English Learner Program
In alignment with our mission to Restore America’s Heritage by Developing Servant Leaders, we are honored and proud to serve our scholars as they transition from English Learners into proficient, fluent English speakers. We know that a scholar cannot learn what he or she cannot understand, and that is why transitioning identified scholars to English fluency is a critical component to individual scholar success.
In A Thomas Jefferson Education, Oliver DeMille writes, “If you really want to teach students a language, simulate the way native speakers learned it—in stories, in shared tradition” (86). A critical component of an American Classical Leadership Education is learning about our American heritage. From nursery rhymes and fairy tales to seminal works of political philosophy, we are happy to have the opportunity to share this heritage with our English Learners through our songs, poems, stories, and classics. By teaching classics, our English Learners will acquire language in a way that is culturally rich as well as technically proficient.
At the same time, we recognize and value the home languages and cultures of our scholar population. We are teaching approximately 300 scholars who are learning English, we celebrate the many families that compose our school community. This uniquely American quality of our population is one of our country’s beauties and is reflected in our national motto—E pluribus unum—out of many, one.
With several different languages spoken by our scholars and families, John Adams Academy recognizes and celebrates the rich language and cultural diversity that our scholars bring to all of our campuses.
Our English Learner Services employs committed, motivated and knowledgeable staff who assists schools, staff, and parents with implementing programs and policies that support EL scholars and their families, including:
- Effective identification, scholar placement, and communication policies and procedures.
- Implementation of instructional programs and professional learning opportunities designed to meet EL scholar needs and ensure access to rigorous curriculum and research-based instructional classroom practices to create safe, vibrant, and effective learning environments.
- Ensuring ongoing support and monitoring of scholar progress.
- Engaging parents of EL scholars in the academy and school site planning, learning, and governing activities.
- Providing interpretation and translation services to parents and schools, and primary language assistance to scholars.
- Administering annual reclassification activities.
English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) Resources
ELAC dates and locations are to be determined by each site. Please contact the front office for more information about your site's ELAC.
MEET THE EL TEAM:
Roseville Campus: Jennifer Wilson
Lincoln Campus: Karina Custer
El Dorado Hills Campus: Jennifer Stacey
Jodi Buda
Director of Academic Services
Areas of responsibility include:
- Organize ELD Specific professional development
- Stay current with ELD compliance parameters
- Stay current with ELD research and best practices (Newcomer, LTEL, Dual- identified ELD and special education scholars)
- Communicate with administrators & teachers about EL scholar needs
- Support ELD support staff
- Evaluate curriculum for EL scholar achievement
- Seek & facilitate opportunities for parental engagement
- Scholar reclassification
- Support counselors & administrators with ELD student placement
- Assess & find short term solutions for ELD issues while creating a more sustainable and effective system
Additional ELD Information:
English Learner Master Plan (See tab on right)
Education Resources for Parents
Expanded Learning Opportunities for our English Learners
