning. She has served as the Awards Director for the Southern Conference on Language Teaching, an advocate for the Leadership Initiative for Language Learning,  and is on the executive board for the South Carolina Foreign Language Teachers’ Association for which she was president and editor of the Crescent blog. Considering herself a language fun-doer, Amanda presents at local, state, regional, and national conferences with a heart for topics involving inclusion, cultivating and powering up proficiency in the modes of communication and engagement through fun communicative activities presented in a learn-by-doing fashion.  She believes that empowered teachers empower students and that every child deserves a school where they feel welcome and appreciated. She believes that language learning and instruction provide the foundations for such schools. At Avant, Amanda works with professionals in the field to support language learning programs and instructional practices through Avant More Learning. In her free time, Amanda enjoys gardening, hiking, traveling to experience new cultures, and always aspires to learn something new.

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Liza Trejo, Ph.D.
^{Professional Learning Specialist}

Dr. Liza Trejo has been an adjunct professor for ESOL certification and a middle school ESOL teacher. She has also been a DLI Specialist and Coordinator for World Languages and Immersion before returning to the classroom. Her B.A. is in Spanish, she has an MAT in teaching Foreign Languages and a PhD in Language and Literacy. She specializes in teaching teachers, language and literacy and curriculum development. She has led districts across the country to use data to improve instruction, incorporate literacy strategies in their language courses and create curriculum. She is certified in Spanish K-12, ESOL, Elementary Education and Literacy Practices.

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Marnina Falk
^{Professional Learning Specialist}

Marnina taught Spanish for nine years in Detroit Public Schools at Foreign Language Immersion and Culture Studies, collaborating on the development of Spanish I and II curricula and leading district-wide training. Previously, she taught English in Costa Rica, developing programs for all ages and cultivating a love for Latin dance and travel. As a Fulbright-Hays and Fund for Teachers fellow, she explored Afro-Latin culture in Brazil and Cuba, creating intercultural Spanish resources. Marnina later worked as an Instructional Strategist at Wayside Publishing, supporting teachers nationwide. She has presented at conferences such as MittenCI, MIWLA, and CSCTFL, and earned an ATD Instructional Design Certificate. Passionate about instructional design, she enjoys developing inspirational learning experiences and sharing strategies to make language teaching manageable, impactful, and joyful.

Dawn Samples
^{Director for Professional Learning}

Dawn joined Avant in 2019 following 15 years as the Coordinator for World Languages and Immersion for Lexington School District One in Lexington, South Carolina, where she created a completely performance-based and proficiency-driven program. In 2017, she was recognized as the Supervisor of the Year for the National Association of District Supervisors. At Avant, Dawn works with professionals in the field supporting language learning programs, instructional practices and assessments as the Director for MORE Professional Learning. Her goal is to provide high-quality professional learning opportunities for educators that will increase proficiency for language learners. Outside of work, Dawn enjoys spending time with her family listening to music, speaking French, running, hiking, exploring new adventures and learning about other people, their experiences and cultures.

View Dawn’s CV

Kathy Durán
^{Avant MORE Learning Specialist
MEDLI Team Member}

Kathy is a seasoned senior-level school administrator and has dedicated her career to enhancing educational programs with a focus on equity and accessibility. Her experience in systems development, closing equity gaps, and implementing quality Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs underscores her commitment to creating inclusive learning environments. Kathy’s vision extends to integrating technology and innovation into education. She has been instrumental in developing accessible STEM education programs, preparing students for a rapidly changing world.