Denton ISD Our Impact In Your Community Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 11

the district.
Last year of the
approximate
29,000 students
enrolled, 4,370
or 15 percent
of students in
our community
are considered
English Language
Learners (ELL).
obstacles like
being a non-
native English
speaker are
important to
Mrs. Torres, but
sharing her story
and background
really drive her
to forge strong
relationships with
her students.
ELLs are students
who come to the
“I purposefully
Mrs. Heidi Torres believes in building strong relationships with her fourth graders at
district speaking
place photos
Wilson Elementary like Emma Anderson.
a native language
of me at their
other than
age and that of my family around the room for
English. And, while 90 percent of students speak
students to see,” she explained. “I want them to
Spanish as their native language, the number of
know that just because your parents may not
students who speak an Arabic language
have gone to college, doesn’t mean you can’t –
is growing.
you absolutely can and should.”
Mrs. Torres co-teaches in an environment that has
the district experiencing
marked successes in
state asssessments
across all grade levels. In
her classroom, students
continue to learn core
content in their native
language of Spanish, in
addition to
learning English.
It’s a core belief that she not only preaches,
Ms. Torres
practices.
“I always
wanted to come
back and teach
here, this is
the first place
I applied and
the first place
I wanted my
daughter to go
to school,” said
Mrs. Torres. “My
daughter is down
“By keeping students
Mrs. Heidi Torres attended fourth grade in Mrs. Vanessa Suarez-Arispe’s
engaged in math,
class at Wilson Elementary, in the same room in which she now teaches
science, social studies
fourth grade.
and other content areas in
Spanish, students are staying on grade level,”
the hall in kindergarten.”
said Teresa Luna-Taylor, director of Bilingual/ESL
According to Mr. Leath, the passion she showed
programs during a recent report to the Board of
in her initial interview and her commitment to the
School Trustees. “At the same time, teaching them
community really gave her an edge during the
to speak and read English in a focused manner
hiring process.
has resulted in tremendous systemic gains.”
“She has a true sense of purpose and she
During an annual report to the Board, Ms. Luna-
understands the complete picture of a student’s
Taylor outlined double digit gains on STAAR, the
life and she truly can share her own story of how
state’s mandated test for students, in grades 3 – 5
education can transform a person’s life,” said Mr.
in all areas including reading, writing, math
Leath. “She can give them hope like no other
and science.
because she’s literally been in their spot.”
Getting a good education and overcoming
11