News

“Most people think ‘WIDA’ refers to only a test and haven't been exposed to the full use for planning, goal setting, conferencing with parents and academic instruction for ELLs. That’s where we have seen the true value: using WIDA as a system to support teaching and learning.”

– EAL Program Coordinator

This month's featured educator, Marie Hennemann, is an ESL teacher for grades K-6 at Eulalie R. Rivera Elementary School in Frederiksted, USVI.

Leah Juelke has taken on various unique literacy projects with her language learners in Fargo, North Dakota in efforts to share the stories of refugee and immigrant students.

This month's featured educator, Brenda Hamel, works as an ESL/Bilingual Resource Teacher (BRT) for 3rd through 5th grade English Learners (ELs) in Madison, WI. She has taught for 30 years across all grade levels, including adults.

Robb Freeman embraces values dear to WIDA as he works to empower his students, celebrate their backgrounds, and build bridges from the classroom to the community.

This month's featured educators, Luis Javier Pentón Herrera, primarily teaches ESOL newcomers, literacy, and critical reading classes to 9th, 10th, and 11th grade multilingual learners. He was selected, in part, because of his effort to make personal connections with his students and their guardians.

Ryan Ariosa is an ESOL teacher and school test coordinator at Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle School in Baltimore, Maryland. Ryan teaches eighth graders.

This month we have the pleasure of introducing, Krista McInnis, an educator from one of the schools in WIDA’s International School Consortium, GEMS World Academy in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

The January 2020 edition of WIDA News Extra includes an interview with January's Featured Educator, a last call for WIDA Conference proposals, and information about WIDA professional learning opportunities in 2020.

Magali Williams teaches fourth grade at the John Muir Literacy Academy in suburban Chicago. She has been a teacher for the past 16 years. Her philosophy toward teaching includes being a role model, taking risks, and building a miniature global community in her classroom.