Shawsheen, Nashoba Lead World Language Curriculum Initiative in Mass Voc Schools

$500,000 in shared grant funding will help expand electives

Jacob Goliti-Chase, a Spanish teacher at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School, and Amy St. Arnaud, a Spanish teacher at Nashoba Valley Technical High School, are spearheading an effort to revamp world language education in Massachusetts vocational schools. With the support of the FC 189 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), they have brought together a coalition of six vocational school districts to enhance world language programs and promote collaboration among teachers.

Above: World Language instructors pose for a photo at Shawsheen Tech during a professional development session led by Prof. Catherine Ritz from Boston University. Back Row (l-r): Elizabeth Cygan (Pathfinder), Kate Sanders and Marcio Sabo (Keefe), Amy St. Arnaud (Nashoba), Prof. Catherine Ritz (Boston University), and Aaron Mendelsohn (Smith). Front Row (l-r): Jacob Goliti-Chase and Nicole Forgione (Essex). Not pictured: Andy McDonie (DESE: OLA) and Dr. Vilma Bibeau (MaFLA President).

The FC 189 grant, aimed at supporting World Language (WL), Heritage Language (HL), Dual Language (DL), and English Language Learner (ELL) programs, has awarded Nashoba Valley Technical High School, the lead grantee, $48,500 as part of a $500,000 state-wide initiative. This is the first year the grant specifically targets vocational-technical schools, and with nearly 10% of the funding allocation provided to this initiative, indicates the state’s commitment to its focus.

In total, six schools are collaborating to share resources, align curriculum with the 2021 World Languages Framework, and address the shortage of world language teachers in vocational settings. The schools involved are Nashoba Tech (Westford), Shawsheen Valley Technical High School (Billerica), Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School (Danvers), Keefe Regional Technical School (Framingham), Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School (Palmer), and Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School (Northampton).

Vocational schools have a unique structure, offering students both a traditional high school diploma and a diploma in their chosen career and technical education (CTE) field. This dual focus often limits elective courses, including world languages, leading to smaller language departments and reduced collaboration among language teachers. This initiative seeks to address these challenges by creating a network that facilitates professional development and collaboration among world language educators in similar vocational-technical settings.

The cohort has been meeting regularly since the start of the year and is already seeing promising outcomes. A key milestone was the March 1 training session, featuring Leslie Grahn, a national expert on proficiency-based instruction, and Catherine Ritz from Boston University. During this session, participants explored effective strategies for aligning vocational world language instruction with national standards, including the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages’ (ACTFL) core practices. Attendees also engaged in exercises to develop immersive, culturally relevant learning environments for their students.

The early success of this four-month-old initiative has drawn praise from DESE. Andrew McDonie, DESE’s World Language Support Specialist remarked, “This collaborative effort has the potential to transform world language instruction in vocational schools, offering students a brighter future through innovative and culturally relevant education.”

Shawsheen’s Academic Director, Danica Johnston, concurs with McDonie’s commendation, underscoring the beneficial influence this initiative has had on Shawsheen. She said, “This grant has allowed Jacob to collaborate with other world language teachers from vocational schools across Massachusetts, resulting in new practices and activities that actively engage our students. This is just the start of further developing Shawsheen’s world language program.”

Encouraged by its initial success, Amy St. Arnaud and Jacob Goliti-Chase intend to reapply for additional grant funding to extend the program into FY25. Their goal for the next phase includes formalizing a knowledge-sharing system and expanding the collaborative network to include more vocational school districts.

This initiative is establishing a new benchmark for world language education in Massachusetts vocational schools, highlighting the power of collaboration and the dedication of committed educators.

About Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District

Established in 1965, Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical School District (SVRVTSD) stands as a beacon of educational excellence, placing students at the center of its mission. Proudly serving the communities of Billerica, Bedford, Burlington, Tewksbury, and Wilmington, Shawsheen caters to the diverse needs of over 1,300 students in grades 9-12.