Title: Dual Immersion Coordinator
Company: Burton School District
Location: Visalia, California, United States
Veronica Chavez, Dual Immersion Coordinator at Burton School District, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in academic administration.
With more than 20 years of experience to her credit, Ms. Chavez has excelled as a dual immersion coordinator with the Burton School District in Porterville, California, since 2008. In this position, she is responsible for supervising the dual immersion programs, including the iStation program, which are designed to effectively teach students who are fluent in English and other languages. In addition to sharpening comprehension and communication skills, these programs allow the students to achieve a balance in retaining their native languages and becoming adept in additional languages. Often provided to students at the elementary and secondary school levels but offered through high school in certain programs, dual immersion programs also place an emphasis on understanding cultures outside of their own so students can better embrace diversity and foster an awareness of cultural traditions.
Burton School District is comprised of nine school sites in the region, which provide stellar educational experiences and opportunities to build valuable social skills to more than 4,800 students and 700 staff members. These learning institutions include Burton Elementary School, Burton Middle School, Jim Maples Academy, Oak Grove Elementary, the Lomardi and Mathew Campuses of Summit Charter Academy, Summit Charter Homeschool, Summit Charter Intermediate Academy, Summit Collegiate High School, and William R. Buckley Elementary. Outside of her primary responsibilities in the dual immersion program, Ms. Chavez supports her colleagues with assessing and implementing their curriculum to best foster student improvement.
To support her professional ambitions, Ms. Chavez pursued an education at the University of Maryland, from which she eventually earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy in 2007. Seeking to remain up-to-date with the latest strategies and tools applicable to her discipline, she attended a biliteracy webinar for Renaissance Learning USA in 2022. During her academic efforts, Ms. Chavez is especially grateful to have received guidance from Laura Moss, one of her most memorable teachers.
In light of her impressive undertakings, Ms. Chavez was presented with a fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation in 2001. She was also notably selected for inclusion by Who’s Who Among Students at American Universities and Colleges. Furthermore, Ms. Chez has been affiliated with organizations in her field, including the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE).
Ms. Chavez has attributed her wealth of success to her robust family support system and the invaluable influence of her respected colleagues, having proudly achieved a harmonious balance between her personal and professional lives. She also cites the mentorship of Dr. Julisa Leiba, who works with her as a supervisor for her present position and remains a source of constant inspiration. As a result of Dr. Leiba’s influence, Ms. Chavez has been able to step outside of her comfort zone and equip herself with new abilities that greatly benefit her students.
Drawn to the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of her peers and children alike, Ms. Chavez has found much fulfillment and joy from her work in the classroom. Among her many accomplishments, she fondly recalls initiating three dual immersion programs as a collaborative partner in the Burton School District, which are all currently successful and spotlighted as a model of excellence in her field. Looking toward the future, she hopes to develop a new bilingual curriculum for dual immersion programs, through which she can also explore consulting opportunities. Moreover, Ms. Chavez aims to eventually establish a bilingual charter school in the coming years.
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