Over the past four weeks, WRAL interviewed William Sarmiento, an ESL teacher at Southern Nash Middle School, and Perla Palacios, an interpreter for Nash County Public Schools. They were joined by Anabel Gonzalez, a parent of former and current ESL students, to reflect on the district’s efforts to help students thrive academically.
You can watch and read the story by clicking the link below,
https://www.wral.com/news/local/nash-county-schools-spanish-student-resources-october-2024/
Nash County Public Schools provides more resources to Spanish-speaking students as population grows
As Nash County experiences rapid demographic changes, the local school district is expanding resources to better serve its growing Spanish-speaking student population.
Heidi Kirk, WRAL eastern North Carolina reporter
Several counties bordering Wake are experiencing some of the fastest growth in our state, and with that growth comes a changing demographic.
The latest data shows that Nash County Public Schools has 1,750 Spanish-speaking students across the district, a number that is growing every year.
You can see the pride in Anabel Gonzalez's eyes as she talks about her kids. She has a 6th grader, a senior in high school and a recent college graduate.
Gonzalez does not speak fluent English, so WRAL News interviewed her with an interpreter.
"My oldest daughter started here in kindergarten and with no English at all. Spanish was her first language," Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez said she immigrated to the United States from Mexico City 20 years ago.
Today, all three of her children speak Spanish and English, all thanks to their education at Nash County Public Schools.
"They can communicate and have better opportunities because they are bilingual," she said.
Nash County Public Schools officials have seen a steady increase in Spanish-speaking students.
William Sarmiento has had a front seat to some of that growth as an ESL teacher.
"Most of our kids come from Mexico, Honduras, Venezuela, Columbia, and Nicaragua," he said.
Sarmiento and 14 other ESL teachers help students become proficient enough in English to eventually test out of the ESL programs.
"We help them to navigate all of the standards they have to meet," he said.
Sarmiento said there is a need for more bilingual teachers in the district as it grows.
"This school district has a lot of migrant students from different backgrounds," Sarmiento said. "The kids need more bilingual teachers to help them learn the language."
WRAL News asked the district how it plans to support Hispanic students going forward; they sent us a statement.
"As Nash County's Hispanic population grows, Nash County Public Schools (NCPS) is committed to providing an inclusive environment. The district expands ESL programs, offers bilingual staff and translated materials, promotes culturally responsive teaching, and celebrates Hispanic heritage with community events."
Currently, Nash County Public Schools has one open ESL position.
Gonzalez tells us that learning English changed her daughter's life; she became a teacher herself.
"She has Hispanic children come up to her and ask her," 'Do you speak Spanish?' and see their little faces when she says yes. Being able to help them and communicate with them in their language brings her a lot of joy," she said.