Page 46 - EdViewptsSpring2020

Paying It Forward with

I Learn America

By JoAnne Negrin, Ed.D., Supervisor of ESL, Bilingual Education, World
Languages, and Performing Arts, Vineland Public Schools

I consider my receipt of the The award came with a grant, and I contacted Mr. Dissard after receiving
2019 Visionary Leadership I knew that I wanted to spend that the award and inquired about whether
money on something special. When
it would be possible to do something
Award a win less for me I went to the annual conference of related to the film. Never did I expect
than for all of us who work the National Association for Bilingual that he would be willing to come and
spend multiple days with my students,
Education (NABE) last spring, I hap-
every day to ensure that pened to go to a session on I Learn helping them to reach within them-
our ELLs are given every America, a film directed by Jean-Michel selves to develop their own narratives.
Dissard and Gitte Peng. The film is a
We ultimately arranged for three visits,
opportunity to succeed. documentary that follows five newcom- including a final, culminating exhibi-
My mission is to demonstrate to our ers through their first year at a New tion of student work. In preparation for
students, our school community, York City high school. At that session, the project, I offered three screenings
and the community at large that our the students who were featured in the of the film to district teachers, one for
ELLs’ experiences make them strong, film spoke movingly about their experi- each level. I brought popcorn, movie
resilient, and set up for success. As ences as newcomers and about their candy, and, of course, PD certificates.
educators, it is our job to help them participation in the project. I purchased Teachers cried upon watching the film,
see those qualities in themselves, and a copy of the DVD, with the hopes of with many saying that they had never
help them learn how to build on that showing the film at my school. Little did considered the challenges so many of
resilience to propel them to chart a I know that NJPSA would make this our students face. Just showing the film
course in life. year’s journey possible. to our staff was a powerful and trans-
formational experience. I also arranged

Educational Viewpoints -44- Spring 2020