by Ellevation Education
On the Highest Aspirations Podcast, we engage in important conversations about the most rapidly growing student demographic in the United States - English Language Learners. We speak with educators and students, researchers and policy makers, and parents and community members about how we can help all students reach their highest aspirations. Join us on this important journey as we bring the vibrant ELL Community together around the topics that matter most to the students we serve.
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Publishing Since
3/28/2018
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November 6, 2025
<p>In this episode of Highest Aspirations, Sandra Medrano-Arroyo speaks with Georgina Owen, Indian Education Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Education, about advancing authentic and equitable education for Native American students. Georgina shares how collaboration with tribal nations has shaped Colorado’s culturally grounded curriculum, strengthened trust, and ensured that Indigenous voices guide classroom instruction. Listeners will learn about innovative initiatives supporting Indigenous language and culture, efforts to refine identification processes under Title III, and strategies for sustaining meaningful partnerships between schools and tribal communities.</p><p><strong>Key questions we address:</strong></p><ol><li>How can state education systems authentically collaborate with tribal nations to create accurate, culturally grounded curriculum?</li><li>What challenges and opportunities exist in identifying and supporting Indigenous students under federal education policy?</li><li>What systemic steps can strengthen culturally relevant instruction and ensure Indigenous voices remain central in education?</li></ol><p><br></p><p><strong>For additional episode and community resources:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Download the transcript <a href="https://info.ellevationeducation.com/l/863261/2025-11-05/c8n9d1/863261/1762392684a30TjZd4/Highest_Aspirations_Season_15_Episode_6_Transcript.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u>here</u></a>.</p></li><li><p>Information on Colorado’s <a href="https://ed.cde.state.co.us/clde/titlevi" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u>American Indian Education</u></a></p></li><li><p>Resources from <a href="https://www.historycolorado.org/educator-resources" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u>History Colorado</u></a></p></li><li><p><a href="https://events.zoom.us/ev/AqVpf76QDcM3hnIEcte1609D8DktallCAjbpmX5cSahGru00RokU~Am0NfmA3tiX1O0DuWcH_9zl_mur03JaA8AFLF-mmhPkzTHweKYqZlmp_jQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u>Register for IMPACT 2025</u></a>! </p></li><li><p>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, <a href="https://ellevationeducation.com/newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u>The Community Brief</u></a></p></li></ul><li><ul><li>For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners,<a href="https://ellevationeducation.com/blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u> visit our blog</u></a><u>.</u></li></ul><p><br></p><p>Georgina Owen has worked at the state level as an English Language Development (ELD) Specialist and Indian Education Coordinator for more than 11 years. Prior to that, she served as a Title III Coordinator and Exceptional Student Services Specialist for the San Juan BOCES, an adjunct professor at Colorado Christian University, a Title I Reading Specialist, and an elementary teacher. She holds a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership with a principal license from the University of Northern Colorado.</p><p>Currently, Georgina serves as the Indian Education Coordinator at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE). In this role, she manages Title VI, a federal program that supports the academic, cultural, and linguistic needs of American Indian and Alaska Native students. She facilitated the first government-to-government agreement between the CDE and Colorado’s federally recognized tribes, represents the CDE as an ex-officio member of the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs, and has led the development of Nuu-Ciu Strong: Lessons About the Ute People of Colorado, among other educator resources. In addition, Georgina works with educators across Colorado to strengthen programming that supports Native American students.</p><p>She has also served on the Colorado Commission to Study American Indian Logos in Schools, Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs Education Committee, the Southwest Native American Education Committee, the Urban Indian Education Committee, the Indian Education State Leaders Network, and the Western Educational Equity Assistance Center Indian Education Community of Practice.</p></li>
October 21, 2025
<p>In this episode of Highest Aspirations, Sandra Medrano-Arroyo speaks with Dr. Michelle Benegas about building sustainable, schoolwide support for ELs. Michelle shares insights on empowering teacher leaders, creating effective infrastructure for multilingual learner programs, and strategies for strengthening both direct and indirect support. Listeners will learn how to foster collaborative, capacity-driven approaches that help educators expand their impact and ensure lasting success for all ELs.</p><p><strong>Key questions we address:</strong></p><li><p>1. How can schools build sustainable, schoolwide systems to support ELs beyond individual classrooms?</p></li><li><p>2. What role do teacher leaders play in strengthening EL programs and educator capacity?</p><li>3. How can schools ensure effective support for ELs across direct, integrated, and indirect learning environments?</li><li><br></li><p><strong>For additional episode and community resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Download the transcript <a href="https://info.ellevationeducation.com/l/863261/2025-10-16/c8h5qk/863261/17606535933h3oVOkh/Highest_Aspirations_Season_15_Episode_5_Transcript.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u>here</u></a>.</li><li><li>Order Dr. Benegas’ book <a href="https://www.corwin.com/books/language-ident-language-access-285189#main-content" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u>Language of Identity, Language of Access</u></a></li></li><li><li>Visit <a href="https://www.tesolswel.org/?__hstc=94675587.ceb625b9e194c1734ef2e414ee8317ce.1750794998385.1750794998385.1750794998385.1&__hssc=94675587.2.1750794998385&__hsfp=1666919083&_gl=1*15ng47x*_gcl_au*MTE5MDY0Mzk5Ny4xNzUwNzk0OTk2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u> </u></a><a href="https://www.tesolswel.org/?__hstc=94675587.ceb625b9e194c1734ef2e414ee8317ce.1750794998385.1750794998385.1750794998385.1&__hssc=94675587.2.1750794998385&__hsfp=1666919083&_gl=1*15ng47x*_gcl_au*MTE5MDY0Mzk5Ny4xNzUwNzk0OTk2" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">T<u>ESOL’swebsite</u></a></li></li><li><li><a href="https://events.zoom.us/ev/AqVpf76QDcM3hnIEcte1609D8DktallCAjbpmX5cSahGru00RokU~Am0NfmA3tiX1O0DuWcH_9zl_mur03JaA8AFLF-mmhPkzTHweKYqZlmp_jQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u>Register for IMPACT 2025</u></a>! </li></li><li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, <a href="https://ellevationeducation.com/newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u>The Community Brief</u></a></li></li><li><li>For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners,<a href="https://ellevationeducation.com/blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><u> visit our blog</u></a><u>.</u></li></li></ul></li><li><p><br></p><p>Michelle Benegas, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Hamline University and a co-founder of TESOL International Association’s School Wide English Learning (SWEL) Professional Development Series. A former secondary English Language development (ELD) teacher, her career began in a newcomer high school. She now supports educators to meet the needs of linguistically diverse students. In her work with teachers and schools, she promotes a model in which ELD teachers serve as site-based experts and coaches to their colleagues. Her books include Teacher Leadership for School-Wide English Learning (TESOL Press, 2025, 2nd edition) and Language of Identity Language of Identity, Language of Access (LILA): Liberatory Learning in Multilingual Classrooms (Corwin, 2024). Learn more at www.benegasconsulting.com. </p></li>
October 7, 2025
<p>In this episode of Highest Aspirations, Sandra Medrano-Arroyo speaks with Paula Polk about her journey from classroom teacher to language coach and district leader. Paula shares insights on coaching with integrity, empathy, and justice, strategies for supporting multilingual learners, and practical approaches to building teacher expertise. Listeners will learn how to expand their impact in education while fostering collaborative, student-centered learning environments.</p><p><br><strong>Key questions we address:</strong><br></p><li><ol><li>How can educators transition from classroom teaching to coaching and leadership roles while maintaining a focus on student outcomes?</li><li>What are practical strategies that language coaches and teachers can use to support multilingual learners effectively?</li><li>How can educators foster a collaborative culture and reflective space that empowers teachers to grow professionally while improving student language proficiency?</li></ol></li><li><p><br></p><p><strong>For additional episode and community resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Download the transcript <a href="https://info.ellevationeducation.com/l/863261/2025-10-06/c886lg/863261/1759786738LQGK9IG3/Highest_Aspirations_Season_15_Episode_4_Transcript.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">here</a>.</li><li>Order Paula Polk’s book <a href="https://www.ascd.org/books/enhancing-instruction-for-multilingual-learners?chapter=related-ascd-resources-enhancing-instruction-for-multilingual-learners" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Enhancing Instruction for Multilingual Learners: Coaching Practices to Empower Students</a></li><li>Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, <a href="https://ellevationeducation.com/newsletter" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">The Community Brief</a></li><li>For additional free resources geared toward supporting English learners, visit <a href="https://ellevationeducation.com/blog" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">our blog</a>.</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Paula Polk’s journey into educational leadership began as a language coach before embarking into district leadership as an ESL Facilitator. In this role she coaches Language Coaches, Specialists and ESL Teachers PK-12 as they work with stakeholders on campuses including principals, teachers and multilingual students and families. This role affords her the opportunity to curate professional learning for teachers, coaches, coordinators and administrators as they create spaces for multilingual students to thrive. Her upcoming book with ASCD: Enhancing Instruction for Multilingual Learners: Coaching Practices to Empower Students will detail her coaching journey and practices for multilingual students and their teachers.</p></li>
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Dr. Yvonne Williams
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On the Highest Aspirations Podcast, we engage in important conversations about the most rapidly growing student demographic in the United States - English Language Learners. We speak with educators and students, researchers and policy makers, and parents and community members about how we can help all students reach their highest aspirations.
Join us on this important journey as we bring the vibrant ELL Community together around the topics that matter most to the students we serve.
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