District Educators Receive SHABE Awards, 2 Advance to State Competition, 1 Student Receives a Scholarship

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The organization supports individuals who educate students whose native language is not English.

The Suburban Houston Association for Bilingual Education (SHABE) recently held its annual Teacher of the Year Banquet. Several Aldine ISD teachers received honors as outstanding educators.

Margarita Cruz from La Promesa was named the Secondary ESL Teacher of the Year, and César Linares from Black Elementary School was named the Elementary Bilingual Teacher of the Year. Also receiving a top award is Anju Bhalla from Carmichael Elementary School. She received the Elementary ESL Teacher of the Year Award. Cruz and Linares will represent the SHABE district at the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) annual fall conference in Houston.

SHABE bestowed the honors during its celebration banquet on April 1. More than 150 area teachers were recognized in bilingual education, English as a Second Language, and foreign language education.

Every year, SHABE recognizes Bilingual, ESL elementary, ESL secondary, and teachers of other languages during March and April. Campuses that participate in SHABE either select or nominate teachers. Each Teacher of the Year must then apply. From the submissions, the SHABE Selection Committee selects finalists who are interviewed and asked to submit student products. The Selection Committee selects winners for each district and the three top winners for SHABE: a Bilingual Teacher of the Year, an ESL Elementary Teacher of the Year, and an ESL Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Bilingual and ESL Secondary Teachers of the Year may submit their portfolios to be considered for the Texas Association for Bilingual Education (TABE) teacher of the year. The state winner automatically becomes the TABE nominee for the National Association for Bilingual Education Teacher of the Year competition.

In addition, SHABE also awarded a $500 scholarship to Kevin Fuentes from Davis High School.

A former Aldine ISD teacher, J.C. Harville, created the Suburban Houston Association for Bilingual Education (SHABE) to promote educational opportunities and recognition for bilingual and ESL teachers. For 21 years, SHABE has supported bilingual, ESL, and foreign language educators across the area. SHABE was founded to support teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators as they educate students whose native language is not English. The Association serves to review and disseminate the state of bilingual education in Texas. Additionally, SHABE members exchange data, studies, ideas, practices, and information with area school districts and educators.

April is a fitting month to celebrate bilingual and ESL educators since it is National Bilingual/Multilingual Learner Advocacy Month.