K12 Summit Educator Series: Supporting Bilingualism Across Texas

Host of K12 Summit’s Educator Series podcast, JW Marshall, sat down with David Nungaray, the public relations chair for the Texas Association of Bilingual Education (TABE) and bilingual consulting partner with The New Teacher Project. Growing up as a bilingual student himself, Nungaray has a mission of elevating the importance of multilingual education.

For his home state currently, Texas is leading the charge in elevating the dual-language programs through legislature being proposed and passed, and the Texas Education Agency initiating dual-language frameworks across the state.

Nungaray reflected on his time as a former fourth-grade bilingual educator, and the joy of seeing students embrace their heritage in today’s more-supportive environment. “It’s amazing to see the kids who I taught back in fourth grade and now seeing them in college,” Nungaray said. “They often point to the fact that being bilingual and biliterate were a large part of what contributed to where they’re at today.”

So, how can others help support bilingualism advocacy and education? To celebrate its 50th year, TABE is hosting the inaugural Bilingual Symposium that features dual language’s three goals — academic achievement, bilingualism and biliteracy, and sociocultural competence — and speakers that represent each goal. Keynote speaker, Dr. Leo Gomez, will kick off the virtual event on June 17–18.

With the pandemic significantly adversely affecting multilingual students, Nungaray is excited to see the topic being talked about and put at the forefront of education priorities: “It’s exciting to see the work that dual language has in terms of transforming the work of education… We really want the best programs available to our students that are really helping them have a life of opportunities.”

For more information on the Symposium, follow TABE on social media or register on the event’s website.