WEST PALM BEACH — The Palm Beach County School District has announced that 15 teachers from Spain are in schools around the county joining local Dual Language Program teachers who provide instruction in Spanish and English. The Department of Multicultural Education’s Sandra Medrano-Arroyo said the teachers typically teach in the county for about three years.
“That’s about the time frame of their visas, but while they’re here they enhance our students’ learning experiences by incorporating their culture, traditions and history into everyday lessons,” she stated.
The two men and 13 women are teaching a cross section of subjects across a variety of grade levels at Berkshire, Greenacres, New Horizons, North Grade and Hagen Road elementary schools; Lake Worth and Okeeheelee middle schools and John I. Leonard High School.
The International Spanish Academy is part of the Dual Language Program. The academy, which is certified by the Ministry of Education Of Spain, is comprised of New Horizons, Berkshire, and Greenacres elementary schools, Okeeheelee Middle School and John I. Leonard High School. Okeeheelee Middle School Principal David Samore said his faculty represents 17 different countries.
“Our school values a global perspective and this is best accomplished by having a global faculty. Our visiting teachers
from Spain are excellent, experienced educators who add a great deal to our school and are undeniably assets.”
The county public school district is the 11th largest in the nation and fifth largest in the state, with 185 schools serving more than 177,000 students who speak 150 languages and dialects.
T
here are 23 district elementary, middle, and high schools that offer the Dual Language Program. Some district teachers have visited Spain to participate in the Ministry of Education of Spain’s master’s degree programs.
The fee-based programs are held during the summer months and take two years to complete. More information about this program can be found at mecd.gob.es/eeuu/en_US/estudiar/en-espana.html
For more details contact Medrano-Arroyo at 561-434-8774 or email Sandra.medranoarroyo@palmbeachschools.org
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