Adult Learners as Teachers: Supporting Career Pathways and Community Engagement

Abstract: According to a 2016 report from the Learning Policy Institute, the nation is facing a teacher shortage due to a variety of factors, including compensation and lack of resources. Furthermore, the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) reports that 32% of children (ages 0-8) in schools are dual language learners (DLLs). Because of these factors, school districts are working to find creative solutions to prevent teacher attrition and serve the needs of all students, especially dual language learners. The presenter will provide an overview of partnerships with Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools to provide creative solutions to these problems, while providing career pathways for immigrants and refugees in the communities. Attendees will leave with a model of how to implement similar programming and a curricular framework, as well as sample tools for instruction for contextualized ESL classes.