Siena has received state approval to launch a 15-credit bilingual extension graduate program for certified teachers.
The fully online, asynchronous Bilingual Education Extension program will launch this summer. It will prepare already certified Spanish/English bilingual teachers to serve culturally and linguistically diverse students in pre-K-12 bilingual education programs in New York state, according to Jesse Moya, Ph.D., department chair and associate professor of education.
Moya said the program supports English and Spanish instruction, equipping teachers with the necessary skills to meet the needs of English language learners (ELLs) and emergent bilingual learners through a culturally responsive framework.
“The shortage of qualified bilingual education teachers is a key challenge in successfully serving the needs of multilingual learners,” he explained. “The Education Department at Siena is excited to offer this new program to help address this pressing need."
Karen Gregory, Ph.D. and Gretchen Oliver, Ph.D., assistant professors of education, were instrumental in developing the extension program for Siena.
“This new program is responsive to the shortage of bilingual education teachers across the state,” said Gregory. “Graduates will be able to work in dynamic educational settings to help New York’s K- 12 students become biliterate and bilingual in Spanish and English.”
Oliver noted that the new program aligns with Siena’s mission, vision, and core values.
“It will offer students in the Education Department a pathway to enhance their knowledge, skills, and dispositions as culturally responsive educators through a blend of research-based coursework and practical fieldwork experiences.”
The flexible, online format will allow students to complete the program on a 1-year, 18-month, or 2-year timeline. Students will discover the essentials of ENL and bilingual instruction—engaging teaching methods, effective assessments, and the cultural factors shaping language learning, through coursework and fieldwork.
