Building Spanish Proficiency to Better Support Students

Building Spanish Proficiency to Better Support Students

During the 2021–2022 school year, about 60% of Ciera Nickerson’s students were English language learners, with 15–25% speaking only Spanish. Recognizing the need to better connect with these students, Ciera set a personal goal to improve her Spanish skills. She successfully secured funding from Knowles to take group Spanish lessons at a local studio, which helped her communicate more effectively. Encouraged by this progress, Ciera sought additional support from Knowles to attend a Spanish immersion program. In the summer of 2022, she and Teaching Fellow Morgan Phillips spent 18 days in Puebla, Mexico. Each day included six hours of instruction, combining small group and one-on-one lessons tailored to their needs. These experiences boosted Ciera’s confidence in communicating with her Spanish-speaking students, enabling her to support their learning better and build stronger, more meaningful relationships.