Categories: Equity Everywhere

Equity For English Language Learners (S1E8)

What is equity? Who is leading the charge in shaping educational equity? How can I get involved? The Equity Everywhere podcast answers these questions and more. Made for educators, this podcast will give you vital resources through conversations with equity leaders across the educational industry.

In this episode, Thom Jackson, President and Chief Executive Officer of EdisonLearning, chats with Dr. Gladys Cruz, district Superintendent of Questar III BOCES in Castleton, N.Y., and the newly elected President of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).

In this conversation, Thom and Gladys focus on English Language Learning, an encompassing equity topic that is near and dear to Gladys’ heart and the mission of EdisonLearning. As the conversation begins, Thom and Gladys focus on their definitions of equity and making practical leadership decisions with equity as a driving force.

In this discussion, Thom and Gladys discuss Dr. Cruz’s background in English Language learning, problems, and solutions to equity issues concerning ELL, cultural practices that shape ELL students’ education, and strategies to make ELL education a more fair and equitable part of the education world.

This discussion is essential because it addresses not only what is going on in the education sector but also the driving forces of those decisions, including the political sphere, the influx of a wide diaspora of English Language Learners from all over the globe, and gives a personal perspective on a leader in education who was herself an ELL student.

To learn more about the Learning 2025 Student-Centered, Equity-Focused, Future-Driven Education  Framework For Use In Completing Educational System Reflection Profile, visit https://aasacentral.org/learning-2025-framework/.

Equity Everywhere is a podcast series hosted by MindRocket Media Group and EdisonLearning President & CEO Thom Jackson. Joined weekly by a variety of K-12 practitioners and experts, they engage in critical, meaningful, comprehensive conversations about equity in education ― what are the key factors, variables, objectives, and considerations for the education system to acknowledge and address? Together, podcast participants will highlight, amplify, and refine best practices and solutions for ensuring education equity everywhere.

Learn more about EdisonLearning and its commitment to Equity Everywhere.

Listen to more episodes of Equity Everywhere on edCircuit.

EdCircuit Staff: Author

edCircuit is a mission-based organization entirely focused on the K-20 EdTech Industry and emPowering the voices that can provide guidance and expertise in facilitating the appropriate usage of digital technology in education. Our goal is to elevate the voices of today’s innovative thought leaders and edtech experts. Subscribe to receive notifications in your inbox
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Gladys Cruz: Author

Over a 30-year span, Dr. Gladys I. Cruz has established a distinguished career in education as a teacher and leader at the local, regional and state levels.

As District Superintendent for Questar III, Cruz is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations of the Castleton-based BOCES, reporting directly to the Board of Education. Along, with her leadership team, Cruz provides direction to 23 local school districts and oversees the delivery of more than 275 programs and services across New York State.

Since joining Questar III BOCES in 1998, Cruz has held a number of leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer/Deputy Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Director of School Improvement and BETAC Specialist.
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Thom Jackson: Author

Mr. Jackson currently serves as the President & Chief Executive Officer for EdisonLearning, a for-profit educational services organization known for offering status-quo shattering solutions to transform America’s public educational system. Under Mr. Jackson’s leadership, EdisonLearning has delivered services, including digital curriculum and school management services, to schools across 32 states, a direct result of strategic efforts to sharpen the organization’s mission and vision and to implement transformative changes to the companies finance and operational infrastructure that halted spiraling losses and significantly improved shareholder returns.
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EdCircuit Staff and Gladys Cruz and Thom Jackson

edCircuit is a mission-based organization entirely focused on the K-20 EdTech Industry and emPowering the voices that can provide guidance and expertise in facilitating the appropriate usage of digital technology in education. Our goal is to elevate the voices of today’s innovative thought leaders and edtech experts. Subscribe to receive notifications in your inbox