Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. Booker-Balintfy shares her professional and personal experiences in supporting multilingual learners since 2002. She discusses the diverse student population her district serves, including over 421 multilingual learners, and their restructuring efforts to better accommodate these students. Harmony elaborates on the importance of accountability, explaining New York State's levels of English proficiency and the significance of the Seal of Biliteracy. She highlights various initiatives, and community-wide dialogues on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Harmony also touches on the challenges and successes of implementing equitable practices and the strategic plan guiding these efforts. The podcast concludes with Harmony sharing her personal journey and a thought-provoking question for educators on their approach to teaching multilingual learners.

RBERNing Questions for this Episode: 

1- Explain what “accountability” means in terms of fostering the success of ELLs and MLs in your district. 

2- How do you think the 2023-2025 Strategic Plan for the Liverpool Central School District has progressed, particularly in the  goal area of “A Commitment to a Culture of Respect: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accountability?” 

3- What is your perspective on how your district measures up to others in Onondaga county in terms of its initiatives or strategies to empower its ELLs & MLs? 

Full BIO: Harmony Booker-Balintfy has been blessed to say that she has been an educator since 2002, working in both the Syracuse City School District and Liverpool CSD. Supporting children and families is a professional and personal passion of hers. Dr. Booker-Balintfy firmly believes it takes a village to raise our children to be the best they can.  Whether her own children and their teachers, who support and raise them 6 to 7 hours a day OR the children and families the school district personnel serves, we are all a part of the great work of being the change we wish to see in the world and supporting students. Outside of her professional work, her family has fostered 12 children over the last 8 years.  They are the proud parents of 6 children total (biological, adopted, and currently fostering).

Resources:

Websites/Social Media:

https://www.liverpool.k12.ny.us/

X (Twitter):

@drbalintfy

Contact Information:

[email protected]

To find out more about Mid-State RBERN at OCM BOCES' services, listen to season 1 of the show with host Collette Farone-Goodwin, or to receive CTLE credit for listening to episodes, click here: https://midstaterbern.org/