English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
ESOL
Meet the ESOL Team
We, the ESOL team, provide tiers of support for language learners. We actively nurture their academic and socio-emotional development. Through collaboration, we empower teachers by providing strategies and scaffolds that support all levels of language acquisition. We value and encourage students and parents to foster bilingualism and cultural diversity. Beyond the classroom, we advocate for our families and act as a bridge for the community. We warmly welcome new students to our Westlawn family.
Our ESOL Teachers:
Rida Alami
Hello! My name is Rida Alami, I have been an ESOL teacher for 15 years and I joined Westlawn in 2020. Westlawn became my second home as soon as I joined, it’s an awesome community to be part of. I am originally from Lebanon and I am an ESOL student myself. I really enjoy working with Language Learners and I feel I can personally connect with them and their experiences. Our team is awesome to work with and everybody is constantly collaborating to use effective instructional strategies to help students become actively involved in their learning objectives.
Patricia Cardenas
Hello! I am Pat Cardenas. I joined the Westlawn ESOL team in 2016. I primarily work with the first grade team collaborating with other teachers. I have been an ESOL teacher for over 20 years and have worked at 3 other schools prior to Westlawn. Westlawn is by far my favorite school! It is a warm, engaging, inclusive environment in which all staff help one another and focus on our students. I enjoy swimming, gardening, working out and being outdoors!
Diana Ciro Torres
I joined Westlawn Elementary in 2021. I have been an ESOL teacher as well as a classroom teacher in the U.S. and Colombia for over 20 years. I love working with language learners because I believe we are global citizens and as such, we should be able to communicate with as many people as we can so we can all grow and learn from each other. Westlawn is a very special community and I feel honored to be part of it. I enjoy traveling and discovering new places all over the world.
Maria Diaz
Tracey Jackson
Hello, I'm Dr. Jackson. I've been a fifth grade ESOL Teacher and former Special Education Teacher at Westlawn since 2010. I love working with students from all over the world and learning from them about their culture and native language. Outside of school, I enjoy music, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Caroline Litman
Jill Salvaterra
I have been teaching ESOL at Westlawn since 2007. I love working with new students from all over the world. What keeps me at Westlawn is the amazing community--our teachers are compassionate, dedicated, and highly qualified. Aside from our staff, the families and children who attend our school create a loving community. In my free time, I enjoy exploring new places and practicing my Spanish.
Alfredo Sanchez Bolivar
Hi! I have been a member of the Westlawn community since 2011. I work with my teams to ensure our students have quality instruction and become life-long learners. Westlawn has become my second home, and I enjoy working with the staff, students and the community at large. In my free time, I love traveling and spending time with my family and friends. I am honored to be part of the Westlawn community.
Learn About ESOL Services
Our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) services help students achieve academic success, develop critical thinking skills, and solve problems. More specifically, ESOL services:
- Develops English learners’ language proficiency and communication skills.
- Creates rigorous content-based curricula and resources to foster English learners’ collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Supports English learners’ access to advanced academics or appropriate special services.
- Provides learning environments that build on students’ diverse academic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds.
- Promotes active participation of English learners and their families in the school community.