News

The November 2019 edition of WIDA News includes our Featured Educator, a reminder about Standards Public Input Survey, WIDA MODEL Field Testing, upcoming professional learning events and more.

"WIDA has also helped me with content and language objectives. WIDA gives us all the tools, data, and knowledge to really look at our specific student needs, see where they are right now and what we need to aim for in their development-what their next level is and how to scaffold to that next level."

– Donna Hallock, ESL teacher, Hawaii
 

This month's featured educator, Deborah White, is an ESL teacher for grades K-2 at Noel Primary School in Noel, Missouri. 

Zulma Torres taps into her personal experiences and studies in the field of education to support language learners on the island of St. Croix.

This month's featured educator, Sinead Mayo, works with Grades K-2 multilingual students in Durham, North Carolina. Sinead is moved to improve the life outcomes of all her students regardless of their background.

Barbara Smith is an ESL teacher at Waynesville R-VI East Elementary School in Waynesville, Missouri. Barbara has been at East Elementary for eight years and teaching for 19.

The Alternate ACCESS Field Test takes place February 14 through April 17, 2023. Browse this online guide to learn about the field test, including what everyone from district/school coordinators to test administrators needs to know before, during and after the field test.

WIDA, in collaboration with the International Consortium for Multilingual Excellence in Education (ICMEE), announces a call for nominations for the first class of WIDA Fellows. In establishing these fellowships, WIDA and ICMEE formally acknowledge the invaluable role of exemplary teachers of bilingual and multilingual learners in advancing the field in collaboration with professional development and research partners.

This month, WIDA features three exceptional educators, Kelly Ebbesen, Jenna Putz and Shelley Sorenson, who teach in Arcadia, Wisconsin. All three educators teach English learners and have been teaching for a total of 28 years.

Recently, Principal James Robinette sat down with Scott Gomer, WIDA Marketing Communications Director, to discuss his experiences as an ESL educator.