Andrea Linette Rodriguez, a third grader at McAllen ISD’s Sanchez Elementary, has won a national essay competition.
Rodriguez took first place in the Elementary School Level for the National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE) 2023 Being Bilingual Essay Competition.
She will read her essay in both English and Spanish at the NABE 2023 Awards Luncheon, February 24, in Portland, Oregon.
“I grew up in two worlds, one in English y otro en espanol (and one in Spanish),” she began in her essay. “I’m proud that my brain has two words for family and home because I’m from both sides of the border.”
Rodriguez is in a dual-language class at Sanchez Elementary. In a dual-language classroom, students learn their lessons in two languages. Students in a dual language setting, learn to read, write and speak in two languages English and Spanish.
The program began in 2013. The program is also offered at Fields Elementary, Gonzalez Elementary, Jackson Elementary, McAuliffe Elementary, Milam Elementary and Perez Elementary with Fossum Middle School and Achieve Early College High available for older students. Fifth-graders can actually earn a high school foreign-language credit before they step foot in middle school.
Anyone interested in placing their child in a Dual Language classroom may contact the McAllen ISD Bilingual Department at 956-618-7338.
National Association for Bilingual Education
https://www.nabe-conference.com/index.html
