Position: Bilingual-ESL Instructional Coordinator
School: Highlands Elementary School
School District: Cedar Hill ISD
City, State: Cedar Hill, TX
Tamara Sanchez was nominated by her colleague, Sharon Kay Snowton, for her hard work and dedication to teaching students to be "bilingual, bi-literate and bi-cultural."
Mrs. Sanchez has long been an advocate of bilingual education. The work she does benefits all second language learner students in Cedar Hill ISD. Working with a second language learner community consisting of students from many different parts of the world, Mrs. Sanchez makes sure her students are provided with more than they need to succeed. She makes a positive difference in their lives, both academically and socially, helping them adapt to their new environments.
At Highlands Elementary, Mrs. Sanchez supports more than 20 bilingual and ESL teachers, as well as the 20+ ESL teachers in her district. She makes sure that the teachers she supervises have the training they need, that they have access to the latest research, and that they can share information they learn with the greater education community. Mrs. Sanchez is actively involved in providing staff development for teachers. Her background is in Special Education, particularly the needs of students identified as Second Language Learners. Her leadership in the school and district is appreciated by all. She regularly "tweets" out the latest information in bilingual and ESL education to all, and is currently working towards the Seal of Bilingual/ Biliteracy for her students. Keeping the native language heritage alive is very important to Mrs. Sanchez.
She is known for her nurturing care towards all students in the district. She provides students with extra services if they need them, and goes the extra mile to find any outside services. When several parents requested English classes, for example, she created a list of all free English classes in the Cedar Hill area for the parents. She holds parent meetings, and sometimes provides translators to make sure everyone gets the information. Mrs. Sanchez speaks Spanish herself, and has a strong belief in the Dual Language Program.
Mrs. Sanchez believes in education as a tool for advancement. She sets a high bar for students and inspires their ambitions.
"I know several students, elementary and high school, that she has impacted in a positive way," Snowton said. "When they grow up, they want to do what she does and help Second Language learner students."
Mrs. Sanchez has high moral and ethical standards. Ms. Snowton often tells her that she is a "good kid," as she is a young educator with lots of experience. She has lots of knowledge on bilingual and ESL education and shares that knowledge. When bilingual and ESL teachers asked for a bilingual Literacy Coach, she made that happen. When they asked to attend the Bilingual Education Association of the Metroplex Conferences, she made that happen. When they asked to be given support for the program they used, she recruited a wonderful young lady who was extremely familiar with the model the teachers used. Under Mrs. Sanchez' leadership, the ESL Program Model has flourished.