NJTESOL/NJBE Represented at the NJPSA/FEA Administrator’s Conference
By Keith Perkins, Supervisor SIG Representative
We all understand the importance of advocating for our students. Ensuring that they are given what they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally is critical to helping them achieve lasting success. NJTESOL/NJBE is committed to helping educators at all levels gain an understanding of how we can work to expand our understanding of multilingual learners and the various ways we can support them.
This past October, two of our executive board members presented at the NJPSA/FEA Conference held at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, NJ where both presented on topics that helped to spark conversations, open minds, and provide knowledge on how we can further the mission of our organization. Social Media Coordinator and Lead Chairperson for The Countering Anti-Black Racism Committee, kiina dordoni, brought Black English to the forefront in her presentation entitled How Do We Get to Standard Academic English When MLs Are Learning Black English as a New Language? When I spoke with her about the workshop, one of the highlights she mentioned was how exciting it was for her to hear from participants that they came to the workshop expecting one thing, but left with a new perspective on the validity of Black English as a recognized linguistic presence.
Supervisor SIG Representative Keith Perkins offered a presentation designed to help leaders identify ways to help support a rapidly growing ML population while still honoring the presence of the existing community. Finding Common Ground: Evolving District Culture Through Demographic Shifts focused on his district of Irvington, which has made a dramatic shift in population from predominantly African American to one that is now over 40% multilingual learners. Large shifts like this can leave some people feeling left out or not heard as the district looks to service the needs of a growing ML community. This presentation sought to provide strategies that bring all stakeholders to the table and promote a culture that is both inclusive and supportive.
NJTESOL/NJBE members are experts in our field, and thus can serve as great sources of information for those who have a limited understanding of the Multilingual Learner world. Getting this knowledge out to school leaders was a great opportunity to advance the interests of MLs and their families. We would welcome the opportunity to continue advocating for our students and their families in presentations and workshops in conferences across the State of New Jersey and the country.
Keith Perkins, Ed.D.
Acting Director, Department of Multilingual Learners and World Languages
Irvington Public Schools
Said and Aljobori propose that it is possible to support language growth while providing opportunities for higher level thinking. This can be accomplished through “Productive struggle [which] is the space where students encounter tasks that push them slightly beyond their comfort zone, requiring effort, reflection, and persistence to succeed. This struggle, when framed positively, builds resilience and encourages students to take ownership of their learning. For multilingual learners, it also enhances their ability to process and internalize new language structures in meaningful ways, making the learning experience richer and more impactful.”