Karla del Rosal – 4.4 Million Reasons to Care…Do We Need More? – TEDxSMU Inside SMU 2015
Today, I also want to invite you to get involved in the education of English language learners. If you have time…become a volunteer. Once you know some of these children, you will become their life long advocate. If you have influence…use it to engage others in participating in this urgent matter. You can make the American dream possible for these children. If you have money…support an educator. It is a gift that keeps on giving and that impacts not only the educator but all those students that are influenced by him or her work. There are 4.4 reasons to care…Get involved…We need you!
In Mexico, I went to business school and worked as a corporate banker for some years. In 2011, I moved to the U.S. and my son Rodrigo started experiencing multiple social, emotional, and academic challenges in his school. As Rodrigo’s advocate, I became an active parent volunteer; later, a school paraprofessional; and eventually, a certified bilingual teacher. Once in the classroom, I realized that unfortunately most teachers were not prepared to effectively teach the growing population of English language learner students like my son. This was particularly true in K-12 mathematics and science classrooms.
With the purpose of learning more about this urgent matter, I obtained a Ph.D. in Education at the University of Colorado Boulder in the Educational Equity and Cultural Diversity Program. Today, I am proud to be an Assistant Professor in Teaching and Learning in Simmons School of Education and Human Development.