North Lamar ISD

English as a Second Language Program 

District ESL Coordinator

Melissa Lavoy

Email

903.737.2011

North Lamar ISD Vision

Empowering students for success by creating a learning environment that unlocks and develops each student's potential.  

Purpose of the ESL Program

The ESL program emphasizes the mastery of English language skills, as well as, mastery of mathematics, science, and social studies content, using research based methodologies appropriate for second language acquisition. 

ESL Mission Statement

The mission of North Lamar ISD's English as a Second Language Program is to meet the diverse educational and linguistic needs of all ELL students and ensure that they have a knowledge and skills necessary to lead productive lives as respectful, contributing citizens in our diverse society; as well as empower teachers and students through the alignment, equity and consistent implementation of ESL best practices. 

ESL Program Goals

• Nurture self-pride and self-identity in each student's linguistic and cultural heritage.
• Develop a strong support system offering opportunities across the curriculum to create an innovative school experience, teaching students to value their education and motivate them to achieve excellence.
• Provide meaningful innovative instruction that promotes critical thinking and problem solving.
• Provide non-native English speaking students of other languages with opportunities to become proficient in reading, writing, listening, and speaking the English language through the integrated use of second language methods and ELPS instruction.
• Enable students to maintain skills in their primary language as well as develop skills in their secondary language, thus enabling them to function fully in the general academic program and in future occupational opportunities.
• Promote acceptance of ESL instruction as an integral part of the whole school program that emphasizes the mastery of English language skills as well as academic achievement in Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. 

ESL Program Overview

North Lamar I.S.D.'s administration and staff are dedicated to serving the needs of all students who qualify for the ESL program.  In order to assure these students' needs are met, NLISD will continue having the NLISD ESL Coordinator and Instructional Coaches, in conjunction with Region 8 ESC consultants, train NLISD's teachers and principals to utilize ESL teaching strategies and implement the NLISD ESL program.  Trainings of this nature will help the regular classroom teachers understand the cognitive, linguistic, and cultural needs of their students.

• In pre-kindergarten through grade 1, the ESL program implements the self-contained model.  The teachers are ESL certified, or are working to obtain ESL certification.
• Grades 2-3, the English Language Arts and Reading teachers are ESL certified.
• Grades 4-5, the English Language Arts and Reading teachers are ESL certified.  The Pull-Out Model is also utilized by ESL certified reading interventionists.
• Grades 7-12 implement a self-contained class period, along with monitoring to serve ESL students.  Sheltered core area courses are becoming available to LEP students at the secondary level.
• The ESL Coordinator as well as ESL teachers will continue to evaluate and assess students new to NLISD for initial placement in the appropriate academic setting.

ESL Certified Campus Teachers