Dear Partners,

Inspiration can come from many places, but at SEAL we find ourselves *most* inspired by the districts, schools, and talented educators we’ve worked shoulder to shoulder with to build joyful, engaging classrooms that center English Learner/Dual Language Learners. That’s why we’re so excited to announce that over the next three months we’re highlighting three dynamic school districts that paved the way to implement SEAL: Oak Grove School District, Redwood City School District, and Mountain View School District.

Today, we’re proud to release and present the Oak Grove School District Case Study at the 2022 California Latino School Boards Association Unity (CLSBA) Conference. This is the first of three case studies authored by Social Policy and Research Associates.

SEAL and Oak Grove School District leadership will lead a conference session later today at CLSBA titled “Effective leadership, Good Governance, and Partnerships: How the SEAL model facilitates joyful learning for Dual Language Learners/English Learners” where we’ll highlight how the district adopted the SEAL model in 2013 after broader education policy shifts led district leaders to create a new approach to educating EL students. We’ll share how the district strengthened the implementation, alignment, and sustainability of the SEAL model within and across multiple school sites by prioritizing teacher voice, collaboration and professional development, expanding SEAL into the upper elementary grades, and focusing on family partnership.

Each of the case studies include detailed examples of:

• Districts’ approaches to getting buy-in from teachers and school leaders
• Funding the initiative
• Providing ongoing professional development
• Specific school examples of SEAL instructional practices and outcomes

Our reports also offer critical learnings from the districts’ implementation experiences and considerations for other school districts and policymakers looking to implement SEAL.

Finally, as part of this series SEAL is releasing Overview: The SEAL Model and Its Implementation Across Three Exemplar Districts. The Overview is perfect for anyone looking to get an introduction to SEAL, including its origin story, central design principles, staffing, professional development structure, and highlights from its pilot and expansion efforts.

Connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn or Facebook to follow the release of our case study series over the coming months.

Culturally and linguistically affirming education is an equity and social justice issue for our students and our nation. These case studies demonstrate the power and potential for SEAL to make education systems change that is equitable and just for California’s increasingly diverse student body.

Read the Case Studies

In partnership,

Dr. Anya Hurwitz

Dear Colleagues,

SEAL’s work aims to build systems and practices that support multilingual language development, literacy, and joyful learning— for Dual Language/English Learners and ALL students. Our newest leadership team members embody the values and bold leadership needed to transform practice and systems. We are honored to welcome Kentaro Iwasaki, Patricia E. Chavez, and Armando Zumaya to the SEAL family! Please help welcome them and read more about their backgrounds below.

Dr. Kentaro Iwasaki

Dr. Kentaro Iwasaki joins us as Head of Programs and will play a critical role in reimagining SEAL’s programmatic work in a way that responds to changed and shifting conditions in public education.

He has a passion for personal, team, and systems-level change that stems from his own experiences of deep transformative growth in public education. He spent sixteen years as a high school math teacher and department head, mostly at Mission High School in San Francisco Unified, which instilled in him a vision and relentless drive for high-quality instruction for students furthest from the center. His eleven years as a non-profit leader at ConnectED, overseeing projects focused on STEM and English Learners with over 40 district partners, equipped him to engage in the complex and rewarding work of systems change in the education sector. Kentaro is a National Board Certified teacher and recipient of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching.

Kentaro can be reached at kentaro@seal.org.

Patricia E. Chavez

Patricia E. Chavez joins us as Head of External Relations to lead SEAL’s communications efforts and serve as a thought partner on strategy, communications, and effective relationship building with leaders in the policy and advocacy space.

Patty has dedicated her career to building cross-sector partnerships and public support on issues and causes that facilitate community transformation. An adept storyteller with more than 25 years of experience, she has worked in public, private, and nonprofit sectors leading initiatives that create and execute brands, strengthen marketing and communications, foster strategic partnerships, and expand relationships with policymakers, education leaders, partners and stakeholders. As a former Councilmember, Patty has a unique combination of legislative and community experience and cultural competency that drives her work with diverse populations to strengthen the voice of underrepresented communities. Among the various initiatives, Patty led coordination efforts for San Diego County of Education to increase civic and community support for quality early education and transitional kindergarten programs.

Patty can be reached at pattyc@seal.org.

Armando Zumaya

Armando Zumaya joins us as Head of Development and will lead SEAL’s fundraising, including overseeing the planning and implementation of a long-range fundraising plan.

Armando is a 36-year nonprofit fundraising veteran. He has served in many roles including Chief Development Officer, Vice President of Development, and Director of Major Gifts. He is known especially for his work at Cornell University, Cal Berkeley, the San Francisco Opera, Playworks, Pivot Learning Partners, the Mexican Museum, and the USS Hornet Museum. He is experienced in a wide range of fundraising methods but is known for his innovative work in major gifts prospecting, cultivation design, the use of prospect research, and DEI in fundraising. He helps lead volunteer associations and groups that promote Latinx in fundraising and improved fundraising for Latinx nonprofits. He has been published in the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Nonprofit Times, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Grassroots Fundraising Journal, Advancing Philanthropy, and other publications in the US, Canada, UK, South Africa and Mexico.

Armando can be reached at armando@seal.org.

Kentaro, Patty, and Armando join our dynamic executive leadership team that includes Ben Buis, Patty Delaney, and Dr. Martha I. Martinez. I couldn’t be more excited to welcome additional strategic leaders as we chart the course for SEAL’s future.

Sincerely,

Dr. Anya Hurwitz

Executive Director

Join: SEAL Leadership in Action

California Latino School Boards Association’s Unity Conference

A presentation with SEAL & Oak Grove School District on Friday, August 26, 2022

Session Title: 

Effective leadership, Good Governance, and Partnerships: How the SEAL model facilitates joyful learning for Dual Language Learners/English Learners and ALL students

Moderator: 

• Patricia E. Chavez, Head of External Relations, SEAL

Presenters: 

• Dr. Anya Hurwitz, Executive Director, SEAL
• Amy Boles, Assistant Superintendent, Oak Grove School District
• The Honorable Jorge Pacheco, Jr., Board Member, Oak Grove School District

Learn more about California Latino School Boards Association’s Unity Conference

Ed Trust–West’s Education Equity Forum on Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Session Title: 

The Importance of Professional Learning for Early Care Educators that Centers the Needs of DLLs

Learn more about the session

Presenters: 

• Dr. Martha I. Martinez, Senior Director of Research & Evaluation, SEAL
• Karen Ascencio, Senior Program Specialist, SEAL

This forum will sell out fast. Register TODAY!

Learn more about Ed Trust–West’s Education Equity Forum