This episode of Highest Aspirations welcomes Alice Collins from the Colorado Department of Education and Dr. Ester de Jong from the University of Colorado Denver to explore the dynamic landscape of bilingual education in the state. Discover the innovative programs designed to support Colorado's growing number of multilingual learners and the crucial initiatives aimed at building a strong pipeline of qualified bilingual educators.

Tune in to gain insights into the collaborative efforts between the state and universities to equip teachers with the specialized skills needed to serve multilingual students effectively. Learn about the various courses and programs available that empower educators to create inclusive and successful learning environments for all students, fostering academic growth and linguistic development.

Listen to the full episode here, and find resources referenced in the conversation below.

Key questions we address:

1. What types of bilingual education programs are available for Colorado's multilingual learners?
2. How does the University of Colorado Denver support the training and development of teachers for multilingual students?
3. What are the key strategies discussed for supporting and retaining qualified teachers of multilingual learners in Colorado?

For additional episode and community resources:

• Download the transcript here.
• Newcomer resources course - Free 1-hour webinar
• Online, self-directed newcomer course with deep dives (ideal for Professional Learning Communities)
• Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
• Discover, Connect, Respond
• Finding Me: A Memoir
• T-PREP: The Partnership for Rural Educator Preparation at University of Colorado Denver
• Learn more about the Ellevation Scholarship and how to apply.
• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog.

Alice Collins is an ELD Senior Consultant with the Colorado Department of Education serving the state of Colorado in the office of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education. She partners with districts across the state to ensure quality language programming for the Multilingual Learners. Alice has many years of experience serving MLs, some of those roles include, teacher, CLDE Specialist, Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, and CLDE Director. She has received multiple Teacher of the Year awards as well as CLDE Director of the Year. Alice is dedicated to providing every opportunity possible for ML students to succeed in education.

Dr. Ester de Jong is a Professor in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education and Interim Associate Dean for Graduate Education and Advanced programs at the University of Colorado Denver.  Her research interests include two-way bilingual education and other integrated models for language minority schooling, educational language policy, and teacher preparation for bilingual students.  Prior to UC Denver, she was the Director of the School of Teaching and Learning and Professor in ESOL/Bilingual Education at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. She has been in the field of ESL/bilingual education for over thirty years, as a practitioner and a researcher. Her research focuses on preparing teachers to work with bilingual learners in K-12 schools, and integrated approaches to the schooling of bilingual learners, including two-way bilingual education. Her book, “Foundations of Multilingualism in Education” lays out a principles-based approach to educational equity for bilingual learners.  Dr. de Jong was President of TESOL International Association (2017-2018). She is the co-editor of the Handbook of Research on Dual Language Bilingual Education (Routledge, 2023) and co-Editor of the Bilingual Research Journal.