Education Week 鈥淟eaders to Learn From鈥� honoree Michael Matsuda, superintendent of the Anaheim Union High School District, relates to the thousands of English-language learners in his southern California school district.
In a story and accompanying video, Matsuda shares the story of his parents, who were long-term English-learners.
鈥淚 have a real connection, not only with the immigrant journey, but the English language journey, and the journey of navigating through poverty,鈥� Matsuda said. 鈥淚 really am connected to our student population in that respect.鈥�
Seventy years before he became superintendent of the district, Matsuda鈥檚 mother was a 14-year-old freshman at Anaheim High who was forced to leave school and live in internment camps along with thousands of other Japanese Americans. Matsuda鈥檚 father was detained at the same camp.
鈥淏ecause their education was interrupted, their English and their Japanese was pretty weak,鈥� Matsuda said in the video. 鈥淚 think about my parents and their struggle on behalf of their kids when I interact with parents today.鈥�
Matsuda鈥檚 district, home to more than 6,500 English-language-learner students, has earned statewide recognition for its work to educate ELLs.
鈥淥ne of the key understandings about English-learners is understanding the difference between long-term English-learners and newcomer English-learners,鈥� Matsuda says in the video. 鈥淭he long- term English-earners are those students, who often were born here in the United States, but whose parents have a very low level of primary language acquisition.鈥�
Since Matsuda took the helm, the district has trained many of its resources on helping long-term ELLs reach proficiency.
鈥淲hat that means is really [giving] attention to their language development. Giving them opportunities in class in a very intentional way, every day, to speak and to write, so that they can start building their language and their context for English,鈥� Matsuda says.