S11/E8: Student perspective for improving school experience for children of immigrants with Falmari Rojas-Barrios.

S11/E8: Student perspective for improving school experience for children of immigrants with Falmari Rojas-Barrios.

Author: Ellevation Education November 21, 2023 Duration: 35:14

Welcome back to Highest Aspirations, an education podcast focused on providing educators with inspiration and strategies to help multilingual learners achieve their highest aspirations. In our last episode, we spoke with Dr. Joanna Dreby and Dr. Eric Macias about the work they are doing facilitate meaningful discussions among undergraduate students on immigration at the University of Albany and how some of the strategies they use might work in K-12 settings.  In this episode, I spoke with one of their students about how the experience impacted her and shifted her academic trajectory.  Falmari Rojas-Barrios is a graduate student who worked with Dr. Derby and Dr. Macias. She joins us to share a student perspective on how access (and lack thereof) to EL services impacted her K-12 experience, the challenges she and many young people with immigrant parents face in sharing their migration experiences, and some recommendations for how schools can better support the many students who share her experience. 

We will be featuring Dr. Joanna Dreby and Falmari Rojas-Barrios during our 4th annual IMPACT conference. This is a free, virtual event that takes place on December 4th, 5th, and 7th. You can find more information and register by visiting our EL Community at www.ellevationeducation.com/elcommunity


At the heart of Highest Aspirations are the voices and stories of English Language Learners, a dynamic and fast-growing part of the student population. Created by Ellevation Education, this podcast moves beyond theory to explore the real-world experiences shaping classrooms today. Each episode connects you directly with educators who are in the trenches, students navigating dual languages, and researchers translating data into practical strategies. You’ll also hear from families and community advocates, whose perspectives are crucial yet often overlooked. These conversations collectively tackle a central question: how do we build systems that genuinely allow every student to thrive? Rather than offering simple answers, the series delves into the complexities of policy, instructional practice, and cultural belonging. It’s a space where the vibrant ELL community gathers to discuss both challenges and breakthroughs. Tuning in provides a nuanced look at the evolving landscape of education, emphasizing actionable insights and shared humanity. The Highest Aspirations podcast ultimately serves as a thoughtful forum for anyone invested in creating more equitable and effective learning environments for all.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Highest Aspirations
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S13/E8: Personalizing professional learning with Rocío Figueroa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:09
In this episode of Highest Aspirations, Sandra sits down with Rocío Figueroa, Senior Instructional Content Manager at Ellevation, to explore how personalized professional development can transform teaching and learning f…