April Vazquez
ESL Instructional Supervisor
(757) 283-7850 x.10252, 595-7522 (fax)
Bruno Morales
ESL Instructional Specialist
ESL Welcome Center at Watkins ECC
(757) 283-7823, 597-2877 (fax)
- Miriam Delnicki
ESL Assessment Specialist - Teresa Hubert
ESL Administrative Specialist/ Registrar
Newport News has a diverse student population that includes students whose first language is not English. As a result, Newport News Public Schools is proud to offer the English as a Second Language (ESL) program of study for over 1,200 culturally and linguistically diverse students pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade whose native language is one other than English. The ESL program in Newport News seeks to ensure that English Language Learners (ELLs) have meaningful access to the core curriculum. In addition, ELLs receiving Talented and Gifted services (TAG) or Special Education services are also eligible to receive ESL program services based on their registration and assessment data. The ESL Program of Newport News Public Schools was created and influenced from both the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). Download our program brochure.
Pre-K & Elementary
The First Step ESL program is at all four early childhood centers, with three ESL teachers servicing all ESL First Step students.
The elementary school ESL program is at all twenty-five schools. ESL teachers travel to students to provide language support. These students are serviced by an ESL teacher and assigned a homeroom with a general education teacher. Based on assessment results and school records, some intensive students in grades 2-5 may be serviced through our Newcomer program located at Saunders elementary where the ESL teacher is also the student’s assigned homeroom teacher.
Middle School
Middle school students receive ESL program services at two designated sites, Dozier and Gildersleeve.
Middle school students attend the site closest to their home address, and they have ESL as a part of their schedule of classes. ESL classes are scheduled based on English proficiency levels 1 through 5.
High School
The high school ESL program is at two sites, Denbigh and Warwick.
Students attend the school closest to their home address, and high school ESL students are placed according to their English ability. Students at proficiency levels 1 and 2 receive 3 blocks of ESL. Level 3 students receive 1-2 blocks of ESL while students at Levels 4-5 have class with their ESL teacher every other day.