La Feria educators, parents discuss bilingual program

LA FERIA — Teachers, administrators, staff and parents met Tuesday night to discuss the district’s efforts to ensure the success of bilingual and English as a Second Language for students.

Assistant Superintendent Sonya Sinsebox said the public meeting was a way for administration to gather input on the current programs’ performance.

“We will make a continuous effort to make sure students receive the best,” Sinsebox said.

Sinsebox and Cindy Torres, director of curriculum and instruction, met with three schools to evaluate their programs over the last weeks, and planned to discuss the findings at the meeting.

“We were hoping to get as many people to review the items we discussed before we submit them to the state,” Sinsebox said.

Sinsebox said one issue the district is facing is how to involve parents in their child’s education, especially when it came to public meetings like the one held.

Michael Torres, principal at W.B. Green Middle School, said parents might not make it to evening events, but they’re there visible on campus.

“I think (the meeting) was informative and parents would have benefited from it,” Torres said. “But our parents are very good about attending events at the school. That’s never been a problem.”

Instead, campuses were able to brainstorm and exchange ideas about improving the bilingual education program.

Torres said the campus promotes awareness of programs like advance placement and UIL competitions to bilingual and ESL students.

Principal at Sam Houston Elementary School Nora De Los Santos said one strategy she has is to make sure teachers have proper instructional material to teach bilingual education.

“We provide teachers with material they need for their classes,” De Los Santos said.

De Los Santos said the campus sends notes in both English and Spanish about the Gifted and Talented Program and PTO with students to give to their parents.

Sinsebox concluded the event by asking campuses to consider strategies to make the students’ transition between campuses better for bilingual students.

Along with the bilingual program, a public hearing was also held about No Child Left Behind.

Parent Susan Newman attended both public hearings as a parental representative for her child’s campus.

But, Newman said she enjoys the meetings because she is able to hear the strategies the school implements for different programs.

“It’s our children,” Newman said.