Early this month, Hidalgo Independent School District (HISD) was invited to present at La Cosecha Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico titled Creating a Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Dual Language Early Childhood Classroom. Representing Hidalgo ISD, Martha Garza, Executive Director of Teaching and Learning and Greg Solano, Director of Curriculum, and Instruction alongside elementary principals; Dora Proa, Laura Garza, Naila Martinez and Erika Zatarain, and early childhood educators; Rebecca Gutierrez, Yadira Rodriguez, and Olga Almanzar were also in attendance.
This was a great opportunity for Hidalgo ISD to showcase the dual language program implementation that has impacted the community in Hidalgo for the past 25+ years.
At the conference, Garza and her team emphasized the importance of validating and affirming the students' cultural and linguistic backgrounds in all aspects of learning while building and bridging a student with the academic setting. During the presentation, “we provided an overview of the dual language environment, oral language development, culturally and linguistically sustaining practices, biliteracy and dual language assessments,” explained Garza. “Our school leaders and teachers did an outstanding job representing Hidalgo ISD at this conference in which over 3,000 educators from across the nation gather to learn about the dual language immersion programs.”
Hidalgo ISD provides a cultural and linguistically responsive and comprehensive learning environment aligned with students’ cultures and identities.
Education plays a very critical role in one’s life and is the most powerful tool one can obtain. It’s truly the great equalizer for opening future possibilities, and that’s just what HISD wants to instill in students and educators across the district. Hidalgo ISD encourages a well-rounded, quality education for all students.
“We have a team of people from administrators, teachers, parents, and community that come together to collaborate and make sure we bring meaningful and purposeful material that validate the students’ culture and language,” said Garza.
Culturally responsiveness teaching has been introduced to the educators across the grade levels throughout the district by “targeting the community, speaking the language, that we are aware and come to know the culture and that our students know that we are here for them,” said Amando Gonzalez, district licensed professional counselor for mental health and crisis response supports.
Leaders and educators at Hidalgo ISD work as one to bring quality instructional materials which are culturally and linguistically relevant.
At Hidalgo ISD “we get to know who our students; their backgrounds, interests, families, and their community,” said Gutierrez, Resource and Lead teacher at J.C. Kelly Elementary.
Gutierrez had the opportunity to present at La Cosecha Conference. She shared authentic artifacts from Mexico and best practices to engage students using their culture and language. “As educators we use all of these components as the number one tool which drives our instruction because our goal is to empower students to succeed in a globally and diverse environment while in school and beyond," added Gutierrez.
The district provides numerous opportunities and resources to promote the students’ culture, traditions, and beliefs.
Additionally, teachers bring culturally relevant books and resources in which students can connect authentically and linguistically both in English and Spanish.
Ida Diaz Jr. High Sandra San Miguel’s Spanish class and Mitch D’arte art class collaborated to create an altar/ofrenda (offerings) to honor the memory of their loved ones that have passed away. This day is known as Dia De los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, in Mexico. Each year on November 1st marks the beginning of this holiday.
“We create an ofreda every year to honor our loved ones and keep the tradition alive,” said seventh-grade student, Giselle Martinez. “This year, I did my ofrenda based on my tia (aunt) who sadly passed away due to cancer.”
These connections in a classroom setting allow students to have “access to a rigorous curriculum and develop higher level academic skills,” explained Dora Proa, J.C. Kelly principal.
Furthermore, J. C. Kelly was selected to participate in a national research publication due to it being the top 1% of schools who were able to close the achievement gap for students from prekindergarten through fifth grade.
Hidalgo ISD prides itself in cultivating an exceptional education for all students; from our exemplary early childhood program, the dual language, one - and two-way program, along with our early college program which in return, have graduated over thirty percent of students with an associate degree.