Apprentices Study Quality Teaching for English Learners

Huntington UFSD is celebrating its elementary QTEL (Quality Teaching for English Learners) apprentice team, which delivered an outstanding professional development session last weekend.

“We began our QTEL partnership with WestEd in 2022,” said Judy Moroff, district director of bilingual programs and world languages. “The elementary apprentices have been working tremendously hard over these past few years and this weekend marked their final guided professional development session with WestEd. Next Saturday, our secondary apprenticeship team will present their culminating session.

“After both the elementary and secondary teams complete their culminating PDs, they will officially become certified QTEL providers,” Mrs. Moroff said.

Eight Huntington faculty members have been engaging in the apprenticeship “to ensure they develop the necessary knowledge and skills to lead professional development institutes for teachers of English Learners” explained Mrs. Moroff. “Developing the capacity of these instructional leaders will ensure that, over time, teachers in the district are able to implement the five principles of Quality Teaching for English Learners and that professional learning opportunities they subsequently offer develop the core competencies every teacher in the system must possess to serve all learners with rigor and excellence.”

After successfully completing the four phases of the apprenticeship, Huntington UFSD apprentices will be able to provide on-going professional development to district teachers using QTEL’s principles, processes, and tools. This will allow the district to expand professional learning sessions to large numbers of teachers, to sustain the shifts in instruction required by Content and Language Development Standards in years to come and to create learning opportunities that address the evolving local needs and context.

“The work you shared at the Advanced Institute reflects years of deep commitment, thoughtful preparation, and the belief in the power of high-quality instruction for our multilingual learners,” Mrs. Moroff told elementary team members. “Watching your growth has been truly inspiring. You took on complex work that required deep reflection and continual adjustment, and you approached it with such heart. Your leadership has strengthened our program in ways that will support students for years to come. You have shown what it means to be fully committed to a shared vision. Your dedication to ensuring that all students experience rich and meaningful language-focused learning is evident in every step you take. Because of your efforts, our district is moving closer to the goal of supporting all students in becoming capable and proficient learners. I am deeply proud of all you have accomplished and profoundly grateful for the leadership you bring to our schools.”