Rev. Brian J. Shanley, O.P. President | St. John's University website

Mar 26 2024

The education of English language learners (ELL) took center stage at the 11th Annual Leadership Symposium held at St. John’s University. The event, sponsored by the Department of Administrative and Instructional Leadership (DAIL) within The School of Education (SOE), gathered educators, researchers, and leaders to discuss the needs of this growing student population.

"How will we prepare educators to meet the needs of diverse learners, especially English language learners, in the third decade of the 21st century?" questioned James D. Wolfinger, Ph.D., Dean of The School of Education. Wolfinger emphasized the importance of collaboration within the educational community to address these challenges effectively.

In her keynote address, Diane Rodriguez, Ph.D., Associate Dean at Fordham University, highlighted the value of embracing the native language, unique culture, and human learning potential of English language learners. Rodriguez stressed that these elements are fundamental to providing effective education to this group of students.

The symposium showcased research presentations by recent graduates from the SOE doctoral program and featured breakout sessions led by local school superintendents. The event, initiated in 2013 under the guidance of James Reed Campbell, Ph.D., continues to be a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices in supporting English language learners.

The symposium serves as a vital gathering for educators, researchers, and leaders to collaborate and learn from each other, ultimately enhancing the support and education provided to English language learners in schools throughout New York City and Long Island.