There will be several new campus based initiatives at Seguin ISD elementary schools this fall including a Two-Way Dual Language program at Koennecke.

There, Principal Cynthia Moreno has been preparing for the new program that will allow students to develop academic proficiency in English and Spanish. It will also serve as an enrichment opportunity for primarily English speaking students.

“For years, the accepted methodology to teach English Language Learners (ELL) focused on attempts to immediately assimilate them toward English. Research has found a better way to achieve the end result. This involves a dual language classroom in which instruction is provided in English and Spanish to English natives and English learners alike,” said Dr. Matthew Gutierrez, Seguin ISD superintendent.

The goal for the Two-Way Dual Language model is to have a classroom full of students who are not only bilingual but bi-literate as well.

“After coming on board and assessing our instruction, one of the first things I noted as an area for improvement was our ELL and bilingual programs. We were failing our ELL and bilingual students. I assembled an internal task force and the members came up with this recommendation to improve our Dual Language programming. It was truly a group effort and Principal Moreno was eager to establish the program at Koennecke,” he said.

In addition to the academic enrichment, the students benefit from achieving proficiency in two languages.

“Today’s global society demands a diversified work force. If we can graduate Seguin ISD students who are fluent in English and Spanish, we better preparing these students for careers and post-secondary education as graduates,” he said.