English Language Learners at LPS
The English learner education program educates more than 350 students in all nine of Lexington's public schools, representing 5.6% of our student population. Over 21% of Lexington's students come from homes where the primary language is not English. This diverse population is an important part of our community and our schools.
Students in the program, speaking over 45 languages, typically receive daily English as a second language (ESL) instruction from certified teachers, in addition to sheltered English instruction (SEI) in their content classrooms from teachers who have had training in teaching second language learners.
Students in the English learner program are provided with instruction that stresses academic language, in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Department staff work closely with classroom and content teachers to "shelter" content instruction, that is, provide instruction in a way that makes it more comprehensible to the student, who must learn the subject content while learning English. To this end, our English instruction is taught using grade-level subject matter materials, in an effort to expand the students knowledge base in English.
Since students come to our schools with varying levels of English proficiency, and with different language aptitudes, the time spent in the program varies. Most students are classified as proficient in English in under three years, although research shows that achieving academic language proficiency can take five to seven years. Before exiting a student from the program, we make every effort to ensure the student's success in the classroom, and consider many sources of student achievement in making the decision.
Lexington is fortunate to have a wide array of resources to meet the needs of our students and their families. We are building libraries in each of the schools that assist students in their classes, consisting of native-language novels, non-fiction books written about topics taught in science or social studies, and books on tape. We use a variety of technology to help students develop the 21st century skills they will require in today's global society.
For more information, you are invited to contact the English as a Second Language teacher at your school, or me, at the number listed below.
Coordinator - Robyn Dowling-Grant, Ed.M.
Secretary: Fiorella Meoli
Central Office
146 Maple Street
Lexington, MA 02420
(781) 861-2558, ext. 238
ESL Instructional Staff
Deirdre Schadler - Bridge Elementary School
phone: (781) 861-2510
Yuiko Shimazu - Bridge Elementary School
phone: (81) 861-2510
Elsa Mendez-Khawja - Bowman Elementary School
phone: (781) 861-2500
Frances Bose - Bowman Elementary School
Phone: (781) 861-2500
Laura Davidian - Clarke Middle School
phone: (781) 861-2450
Carolyn Hine - Estabrook Elementary School
phone: (781) 861-2520
AnneMarie Roche - Estabrook Elementary School
phone: (781) 861-2520
Robyn Dowling-Grant - Diamond Middle School
phone: (781) 861-2460
Catherine Murphy - Fiske Elementary School
phone: (781) 541-5001
Marilyn Friedman - Harrington Elementary School
phone: (781) 860-0012
Cecilia Franzel - Hastings Elementary School
phone: (781) 860-5800
Barbara Adolph - Lexington High School
phone: (781) 861-2320
English Learner Education Office (781) 861-2558, ext. 238
