Bilingual elementary education Teaching Fellows can open a world of opportunities for a diverse student population.

Saint Paul students come from amazingly diverse backgrounds; 41% of our students are English Language Learners (ELL) – also known as English as a Second Language (ESL) students.  In total, Saint Paul Public School (SPPS) students speak 113 languages and dialects, including:

• Hmong - 10,644 students
• Spanish - 4,156 students
• Somali - 863 students
• Vietnamese - 317 students
• Oromo - 255 students
• Burmese/Karen - 228 students
• Amharic - 158 students

The majority of these students are Hmong, a Laotian ethnic group. Since the 1970s the Twin Cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis have welcomed these resettled students into their neighborhoods and classrooms. In 2006, one in four Saint Paul students was of Hmong descent. Please visit the website Learn About Hmong for more information about the Hmong population.

Hispanic students make up the second largest and one of the fastest growing ESL student populations in Saint Paul. In 2006, 4100 students, or about 13% of Saint Paul students, listed Spanish as their primary language. The Saint Paul Hispanic population is comprised of students and families from diverse national and cultural backgrounds.

Bilingual elementary education Teaching Fellows will work with members of Saint Paul’s large Hmong and Hispanic populations and will teach primarily in either Hmong or Spanish. Therefore, Teaching Fellow candidates interested in teaching bilingual elementary education should be fluent in either English and Hmong or English and Spanish.

Saint Paul Public Schools models a collaborative method in teaching ESL students – often using inclusion practices in elementary grades in which bilingual education teachers teach general elementary education while speaking mostly in the dominant student language. In middle and high schools, ESL students typically work in separate ESL classrooms focused on their proficiency levels. At all grade levels, successful bilingual education teachers differentiate their instruction to ensure that they are meeting all of their students’ academic needs.  Click here for more details from the SPPS English Language Leaner website.

The district has made significant gains in the past few years narrowing the achievement gap between ESL students and their peers. However, the challenge and the opportunity to ensure that all students succeed academically is ongoing, and new dedicated bilingual educators are in great need to ensure that the district continues to make strides to meet its high expectations for ESL students.

Bilingual elementary education Teaching Fellows have the chance to give back to the Saint Paul community by opening a world of opportunities for their students. Fellows may collaborate with other department members and teachers at their schools sites, and will also benefit from a network of other Teaching Fellows - a cohort of colleagues available to share challenges, best practices, and ideas.

Want to learn more? Click here for a 2006 Education Week article discussing ESL teaching in Saint Paul. Join us for an Information Session.