Dare County's dual language program praised at school board meeting - The Coastland Times

Dare County’s dual language program praised at school board meeting

Published 4:42 pm Wednesday, December 29, 2021

: Dual language immersion students at Kitty Hawk Elementary School spoke in Spanish and English to the Dare County Board of Education on Dec. 14, 2021. Speaking at the beginning of public comment were, from left, Lola Chovaz (second grade), Jackie Lupean (fourth grade) and Mollie Goldberg (second grade). Stella and Lulu Berryman also spoke but were not in school the day the picture was made on December 17. Courtesy Dare County Schools

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“Thank you for giving us this awesome opportunity at our school,” said Mollie Goldberg at the Dec. 14, 2021 Dare County Board of Education meeting.

Second graders Goldberg and Lola Chovaz were the first to offer public comment. Their topic was the dual language immersion program at Kitty Hawk Elementary School. In both Spanish and English, the two students shared favorite memories from kindergarten and first and second grades.

Three more students also addressed the board: Jackie Lupean, Stella Berryman and Lulu Berryman. One student said she wanted the program to continue. The students also talked about learning about other cultures and holiday traditions.

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The students’ teachers are Constanza Reyes for second grade and Liz Diaz for fourth grade.

Johanna Parker, director of innovation for Dare County Schools, is in charge of the dual language program, which is offered in all Dare County elementary schools. She said work is now underway setting up the fifth grade program for Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Manteo and Cape Hatteras elementary schools. At First Flight, the program will expand to the fourth grade.

Parker also said that the system is beginning to explore continuing the program for grades six through 12.

A dozen adults also spoke during public comment.

Two spoke against Agenda 21, a comprehensive plan of action adopted 30 years ago, June 1992, at a United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janerio, Brazil. The agenda was reaffirmed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the fall of 2002.

Seven adults spoke against masks. “The time for mandatory masking is over,” said Vince Logan.

Bobbi Wells submitted a second Freedom of Information Act request to the board on behalf of the Dare County Citizens for Constitutional Rights.

John Carter said “I believe a great number of our societal problems stem from a lack of biblical education in our school system.”

In Dec. 14 meeting, the instructional highlight addressed the AVID program at Manteo High School, where the meeting was held. The high school has applied to be an AVID demonstration program. The AVID program – Advancement via Individual Determination – is in all Dare middle and high schools.

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