Our Mission
Our mission is to collaborate, communicate and provide resources to dual language educators serving students in English and Spanish. This website also serves as a platform for bilingual educators to share and comment on academic research articles and books regarding not only dual language programming but other programs such as bilingual and multilingual education. We believe that in order for our students to reach their fullest potential we must integrate culturally relevant practices into our curriculum such as acknowledging their communities funds of knowledge and literacy. We also advocate teacher classroom research in order to empower ourselves.
About Us
We are a group of dual language educators and graduate students in the Central Texas area who are passionate about bilingualism and biculturalism. We are part of the Proyecto Maestría Collaborative for Teacher Leadership in Bilingual and ESL Education. It is the product of a Grant from the U.S. Dept of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition and a long standing partnership between the University of Texas, College of Education and Austin Independent School District. Proyecto Maestría Special Master's Program is a cohort program designed for bilingual elementary teachers pursuing either MA or MEd degrees in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus in bilingual/bicultural education. Our 30 years cumulative experience in bilingual education serves as a source of information and professional development.
Belinda Jimenez For the past five years, I have been a bilingual science and math teacher in Austin, Texas. I'm originally from Laredo, Texas and was raised in a bilingual home. I received a Bachelors of Art at The University of Texas in Austin. After teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) for two years in Spain, I returned to my hometown in 2005 to teach ESL at Texas A&M International University and Laredo Community College. In 2007, I returned to Austin where I have been teaching since. Currently I am pursing my Master's in Curriculum Instruction in Bilingual Education at the University of Texas. My professional and personal goal is to promote the benefits of bilingualism by educating and providing resources to parents and educators. Eliza Saenz
I am a bilingual kindergarten teacher in Austin Tx and am originally from Weslaco, Texas. I moved to Austin to attend The University of Texas at Austin where I graduated in 2005 with a degree in Applied Human Development with a minor in Spanish and bilingual education specialization. I have been teaching for 7 years and all but 1 year has been in Kindergarten. I am currently a Master's student in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at The University of Texas at Austin. It is my belief that all children can learn given the proper intervention and attention. It is also my mission to educate others on the value and importance of being biliterate. My class webpage can be found at http://elizasaenz.posterous.com/. |
Rubi Flores I am a Dual Language /ESL Instructional Coach in Round Rock, TX. I am originally from San Luis Potosi, Mexico. I moved to Texas when I was 12 years old and I experienced first hand the struggles of an emergent bilingual student. I have been a bilingual/ESL/ and Dual Language Teacher for 8 years and I am now in process of obtaining my Master's in Curriculum and Instruction in Bilingual and Bicultural Education. My mission in life is to empower teachers, students and parents to become advocates for the preservation of our native language and culture. I believe that as bilingual individuals, we have the capacity to achieve high levels of academic success in more than one language. Marissa Thomei
I am a Dual Language/ESL Instructional Coach in Round Rock, TX. I am originally from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, but I have lived in Texas most of my life. I have been a bilingual elementary educator for over 17 years, and I am currently a graduate student in the Department of Education Curriculum and Instruction in Bilingual and Bicultural Education from the University of Texas in Austin. I believe in empowering students to accomplish anything they want in life. My philosophy of education is based upon the constructivism ideology of learning; learners need to construct meaning through the dialogue and social interaction with their peers in any language. |
Copyright © Dual Language Corner, 2012 Last updated April, 2012