Akiko Graves Aldeco
500 Falls Blvd, Apt. F6132, Quincy,MA
Summary
Dedicated ESL/Bilingual Spanish educator with 15 years of global experience, adept at establishing quick rapport and inspiring students from varied linguistic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Proven track record as a teacher leader committed to guaranteeing equitable access to grade-level curriculum, rigorous pedagogy, and inclusive learning environments for all multilingual learners.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
High School Newcomers/SLIFE ESL Teacher
Dedham Public Schools
Dedham, Massachusetts
09.2023 - Current
- Design curriculum and implement lesson plans tailored to address the diverse needs of newcomer and SLIFE (Students with Limited or Interrupted Formal Education) students.
- Work closely with students' content teacher(s) to ensure alignment of instruction and effective support for English language development.
- Lead instruction in newcomer classes encompassing American History, Integrated Math, Intensive English, and Biology, fostering comprehensive academic growth.
- Establish an inclusive classroom environment that promotes learning opportunities for all students, regardless of cultural background, language proficiency, or ability level.
- Administer the WIDA screener, ACCESS, and Alternate ACCESS to identified EL students.
Elementary ESL Teacher
Deforest Area School District
Deforest, Wisconsin
08.2019 - 07.2023
- Implemented a comprehensive language program tailored to meet the needs of all students.
- Delivered targeted ESL instruction through push-in and small group settings, accelerating newcomer students' proficiency in academic English.
- Collaborated with grade-level teachers in co-planning and co-teaching sessions to demonstrate effective teaching strategies.
- Conducted screening assessments for identified multilingual learners and administered the ACCESS, Alternate ACCESS, and WIDA MODEL assessments.
International Parent Link Liaison
Western Academy of Beijing (WAB)
Beijing, China
03.2014 - 02.2019
- Acted as a liaison between international families and the school community, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
- Offered cultural orientation and support to aid families in acclimating to the school environment and the local community.
- Planned and executed cultural events and workshops aimed at promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Worked closely with school leadership to devise policies and initiatives geared towards increasing parent involvement and engagement.
International School Director & Lead ESL Teacher
Shirogane International School
Tokyo, Japan
08.2006 - 07.2009
- Oversaw leadership duties including the recruitment, selection, and supervision of classroom teachers, assistant teachers, and extracurricular staff.
- Acted as the principal point of contact for new families, managing enrollment processes, facilitating orientation sessions, and collecting program fees and tuition.
- Contributed to program budgeting efforts, guiding the allocation of resources to support family engagement initiatives, international celebrations, and cultural excursions.
- Implemented professional development initiatives aimed at enhancing staff members' proficiency in culturally responsive teaching methodologies.
English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program Director
Carmel School Hong Kong
Hong Kong, China
08.2005 - 07.2006
- Conducted assessments such as the WIDA Screener, WIDA MODEL, ACCESS, or Alternate ACCESS to measure students' English language proficiency levels.
- Designed a WIDA-aligned curriculum to facilitate rapid language acquisition for English Learners across proficiency levels.
- Offered co-teaching, instructional, and inclusion assistance in mainstream classes to cater to the needs of multilingual learners.
- Organized cross-cultural engagement events for students and families to promote cultural awareness.
Education
Instructional Leadership Certificate -
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Cambridge, MA05-2023
Master of Arts - Bicultural-Bilingual Studies
University of Texas, College of Education
San Antonio, TX12-2004
Bachelor of Arts - Spanish, Anthropology, Latin American Studies
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Madison, WI05-2001
Some College (No Degree) - MA+30 Graduate Credits
American College of Education
Indianapolis, INSkills
- Sheltered Instruction Strategies (SIOP Model)
- Bicultural-Bilingual Education (Spanish)
- Newcomers/SLIFE
- Culturally Responsive Instruction
- Curriculum Design & Development
- Co-Teaching/Co-Planning
- Instructional Coaching
- Multilingual Family Engagement
Teacher Licenses
- English as a Second Language, K-6, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 58726411
- English as a Second Language, 5-12, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 58726411
- Bilingual-Bicultural Education (Spanish), Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Lifetime Teacher License, Entity Number: 849334
Core Values
- Social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Compassion and Tolerance
- Teamwork
- Lifelong Learning
Languages
- English- Native Language
- Spanish- Bilingual Proficiency
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
High School Newcomers/SLIFE ESL Teacher
Dedham Public Schools
09.2023 - Current
Elementary ESL Teacher
Deforest Area School District
08.2019 - 07.2023
International Parent Link Liaison
Western Academy of Beijing (WAB)
03.2014 - 02.2019
International School Director & Lead ESL Teacher
Shirogane International School
08.2006 - 07.2009
English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program Director
Carmel School Hong Kong
08.2005 - 07.2006
Instructional Leadership Certificate -
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Master of Arts - Bicultural-Bilingual Studies
University of Texas, College of Education
Bachelor of Arts - Spanish, Anthropology, Latin American Studies
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Some College (No Degree) - MA+30 Graduate Credits
American College of Education
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