Mosaic of Best Practices
Back to School: Planting the Seed for MLL/ELL Success in Two Easy Steps
Kimberly Nazario Markus
ENL Specialist
Pacing with a Purpose: Making Content and Language Accessible for Multilingual Learners (MLLs)
Seha Yucel
ELL Teacher
A Conversation with Colin Farabee: Innovating Multilingual Education
Colin Farabee
MLL/ESL Specialist
ENL Teaching Strategies: How Two Teachers Support Multilingual High School Newcomers
Seha Yucel
ELL Teacher
ENL Teaching Strategies: How Two Teachers Support Multilingual High School Newcomers
Narunee Meesawan-Cabrera
ENL Teacher
Social Work Month: Celebrating the Essential Mental Health Professionals in Our Schools
Shannon Cullen
Clinical Social Worker
Inside Middle School Education: How One Teacher Transforms Student Learning Through Inclusive Practices
Brandon Markell Holmes
Middle School Teacher
Guest Op-Ed: Why Supporting Student Behavior is Every Educator’s Responsibility: A Social Worker’s Perspective
Laura DeVore
School Social Worker
The Missing Puzzle Piece: A Conversation About Family Engagement
Marilyn Perez
Family Engagement Coordinator
Representation Matters: How One MLL/ELL Teacher Created a Career Day for Multilingual Learners
Kelly Clinton
ENL Teacher
Creating Opportunities for Every Student: An MLL/ELL Coordinator’s Impact
Yessenia Garcia
Multilingual Learner Coordinator
Meet 2025 S.P.A.R.K. Award Winner: Angela Singh (Part 1)
Angela Singh
Network Director of Multilingual Learners
In Conversation with 2025 S.P.A.R.K. Award Winner Charisma Wright (Part 1)
Charisma Wright
Assistant Principal
Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week with Allana Fraser
Dr. Allana Fraser
ESL Teacher & Coordinator
Welcoming with Intention: One MLL/ELL Teacher’s Process for Introducing Newcomers to School and Staff
Kimberly Nazario Markus
ENL Specialist
Meet 2025 S.P.A.R.K. Award Winner Angela Singh (Part 2)
Angela Singh
Network Director of Multilingual Learners
In Conversation with 2025 S.P.A.R.K. Award Winner Charisma Wright (Part Two)
Charisma Wright
Assistant Principal
Building Connections & Centering Culture: One Teacher’s Approach to Belonging
Lauren Burgos
5th Grade ESL Teacher & English Language Learner Interventionist
From Vision to Seal: How One School Built a Culture of Biliteracy
Johanna Quizhpe
Spanish Department Chair & Seal of Biliteracy Coordinator
Practitioner Perspectives: The Power of Routines in My High School Classroom
Samantha Lugo
Special Education Teacher
Belong, Grow, Lead: One Special Populations Lead’s Approach to Building Inclusive Community
Giselle Tejada
Middle School Social Worker
Organize, Ask, Support: Key Insights for New MLL/ELL Leaders
Melissa Perez
Special Populations Manager
Enhancing School-Family Partnerships: Reflections from a “Supper with SPED” Event
Shakera Bennett
Dean of Intervention & Special Education
Double Doors: Celebrating Bilingual Voices through Fourth Grade Poetry
Jardy Santana
Director of ENL Services and Family Initiatives
Creating Positive Reading Experiences: Malcolm Dill on Literacy, Legacy, and Black Excellence
Malcolm A. Dill
Children’s Author & Educator
Equity-Driven Feedback as an Inclusion Practice: How Standards-Based Rubrics Build Access, Clarity, and Belonging for All Learners
Dr. Elly Blanco Rowe
Senior Instructional Leader & STEM Educator
Scaling a Vision: How Strategic Leadership Helps Transform MLL/ELL Support Across a Network
Danielle “Dee” Perez Estrada
Regional Director of Student Support Services
How to Make Co-Teaching Work: Tips on Planning and Collaboration
Nick Kaiser
Senior Director of Student Supports
Seen, Heard, and Supported: One Teacher’s Approach to Inclusive Education
Ángel Montalvo
7th Grade Writing Teacher
Get Your Hands Dirty: Leadership Lessons from an Assistant Principal
Natalie Gonzalez
Assistant Principal of Curriculum & Instruction
A Calling Within a Calling: Lessons from a Special Educator on Relationships, Resilience, & Growth
Chelsea Williams
Early Childhood Educator & Special Education Specialist
Practitioner Perspectives: What Teens Are Really Experiencing Right Now
Kestra Marshall
Social Worker & Psychotherapist
“They Need to Know They’re Loved”: Human-Centered Special Education in Action
Justin Vargas
6th Grade Humanities Learning Specialist
A Conversation with 2026 S.P.A.R.K. Award Winner Angie Torres
Angie Torres
Director of Special Populations
Interview with 2026 S.P.A.R.K. Winner Denise Saavedra
Denise Saavedra
ELA Interventionist & SPED
“What You Focus On Grows”: DREAM’s Strategic Planning System for ELL Outcomes
Kristine Rigley
Managing Director of Student Support