In this episode of Highest Aspirations, Sandra Medrano-Arroyo speaks with Dr. Michelle Benegas about building sustainable, schoolwide support for ELs. Michelle shares insights on empowering teacher leaders, creating effective infrastructure for multilingual learner programs, and strategies for strengthening both direct and indirect support. Listeners will learn how to foster collaborative, capacity-driven approaches that help educators expand their impact and ensure lasting success for all ELs.

Key questions we address:

1. How can schools build sustainable, schoolwide systems to support ELs beyond individual classrooms?
2. What role do teacher leaders play in strengthening EL programs and educator capacity?
3. How can schools ensure effective support for ELs across direct, integrated, and indirect learning environments?

For additional episode and community resources:

• Download the transcript here.
• Order Dr. Benegas’ book Language of Identity, Language of Access
• Visit TESOL’s website
• Register for IMPACT 2025!
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Community Brief
• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog.

Michelle Benegas, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Hamline University and a co-founder of TESOL International Association’s School Wide English Learning (SWEL) Professional Development Series. A former secondary English Language development (ELD) teacher, her career began in a newcomer high school. She now supports educators to meet the needs of linguistically diverse students. In her work with teachers and schools, she promotes a model in which ELD teachers serve as site-based experts and coaches to their colleagues. Her books include Teacher Leadership for School-Wide English Learning (TESOL Press, 2025, 2nd edition) and Language of Identity Language of Identity, Language of Access (LILA): Liberatory Learning in Multilingual Classrooms (Corwin, 2024). Learn more at www.benegasconsulting.com.