GALA is excited to welcome Jessica Gilway to the team, as Principal of GALA!
Bilingual in Spanish, Jessica has had immersion experiences herself - living, teaching and learning in Ecuador and Bolivia. Jessica has served as a certified bilingual educator, as well as helped to launch a two-way dual language immersion program at a K-6 elementary school in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Jessica holds both a principal and superintendent administrative license in the State of Ohio. Most recently, she served three years as the Director of Two Rivers Community School, a charter school in Boone, North Carolina.
Jessica recently returned to her hometown of Cleveland, relocating from Boone, NC, after graduating with her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Appalachian State University. She currently lives in Chagrin Falls with her husband and daughter, but has not yet found her permanent home in the Cleveland area. More about Jessica Gilway
Why are you excited to join the GALA Leadership Team?
I believe that dual language immersion is not only the best way for children to learn a language, but it is really the best way for children to learn about themselves, others, and the world around them. Becoming bilingual has opened many doors for me in my life and I am excited to help lead GALA as it works to provide the gift of becoming bilingual to children in Cleveland. Also, I am incredibly passionate about experiential education and love working with children as they discover what our global community has to offer them. What do you do when you’re not working?
I enjoy spending time with family, going hiking, cooking, gardening, and African dancing. I love travel and seeing new places, and I make art in the forms pottery, jewelry, and book binding.
Share your favorite quote:
I have two by my favorite philosopher, Rosi Braidotti. “Live life on the edge, but not over it”, and “We are all in this together.”
October 2015 Event
GALA will have a table to distribute information at the annual Bellaire-Puritas Development Corporation (BPDC) Neighborhood Summit – An event for the whole family to connect to new neighbors, community leaders, neighborhood services, and celebrate the best of the neighborhood, sponsored by the City of Cleveland, Councilman Brian Kazy and neighborhood businesses.
The event will include community exhibits, face painting, live performances, raffle prizes and food. Learn more: www.bpdc.org
When: Wednesday, October 28th, from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Where:Forgart Hall, Blessed Trinity Church, 14040 Puritas Ave., Cleveland 44111
GALA Visits the Denver Language School (DLS)
GALA visited the Denver Language School (DLS) in early October to meet with school staff and learn best practices in immersion. DLS is a K-8 charter school of the Denver Public School system, offering one-way dual language immersion in either Mandarin or Spanish. DLS opened its doors in August of 2010. Today, DLS is the #1 choice for kindergarten throughout the entire DPS system. See pictures from our visit here.
Immersion in the News On October 8, 2015, The New York Times posted an article about the rise of dual language education.
“Once seen as a novelty, dual-language programs are now coming into favor as a boon to both native and nonnative English speakers, and in areas around the country their numbers have been exploding….More and more, native English-speaking parents see bi-literacy in their own children as important in a global economy.”
Read more at: Dual-Language Programs Are on the Rise, Even for Native English Speakers, By Elizabeth Harris
