CECI GOMEZ-GALVEZ

ES EAL Coordinator

Saigon South International School, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam | 2019-Present

I continue the work I started as team leader in terms of embedding WIDA standards into our curriculum, as well as continuing to build a culture where collaborative and culturally responsive practices are at the center of teaching and learning.

I worked with the grade 1 team supporting the language development of young multilingual learners as well as collaborating and co-teaching with classroom teachers. In 2020 I was selected as ES EAL Team Leader and currently within this role I focus on the alignment of our divisions’ practices as well as embedding WIDA language development standards into our school’s curriculum.

EAL Teacher | EAL Coordinator | Team Leader

Shekou International School, Shenzhen, China | 2010-2019

I worked with teachers as a collaborator, co-teacher and coach to support ELLs grades 6-10 and IB; work one-on-one with ELLs of high, medium and low support needs; and teach a grade 9 EAP (English for Academic Purposes) class. In the the past eight years, I’ve supported teachers and learners in both lower (KG-G1) and upper (G4-5) primary as well.

My responsibilities as coordinator and team leader included:

-scheduling and coordinating regular team meetings to discuss student progress, teacher schedules, reporting and admissions matters across divisions

-keeping abreast of current trends and practices in second language learning; facilitating implementation of changes as needed to strengthen and balance the school’s ELL support model

-updating and informing parents on aspects of the EAL program by maintaining transparency about the support given to ELLs at the different divisions

I also led our team into integrating innovative contemporary tools to support ELL development as well as embed the WIDA can-do framework to both assess and report on our ELL population.

In addition to my duties as team leader, as coordinator of the program I organized two highly successful EAL conferences for the region. Each conference hosted 150 participants on average. For more information on the events, see the 'Conferences' section below.

MS/HS EAL Support Teacher

The American School of Milan, Milan, Italy | 2006-2010

I supported MYP Years 1-5 students within a blended EAL program (in class support as well as a pull-out support class). I was advisor to both MYP Personal Projects and IB Extended Essays.

MYP Language B Spanish Teacher

The American School of Milan, Milan, Italy | 2007-2010

I taught Spanish Language B to MYP year 2 students (G7).

TOEFL Preparation Teacher

Politecnico di Milano (Polytechnic University of Milan), Milan, Italy | 2005-2007

I taught preparation courses to Italian nationals looking to apply to universities overseas.

ESL Coordinator & Support Teacher

Equity American School, Guatemala City, Guatemala | 2001-2005

Led the ESL program and supported students and teachers across all divisions. I also taught an ACT prep course which allowed for many of our students to apply and attend colleges in the United States.