How can teachers use relationship building to improve learning outcomes for hesitant or disconnected students? How can we encourage our students to embrace and celebrate their bilingualism?

We dive into these questions and more with Sonia Águila, a California dual language teacher who has been recognized in her district, her state, and nationally for the work she has done in the field of multilingual education.

Born in Santa Barbara, California, Sonia Águila grew up in a small town near Guadalajara, Mexico. She returned to California at age 11 only knowing how to count to ten in English. After experiencing many challenges and even being discouraged from pursuing a higher education as a young student, she was eventually selected as her high school Salutatorian and Latino Student of the Year at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She followed her lifelong dream of becoming a teacher after  obtaining an Elementary Teaching Credential with an emphasis in Spanish and a Masters Degree in Education.

Sonia is currently a 2nd grade Dual Language Immersion Teacher at Canalino Elementary School and the Dual Language Immersion Chairperson for Carpinteria Unified School District, where co-wrote the Plan Maestro for the Dual Language Immersion Program.

She was Carpinteria Unified School District Teacher of the Year in 2017,  

California Bilingual Teacher of the Year in 2022,

And National Bilingual Teacher of the Year un 2023.

Download the full episode transcript here, and find more free resources for multilingual educators on our website.