English learners with special needs often face significant barriers to accessing appropriate support in schools, and accurate identification is critical to their success. Steve Gill, a seasoned educator, school psychologist, and consultant with over 15 years of experience, joins Highest Aspirations to discuss the Critical Data Process—a framework designed to guide teams in evaluating and supporting dually identified students. Drawing from his extensive work with thousands of educators and school districts across the U.S., Gill shares his journey from recognizing the gaps in his own training to developing a system that prioritizes context, collaboration, and equity.

In this episode, Steve Gill delves into the complexities of identifying special education needs among English learners and the importance of viewing students through an asset-based lens. He highlights the value of building diverse evaluation teams, leveraging localized data, and fostering high expectations for all students. Whether you're an educator, school psychologist, or administrator, this conversation offers practical strategies for refining assessment practices, addressing systemic challenges, and ensuring that every student receives the support they need to thrive.

Key questions we address:

1. How can educators effectively use the Critical Data Process to differentiate between language acquisition challenges and potential disabilities in English learners?
2. What role do expectations, context, and collaboration play in creating equitable evaluations and interventions for dually identified students?
3. How can schools and districts adapt their systems to better support language learners and ensure accurate identification of their needs?

For additional episode and community resources:

1. Download the transcript here.
2. Visit Steve Gill’s website.
3. Steve Gill’s book on language acquisition.
4. Steve Gill’s book Let’s Talk.
5. For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog.
6. To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our ⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group.

Steve Gill is an experienced educator, school psychologist, and consultant who has dedicated his career to improving outcomes for English learners and students with special needs. With over 15 years of consulting experience, Steve has trained more than 23,000 educators across the U.S. and worked with professionals in 14 countries. His extensive career includes roles in gifted education, counseling, coaching, and developing innovative frameworks like the Critical Data Process—a tool designed to guide equitable evaluations for dually identified students.

Steve is also a prolific author, having co-authored 10 books, which reflect his passion for education, creativity, and practical solutions. Through his work, Steve continues to empower educators with strategies that foster equity, leverage data, and focus on the strengths of every student.

Newcomer students bring diverse strengths and experiences to their schools but often face unique challenges in adjusting to a new country, culture, and educational system. Amy King and Yvonne Williams from WCEPS join Highest Aspirations to discuss how clear communication, culturally responsive practices, and meaningful family engagement can help schools support newcomer families effectively.

In this episode, King and Williams share actionable strategies for building partnerships with families, fostering inclusive environments, and addressing the diverse needs of students and families. From leveraging families’ strengths to shifting deficit-based perspectives, this conversation offers valuable insights for educators committed to creating spaces where all students can succeed.

Key questions we address:

1. What strategies can schools implement to foster culturally responsive communication and actively engage families as partners in education?
2. How can educators address the unique needs of newcomer families while leveraging their strengths to create inclusive school environments?
3. What steps can schools take to ensure clear communication channels that respect and reflect families’ diverse cultural backgrounds?

For additional episode and community resources:

• Download the transcript here
• Watch the recording of Amy and Yvonne’s IMPACT session
• Engage with the Building Bridges padlet
• Learn more about WCEPS work on their website
• Stay updated on upcoming Tips and Dips webinars
• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog
• To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by joining our ⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group

Yvonne Williams is the Director of Multilingual Learner Educator Engagement at WCEPS, where she works closely with Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to support educators in meeting their goals. As an immigrant from Chihuahua, Mexico, and a former English language learner, Yvonne brings a deeply personal perspective to her work. Her 25+ years of experience in education, including her time as a WIDA Professional Learning Specialist, have shaped her dedication to helping diverse language learners succeed.

Amy King has more than 20 years of experience in the field of English language teaching both in the US and overseas. She served as a Senior Professional Learning Specialist at WIDA, taught ESL in K–12 public schools, private language schools, and adult education programs. Internationally, she has taught in both Slovakia and South Korea.

Newcomer students face unique challenges as they adjust to life in a new country, culture, and educational system. Dr. Marie Heath, an international educational consultant with over 30 years of experience, joins Highest Aspirations to share her expertise on acculturation and bicultural identity. Drawing from her own experience as the child of an immigrant and her doctoral research at Texas A&M Commerce, Dr. Heath discusses strategies for helping newcomer students build their bicultural identities while navigating the complexities of their new environment.

In this episode, Dr. Heath explores the importance of creating a welcoming space, building connections between schools and families, and equipping students with the tools they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. From developing systematic approaches to supporting newcomers to celebrating their strengths and unique contributions, this conversation provides actionable insights for educators dedicated to fostering inclusive classrooms.

Key questions we address:

1. How can educators help newcomer students build bicultural identities while easing their transition into a new school environment?

2. What strategies can schools use to engage newcomer families and create stronger school-community connections?

3. Why is it critical to address students’ emotional and cultural needs alongside academic goals, and how can teachers achieve this balance?

For additional episode and community resources:

• Download the transcript here.

• Learn more about the Multilingual Acculturation Studies for Newcomers course

• Access Multilingual Acculturation Studies Resources

• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog 

• To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our ⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group.

Dr. Marie Heath is an international educational consultant with over 30 years of experience in education. She earned her doctorate from Texas A&M Commerce, focusing on acculturation for immigrant adolescents and successful bicultural and bilingual integration. Growing up as the child of an immigrant, Dr. Heath understands the complexities of navigating multiple cultural worlds and has dedicated her career to what she calls “the beautiful art of grafting multicultural identities.”

Today, Dr. Heath works to help newcomer students and their families adjust to new cultural, linguistic, and academic environments, offering practical tools for fostering resilience and celebrating diversity.

In this episode of Highest Aspirations, Sandra sits down with Rocío Figueroa, Senior Instructional Content Manager at Ellevation, to explore how personalized professional development can transform teaching and learning for English learners. Drawing from her diverse experiences as a teacher, instructional coach, administrator, and consultant, Rocío shares practical strategies for tailoring professional learning to meet the unique needs of educators across content areas and grade levels.

They discuss the power of data-driven approaches to PD, the value of leveraging internal expertise within schools, and the importance of building collaborative teacher communities. As a speaker at Ellevation’s upcoming IMPACT Conference, Rocío offers a preview of her session, which focuses on creating actionable and meaningful learning opportunities that empower educators to better support their multilingual students.

⁠Resister for IMPACT Conference 2024 ⁠

For additional episode and community resources:

Download the ⁠transcript here⁠.

For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners,⁠ ⁠visit our blog⁠ 

To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our⁠ ⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group⁠.

The IMPACT Conference was born out of a desire to bring educators together during a time of unprecedented isolation and challenge. In this episode of Highest Aspirations, Ben McNelly and Steve Sofronas join us to reflect on the journey of the conference—from its inception during the height of the pandemic to its evolution into a dynamic virtual event that continues to serve educators nationwide.

They share insights into how the conference has grown to support English learners, the importance of fostering community among educators, and the ongoing commitment to making professional development accessible for all. As we look ahead to this year’s conference, Ben and Steve discuss how the theme of “Paving the way: Strengthening spaces where EL students can thrive” aligns with Ellevation’s mission to create spaces where multilingual students can succeed.

Resister for IMPACT Conference 2024

For additional episode and community resources:

• Download the transcript here.

• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog 

• To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our ⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group.

Welcome to Highest Aspirations, a podcast dedicated to empowering educators with insights and strategies to support multilingual learners in reaching their fullest potential. In this episode, we’re joined by Cheyen Herseth, an Elementary Multilingual Learning TOSA in Washington State and a WIDA Fellow, who has been instrumental in her district’s transition to the WIDA Framework.

Cheyen discusses her experiences leading this shift and how the WIDA Framework and Critical Data Process have reshaped her approach to supporting dually identified multilingual learners. She shares her perspective on navigating the complexities of implementing new frameworks while ensuring that students' diverse backgrounds and needs are honored.

Through her expertise, Cheyen provides valuable guidance on creating structured yet adaptable systems for multilingual learners, advocating for holistic assessment practices, and fostering collaborative networks that support students, families, and educators alike.

For additional episode and community resources:

• Download the transcript here.
• To learn more about the author of the Critical Data Process at SteveGillell.com.
• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog.
• To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our ⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group.

Welcome to Highest Aspirations, an education podcast focused on providing educators with inspiration and strategies to help multilingual learners achieve their highest aspirations. In this episode, we are joined by Yolanda Rios and Roxanne Rodriguez, leaders at Ellevation Education and co-leads of the SOMOS Employee Resource Group.

Yolanda and Roxanne share how their Latinx heritage has shaped their leadership styles and how they’ve used their cultural roots to foster a strong sense of community at Ellevation. We explore the importance of employee resource groups in creating spaces of belonging and how family values can influence leadership in the workplace.

Through their experiences, Yolanda and Roxanne offer valuable insights on embracing cultural identity at work, building inclusive teams, and paving the way for future leaders by honoring their heritage.

• Click here to download the⁠ ⁠⁠full episode transcript⁠⁠⁠.

• To find more podcast episodes and show notes/key takeaways, ⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our podcast resource page.⁠⁠⁠⁠

• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠⁠⁠⁠visit our blog.⁠⁠⁠

• To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group.⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to Highest Aspirations, an education podcast focused on providing educators with inspiration and strategies to help multilingual learners achieve their highest aspirations. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Juana Bordas, author of The Power of Latino Leadership – Ahora! and Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age.

Dr. Bordas discusses the vital role family and cultural connections play in shaping leadership within the Latino community. We explore how preserving cultural identity can empower the next generation of leaders, and Dr. Bordas shares key insights on cultural pride, education, and intergenerational leadership.

As a pioneer in leadership development and a lifelong advocate for advancing the Latino community, Dr. Bordas offers inspiration and actionable strategies for building future leaders who are deeply connected to their heritage.

• Click here to download the⁠ ⁠full episode transcript⁠⁠.

• To find more podcast episodes and show notes/key takeaways, ⁠⁠⁠visit our podcast resource page.⁠⁠⁠

• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠⁠⁠visit our blog.⁠⁠

• To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group.⁠⁠

• To learn more about Dr. Juana Bordas’ work ⁠click here⁠. 

Welcome to Highest Aspirations, an education podcast focused on providing educators with inspiration and strategies to help multilingual learners achieve their highest aspirations. We have a very special guest with us today, the co-founder of CoolSpeak, Ernesto Mejia. Mejia is the proud son of Mexican immigrants, and a true example of the American dream. Diagnosed with the rare disease of Guillain-Barré (ghee-yan bar-ray) Syndrome at the age of 16 that left him temporarily paralyzed, he was not supposed to be a successful student, much less a College Dean of Students. But through his hardships, Mejia learned to never give up on life. He now speaks to students, parents and teachers about overcoming obstacles and never giving up on the American dream of education. 

In this episode, we cover the meaning and importance of youth empowerment, the work of his company CoolSpeak, and how we can align programs and speakers we bring into a district with the needs of the audience and goals of the school.

• Click here to download the ⁠full episode transcript ⁠.

• To find more podcast episodes and show notes/key takeaways, ⁠⁠visit our podcast resource page.⁠⁠

• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠⁠visit our blog.⁠

• To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our⁠ ⁠⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group.⁠

• To learn more about Mejia’s work with CoolSpeak click here. 

Welcome to Highest Aspirations, an education podcast focused on providing educators with inspiration and strategies to help multilingual learners achieve their highest aspirations. We have a very special guest with us today, Dr. Rebecca Palacios. This episode is dedicated to all of our educators who are in back-to-school mode and I could think of no one better to get us talking about parent engagement and early childhood education than Dr. Rebecca Palacios. 

Dr. Palacios is a National Board Certified Teacher, and leading expert in early childhood education. With over five decades of experience, she is a pioneer in the field of dual language learning and specializes in curriculum planning and instructional design.

In addition to being a founding director of The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and formerly serving as its vice-chairperson, she is also a co-founder of the Texas National Board Coalition for Teaching and serves as its Treasurer. And she also serves as a Curriculum Board Member for Age of Learning, the leading education technology company that created ABCmouse.com Early Learning Academy.

For full episode resources and links, find the episode recap post on our podcast page.

• To download the full episode transcript click here

• To find more podcast episodes and show notes/key takeaways, ⁠visit our podcast resource page.⁠

• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, ⁠visit our blog.

  To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our⁠ ⁠Ellevation Educator Facebook Group.⁠

Welcome back to Season 13 of Highest Aspirations, an education podcast focused on providing educators with inspiration and strategies to help multilingual learners achieve their highest aspirations.

In this episode, Steve and Sandra will be sharing the mic as they talk about change, why it can be intimidating to some and motivating to others, and what’s next for both of us moving forward. They discuss what we can do to mitigate the emotions change can cause, how organizational culture impacts change management - or "change readiness", and how change can be used as a catalyst for personal and professional growth. 

• To download the full episode transcript, click here.
• To find more podcast episodes and show notes/key takeaways, visit our podcast resource page.
• For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, visit our blog.
• To expand your connection within the Ellevation community by join our Ellevation Educator Facebook Group.

Enjoy the episode and the chance to learn more about the new podcast host, Sandra Medrano-Arroyo! Thank you Steve for 12 amazing seasons as host.

Sandra is bilingual and bicultural, with over 25 years in education supporting ELs. Since joining Ellevation, she has created dual language content and professional learning modules. Now, as the National Director of Multilingual Learner Success, she advocates across the country. Sandra enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, gardening, and family time. Fun fact: She learned Italian cooking from a Sicilian Nonna and always secretly hoped to host her own cooking show!