IRC News

Educator Spotlight: Kennya Guzman, Berkeley SD 87

Lindsay Eanet2025-11-12T13:37:42-06:00

The IRC asked members of our community to nominate Illinois teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond, and now, we’re celebrating them and highlighting their work. Keep an eye out for these features in the coming months – and if you’d like to nominate someone, email leanet@cntrmail.org. Next up is Kennya Guzman, a Bilingual Assistant in Berkeley School District 87. Kennya Guzman knew she wanted to become a teacher ever since she was a fifth grade student herself, studying and dreaming in Durango, Mexico. As she grew up, the motivation grew stronger, leading her to attend [...]

Educator Spotlight: Kennya Guzman, Berkeley SD 87Lindsay Eanet2025-11-12T13:37:42-06:00

October Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators
Gallery

October Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2025-09-24T12:48:39-05:00

Dear Friends, Welcome to the October edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. Supporting & Advocating for Immigrant Students At the IRC, we pledge to continue to supporting and empowering educators, school administrators and families in advocating for, protecting and uplifting students from immigrant backgrounds, and working towards our vision of an educational future where all students’ languages and cultures are [...]

October Roundup: Readings and Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2025-09-24T12:48:39-05:00

Parent & Community Leader Spotlight: Jeonghye Bae, Glenbrook District 225

Lindsay Eanet2025-09-09T10:30:38-05:00

Over the past few months, the IRC has been highlighting teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond. This is part of our companion series celebrating parent and community leaders who are advocating for multilingual students. Meet Jeonghye Bae, a parent and BPAC leader from Glenbrook High School District 225. When she first arrived in the United States, Jeonghye Bae experienced what many newcomers have shared — the adjustment to learning about an unfamiliar school system. She wanted to learn little by little, and chose to learn hands-on by getting involved in the school’s BPAC. Over time, Bae became [...]

Parent & Community Leader Spotlight: Jeonghye Bae, Glenbrook District 225Lindsay Eanet2025-09-09T10:30:38-05:00

September Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators
Gallery

September Roundup: Readings & Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2025-08-25T16:09:57-05:00

Dear Friends, Welcome to the September edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. Supporting & Advocating for Immigrant Students At the IRC, we pledge to continue to supporting and empowering educators, school administrators and families in advocating for, protecting and uplifting students from immigrant backgrounds, and working towards our vision of an educational future where all students’ languages and cultures [...]

September Roundup: Readings & Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2025-08-25T16:09:57-05:00

Educator Spotlight: Yulissa Nuñez, Berwyn North School District 98

Lindsay Eanet2025-08-11T09:43:59-05:00

The IRC asked members of our community to nominate Illinois teachers working with multicultural, multilingual students who are going above and beyond, and now, we’re celebrating them and highlighting their work. Keep an eye out for these features in the coming months – and if you’d like to nominate someone, email leanet@cntrmail.org. Next up is Yulissa Nuñez, a Pre-K dual language teacher in Berwyn North School District 98. Says Emily Szymczak, who nominated her: “Yulissa Nuñez, a Dual Language PreK teacher at Jefferson Elementary School, embodies every aspect of bilingualism with grace and dedication. Her classroom is a beacon of vibrant learning [...]

Educator Spotlight: Yulissa Nuñez, Berwyn North School District 98Lindsay Eanet2025-08-11T09:43:59-05:00

Vote for Our CSEL Team to Present at SXSWEdu 2026!

Lindsay Eanet2025-08-06T09:15:08-05:00

We're packing our bags & going to Austin... but we need your help to get there! Our Computer Science for Every Learner team has submitted a proposal to present at SXSW Edu, the South By Southwest Education Conference. Our panel, "English Learners and the Future of Work in an AI-Powered Economy," features IRC Director of Strategic Partnerships Silvia V. Rogel alongside State Senator Omar Aquino and partners from BootUp Professional Development and NYC Public Schools. This panel will explore how cross-sector partnerships—spanning classrooms, communities, and government—can align learning and policy to position ELs as future-ready leaders, driving equity, innovation, and long-term [...]

Vote for Our CSEL Team to Present at SXSWEdu 2026!Lindsay Eanet2025-08-06T09:15:08-05:00

August Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators
Gallery

August Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2025-07-30T10:05:10-05:00

Welcome to the August edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. Supporting & Advocating for Immigrant Students At the IRC, we pledge to continue to supporting and empowering educators, school administrators and families in advocating for, protecting and uplifting students from immigrant backgrounds, and working towards our vision of an educational future where all students’ languages and cultures are affirmed and [...]

August Roundup: Readings and Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2025-07-30T10:05:10-05:00

July Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators
Gallery

July Roundup: Readings and Resources for Educators

Lindsay Eanet2025-06-23T14:52:12-05:00

Dear Friends, Welcome to the July edition of the Resource Roundup, a monthly newsletter from the IRC, packed with readings, recommendations and resources you can use in your classroom or school community, including resources for Disability Pride Month. If you have a resource you think would be valuable to share for this round-up, please email Lindsay Eanet at leanet@cntrmail.org with a link. Supporting & Advocating for Immigrant Students At the IRC, we pledge to continue to supporting and empowering educators, school administrators and families in advocating for, protecting and uplifting students from immigrant backgrounds, and working towards our vision of an educational future where [...]

July Roundup: Readings and Resources for EducatorsLindsay Eanet2025-06-23T14:52:12-05:00

ALL HANDS ON DECK: Take action to demand release of Title III funds!

Lindsay Eanet2025-07-02T14:48:32-05:00

Although Congress appropriated $890 million in Title III funds for FY25, the U.S. Department of Education has not yet allocated these funds to the states. The July 1st deadline has since passed and the funds are still being withheld with no real explanation. These funds support important efforts like migrant education, after school programs and parent engagement, impacting more than 5 million English learners nationwide. For more information on the issue and how to take action, refer to this fact sheet from NABE. As our friends at NABE have pointed out, this withholding is already impacting schools’ ability to: Provide language [...]

ALL HANDS ON DECK: Take action to demand release of Title III funds!Lindsay Eanet2025-07-02T14:48:32-05:00

TAKE ACTION: Contact Congress to call for disbursement of Title III Funds

Lindsay Eanet2025-06-27T11:49:14-05:00

Dear friends, We have just a few days left to ensure crucial federal Title III funds reach our schools and communities where it is needed most. These funds support salaries and curriculum, language instruction, academic support services, parent engagement workshops and professional development for educators like you who serve ELs. This $890 million in funds has already been appropriated by Congress, but has not been released. Illinois receives about $30 million of these important monies. The deadline for releasing these funds is this Tuesday, July 1st. If this deadline for disbursement is missed, many districts will lose critical resources for supporting multilingual [...]

TAKE ACTION: Contact Congress to call for disbursement of Title III FundsLindsay Eanet2025-06-27T11:49:14-05:00