TELL Training Program: Hispanic initiative teachers selected for Cobb County Schools
Twenty Cobb County School District teachers were selected from a pool of more than 80 applicants to…
Georgia (May 9, 2003) — TELL Training Program: Hispanic initiative teachers selected for Cobb County Schools
Staff
Abstract
Twenty Cobb County School District teachers were selected from a pool of more than
80 applicants to participate in the first round of the Teaching English Language Learners
(TELL) Training Program.
The TELL Training Program −− funded by an $800‚000 federal grant to Kennesaw State
University‚ in conjunction with the Cobb County School District −− will train mainstream
teachers to more effectively work with students who are English language learners.
Each of the 100 schools in Cobb County is expected to send a participant during the
five semesters of the TELL grant. The first round begins this fall.
Several of the selected teacher participants will also take advantage of a two−week
study abroad in Mexico made possible through a complementary grant through the Cobb
County School District. The study abroad will include beginning‚ intermediate and
advanced level Spanish language classes‚ along with urban and rural travel. The study
abroad immersion experience was crafted by TELL personnel to help teachers understand
the language and cultural barriers their students from other countries might face
when entering U.S. schools. The trip will be May 31−June 14‚ 2003.
The TELL program provides strategies teachers can use to develop academic content
and help students with language development. The program seeks to enroll skilled teachers
who are most familiar with the culture and needs of their own schools and exhibit
a strong commitment to helping students keep up academically while overcoming language
difficulties. Teachers who complete the TELL Training Program are asked to customize
what they learn to fit their own schools‚ serve as mentors to other teachers and spread
the practices they learn.
Training begins August 19‚ and continues through 2005. Each semester‚ 20 teachers
will receive intensive training. Those teachers will return to their own schools to
train 20 additional teachers through mentoring and workshops. In all‚ 100 teachers
will receive intensive training‚ and an additional 2‚000 teachers will receive mentoring
and workshops. The TELL Training Program offers training to teachers both onsite and
online.
In Cobb County and nationwide‚ the majority of English language learning students
are Hispanic. The TELL Training Program was created collaboratively by Dr. Evelyne
Barker‚ supervisor of Foreign Language and ESOL with the Cobb County School District‚
and Dr. Judy Holzman‚ professor of Spanish with KSU's Foreign Language department.
For more information‚ contact Sherie Fuchko‚ project director‚ at 404−403−1368 or
sfuchko@kennesaw.edu.
A list of participating teachers and their schools follows.
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Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive‚ residential institution with a growing
student population of 15‚600 from 118 countries. The fifth largest out of 34 institutions
in the University System of Georgia‚ KSU offers 55 undergraduate and graduate degree
programs.
TELL training participants and school
Ransom‚ Becky (Hayes ES)
Johannes‚ Michelle (Kennesaw ES)
Joynt‚ Jennifer (Campbell HS)
Utt‚ Heather (Mableton ES)
Patton‚ Daphine (Skyview ES)
St. Aimee‚ Joselyn (Campbell MS)
Conkright‚ Jan (Oakwood HS)
Wrensen‚ Susan (Daniell MS)
Diaz‚ Olympia (Palmer MS)
Hauseman‚ Rebecca (Sprayberry HS)
Bryant‚ Pamela (Bryant ES)
White‚ Kristen (Sedalia Park ES)
TELL and Mexico program participants:
Cole‚ Lille (Riverside ES)
Loftin‚ Brandi (Green Acres ES)
Kiehle‚ Mary Jo (East Cobb MS)
Arnett‚ Stacey (Durham MS)
McCracken‚ Lola (Wheeler HS)
McCoy‚ Wes (North Cobb HS)
Groover‚ James (Belmont Hills ES)
Filer‚ Lisa (Milford ES)
A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.
