EL Summit 2018
Bridging Cultures
Presenters
Springboarding Emergent Readers:
An Innovative and Differentiated Literacy Game System for Busy Teachers
Arlette Johnson
Arlette Johnson is a first-grade trilingual teacher at Multicultural Magnet School in Bridgeport, Connecticut. She was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil and migrated to the USA when she was 18 years old to learn English and work as an Au Pair. She holds a Master’s Degree in Bilingual Education, a degree in Elementary Education and Minors in Mathematics and Spanish. Arlette earned her Intermediate administrative certification in CT and is completing her Sixth Year Degree in Advanced Administrative Studies. In 2017, Arlette was awarded the prestigious Teacher of The Year Beard Excellence in Teaching Award and received a certificate of special recognition for her commitment to the children of Bridgeport from a US Congress Member. Arlette also had the opportunity to share the challenges that she faced as a minority pre-service teacher as a presenter in three national conferences, and was the co-author for a peer-reviewed article published in the prestigious Teacher Education Quarterly.
Arlette strongly believes that "learning and teaching should be an exciting and meaningful experience that challenges and engages all learners". Her passion is designing creative and engaging lessons that foster students’ multiple intelligences and love for learning through games, songs, meaningful collaboration, hands-on activities, project-based learning, presentations, and creative writing. Arlette loves welcoming students’ families, pre-service teachers, students’ volunteers and therapy dogs into her classroom!
When she is not at Multicultural Magnet with her “Good Vibe Tribe”, she is having lots of fun with her hubby Chris, daughter Ava, baby boy Chris Denzel and pup, Ayka.
Cantando y Jugando: Building Cultural Sensitivity through Games
Elba Llantin-Cruz
Elba Llantin-Cruz is an educator, singer, and songwriter who brings culture and language
learning alive by using interactive music and games. She has been teaching for over 22 years at
both the elementary and middle school levels and has performed in a variety of venues as a
singer. Elba earned a Bachelors of Science in Sociology degree from Southern CT State University
and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Sacred Heart University. She was inspired to teach
when she worked as a Project Excel Aide, serving English Language Learners at Brookside
Elementary School in Norwalk. During her time in Norwalk, she also worked as a teacher at
Columbus Magnet School, which focused on the H.O.T. School method, incorporating the Arts
into teaching and the Bank Street Model, which incorporates the Social Studies curriculum into
all academic disciplines. Elba has been working at the Fairfield Public Schools for the past 11 years where she has worked at various grade levels and teaching positions. She completed an
individualized 6th Year program in Literacy and Language and has cross-endorsements in
Elementary Education, TESOL, Middle School Social Studies, Bilingual Elementary and Bilingual
Middle School Social Studies. Elba also completed her Intermediate Administrator’s Certification
at Sacred Heart University. Her strengths and goals are to bring the arts into the classroom and to incorporate differentiated instruction through a variety of methods, including games. In addition to teaching, Elba performs songs and games from her CDs Cantando y Jugando and Cantando y Jugando Otra Vez, which encourage socialization, language learning, and fun at various family-friendly venues.
The Missing Link
Martha Soto
Martha Soto began working in the Bridgeport Public Schools system in 1999. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education at the University of Bridgeport. She later earned her 6th-year degree, with a cross-endorsement in TESOL, at Fairfield University. She taught as a bilingual elementary school teacher at Columbus School, Elias Howe School, and Cesar A. Batalla School for 16 years. For the past two years, she has been an elementary ESL teacher at Cesar A. Batalla School.
Jessica Baldizon
Jessica is a certified teacher of English to Speakers of Other Languages that work throughout the school year with elementary, middle and high school students, mostly at Cesar A. Batalla School--her full-time position. She is a co-founder and program coordinator for the HOPE Club an afterschool program that invites middle and high school-aged English Learners to build upon their language and literacy skills through a myriad of activities. Every summer, she looks forward to working with the CT Writing Project at Fairfield University teaching Little Labs for Big Imaginations and UBUNTU Academy. No matter the writing space, Jessica makes sure to include community building exercises, opportunities for collaboration and chances for authors to present their work. Jessica shares her love of people and words with students by encouraging them to write their stories through creative, colorful thinking.
Cultural Sensitivity in the Mainstream Classroom
Debbie Swirsky, Lisa Ostrander
& Jacqueline Colantonio
Debbie Swirsky, Lisa Ostrander, and Jacqueline Colantonio are three wonderful ESL teachers who have been teaching for more than 20 years in Bridgeport, Connecticut, among other districts. They have an extensive training in Sheltered English, and in working with second language learners. Additionally, Debbie and Jacqueline have been trained in Project Be Glad, a successful educational model.
They would like to mention that all three have Master's Degrees in TESOL and all have completed their 6th year. Debbie, Lisa, and Jacqueline have also worked very closely with mainstream teachers to coordinate educational, social, and emotional needs of their shared EL students. Additionally, they have presented at numerous school workshops on a variety of topics regarding the EL population.
"We are passionate about ensuring that all Second Language Learners feel welcomed and comfortable in their mainstream classrooms."
Why do we need to get it right? Special Education for Emergent Bilingual Learners
My name is Chesse Doré and I am proud to call the Bilingual Department my home. I currently am second-grade Bilingual Teacher at Barnum School. My journey as a Teacher started about 5 years ago. In fact, it is a second career that I have always wanted to do even as a child, playing school with my cousins. I enjoy watching my students break barriers every day as they fight the Bilingual stereotype, who are often referred to as students who learn “differently”. However, “academically different they are not” but “academic competitors” they are… When I’m not teaching I’m helping in my community by doing volunteer tutor services for Emergent Bilingual Learners. I also provide professional development in the practices of Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP). I have a strong belief that “Education is the most powerful weapon we can use to change the world.”, as said by Nelson Mandela.
Chesse L. Doré
Project BeGlad: Language Acquisition Strategies
Pamela Hazall-Farrell
Pamela Hazall-Farrell has been teaching English as a Second Language for 18 years. She began her teaching career in Armenia with the Peace Corps. She then received her Master of Arts in TESOL from Teachers College. After receiving her Masters, she began to teach ESL for both Norwalk Community College and the Bridgeport Board of Education. Pamela currently works at Harding High School in Bridgeport where she happily teaches ESL Intermediate and ESL Advanced classes to students in grades 9 to 12.
Shirley Ricart-Underhill
Shirley Ricart is an ESL Teacher with Warren Harding High School in Bridgeport, CT. She has worked in the field of education and family support services since 1998. Shirley is a graduate of Hofstra University where she received a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Education, and City College of New York, where she received an M.S. in Bilingual Education. Shirley has a background in Early Childhood Education Leadership and Non-Profit leadership. She has had success in program management and leadership in both state and federally funded programs. Shirley has held positions in the State of CT Head Start Association and has been Vice President of the State Independent Living Council. Shirley is highly committed to the field of education; she believes in making contributions to empower students, families, and professionals.
Administrators Guide to Navigating Your ELs
Layla Intellisano
Ms. Layla Intellisano is a K-8 ESOL Teacher for the Bridgeport Public Schools. She earned her Master’s degree in Teaching from Sacred Heart University and her cross-endorsement in TESOL from Fairfield University. She began her teaching career in Adult TESOL in 1998 and upon her endorsement completion began teaching K-8 TESOL. She served as the PBIS Coach and CommPACT Facilitator at the district and school level, in partnership with the University of Connecticut, Storrs and is a trained Teacher Mentor for the Bridgeport Public Schools. She provides professional development at the national, district, and school level in areas of ELL Policy & Procedure, ELL Advocacy, Standards-Based Instruction, and Second Language Acquisition. Ms. Intellisano currently serves as ELL PD Trainer for the National Education Association, Washington, DC.
Closing the Content Gap
Barbara Andrews
Barbara Andrews spent 27 years as a classroom teacher, ESL teacher, Reading Recovery and Descubriendo la Lectura teacher, and as a district instructional facilitator. During that time, she focused extensively on the needs of bilingual students and English language learners. Barbara’s wealth of experience now helps her provide effective professional development as a National Literacy Consultant for Benchmark Education Company. In this role, she has trained teachers across the country through presentations, on-site demonstration lessons, and coaching. Barbara also successfully supports school districts in the implementation of comprehensive literacy programs over time. She holds a B.A. in Education K-8 from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, an M.A. in Education K-8 from the University of Texas, as well as an M.A. in Reading from the Texas Women’s University in Denton, Texas. Barbara also contributes to the development of new instructional programs, both in English and Spanish, as an author and contributing editor. In addition, she is an author of children’s books, as well as professional books. Her work on the English Explorers series contributed to its receipt of a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers. Barbara has also presented at many national and international conferences.
