Orange, CA – May 17, 2018 – Orange Unified was honored to be recognized for outstanding commitment to emergent bilingual learners at the Sixth Annual Language Learner Celebration hosted by the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) Office of Humanities, Instructional Services Division.

The District’s Project GLAD Team received the 2018 Emergent Bilingual Voice Award and Orange High School’s Katie Wright and Leticia Gonzalez received the English Learner Advocate Award for their dedication to supporting the achievement of English learners at the secondary level.

Orange Unified’s OCDE Project GLAD® model is firmly rooted in research and supports standards-based instruction through integrated approaches, which include Project-Based Learning and language acquisition.  This model delivers authentic opportunities for the use of academic language, maintains highest standards and expectations for all students, including emergent bilinguals, and fosters voice and identity. 

OCDE’s Language Learner Celebration has annually honored dozens of outstanding educational leaders individually, but this was the first year they added five special awards to recognize school districts and their leadership teams, particularly those that have developed and implemented innovative programs and strategies that support the social and academic success of English learners, also known as emergent bilinguals.