Supporting Newcomer Students with Sam Finn
ASSETS
In this episode of the ASSETS Podcast, host Dr. Jobi Lawrence sits down with Sam Finn, Director of Newcomer Policy and Practice at Californians Together and a leader with the California Newcomer Network (CANN). Sam shares insights from his work supporting educators who serve immigrant and newcomer students, discussing how policy, research, and practice intersect to create more equitable learning environments. Together, they explore what defines a “newcomer” student, the challenges these students face entering U.S. schools, and the policies that most impact their educational...
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Championing Biliteracy: Sam Singer and the Seal of Biliteracy
ASSETS
In this episode of the ASSETS Podcast, host Dr. Jobi Lawrence welcomes Sam Singer, founder of the Volunteer State Seal of Biliteracy (VSSB) and veteran educator. Sam shares her journey from teaching in New York City and Nashville to creating Tennessee’s first Seal of Biliteracy program in 2015. She discusses the importance of biliteracy, how the Seal supports multilingual learners, and what it takes to implement this recognition at the state and district level successfully.
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Newcomer Series-Strategies for Thriving Schools with Lara Evangelista
ASSETS
In this episode of the ASSETS Podcast, Dr. Jobi Lawrence sits down with Lara Evangelista, Executive Director at Internationals Network for Public Schools. Lara is a passionate advocate for multilingual learners and newcomer education, with years of experience as a principal and district leader in New York City. They discuss what it takes to create welcoming, culturally responsive school environments that help newcomer students thrive academically and socially. Lara also shares practical strategies for engaging families, lessons learned from implementing newcomer programs, and her personal...
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Language and Legacy: A Conversation with Montserrat Garibay
ASSETS
In this episode of The ASSETS Podcast, Dr. Jobi Lawrence welcomes back Montserrat Garibay, former Assistant Deputy Secretary and Director of the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) under the Biden-Harris administration. Together, they explore the State Seal of Biliteracy and its impact in recognizing multilingual proficiency, as well as the role of programs like BESO in supporting and uplifting multilingual learners. From her beginnings as an undocumented immigrant to her leadership in education and labor, Montserrat’s story is one of resilience, advocacy, and...
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Arthur Chou & the Origins of the Seal of Biliteracy
ASSETS
In this episode of the ASSETS Podcast, Dr. Jobi Lawrence welcomes Arthur Chou, social entrepreneur, passionate advocate, and widely regarded as the “father” of the State Seal of Biliteracy. Arthur shares his journey, from launching national multilingual advocacy efforts to helping over 40 states establish their own seals. Learn how his work with Academic Learning Company, DualLanguageSchools.org, and Velázquez Press has shaped educational equity and empowered multilingual students and communities across the U.S.
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Policy in Practice: Advancing Equity for Multilingual Learners
ASSETS
How do policy and practice work together to support English and multilingual learners in America’s classrooms? In this episode, host Dr. Jobi Lawrence is joined by Dr. Megan Hopkins, professor at UC San Diego, and Dr. Hayley Weddle, an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Foundations, Organizations, and Policy at the University of Pittsburgh, to discuss the evolving landscape of educational policy. Together, they unpack how state leaders engage with the CCSSO English Learner Collaborative, the influence of federal shifts, and how research is shaping more inclusive...
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Supporting English Learners: Policy, Practice and Possibility
ASSETS
In this episode, we sit with Dr. Julie Sugarman, Associate Director for K-12 Education Research at the Migration Policy Institute’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy. Dr. Sugarman helps stakeholders make sense of the complex research and policy issues impacting English and multilingual learners. Together, we explore the rapidly changing policy landscape, the challenges facing schools and educators, and what brought Dr. Sugarman to the policy arena.
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Revolutionizing Education through the Power of Student Voice- Part 4
ASSETS
Concluding our four-part series on student voice- A journey that's taken us through the transformative stories of young leaders who helped shape the Iowa Student Learning Institute and amplify the voices of multilingual learners. To close out the series, we welcome Dr. Byron Darnall, the co-lead of the Student Voice Initiative. Dr. Darnall has over two decades of experience in education. Follow along as we share the impact of the student leadership initiative and Dr. Darnall's perspective on the legacy of this work.
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Revolutionizing Education through the Power of Student Voice- Part 3
ASSETS
This month on ASSETS, Dr. Lawrence welcomes you to the third of an exceptional four-part series where we hear from the voices of our students. Dr. Lawrence sits down with former student Ian Coon, who served on the Iowa Student Learning Institute’s ELL Leadership Team at the Iowa Department of Education. Follow along as Ian shares his unique perspective from unawareness and privilege to partnership and advocacy. In this episode, Ian takes us on his journey in social justice and advocating for underserved populations, the impact of his work on the student leadership team, and how his...
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Revolutionizing Education through the Power of Student Voice Part 2
ASSETS
This month on ASSETS, Dr. Lawrence welcomes you to the second of an exceptional four-part series where we hear from the voices of our students. Follow along as Dr. Lawrence sits down with former student Monica Figueroa, who served on the Iowa Student Learning Institute’s ELL Leadership Team at the Iowa Department of Education. As a former English learner, she has firsthand experience navigating the challenges of mastering a new language while excelling academically. In this episode, Monica joins us to reflect on her life journey, the impact of her work on the student leadership team, and how...
info_outlineThis month on ASSETS, Dr. Lawrence welcomes a special guest, Silvia Dorta-Duque de Reyes. Ms. Reyes is an expert in biliteracy, focusing on academic writing and teaching Spanish-to-English cross-linguistic transfer. She is a national biliteracy consultant and author for Benchmark Education. Follow along as Ms. Reyes and Dr. Lawrence discuss newcomer students' social and academic needs and what it means to provide students with asset-based instruction.