Middletown Public Schools has formed the Multilingual Learner Collaborative to strengthen ties between multilingual families, the school system, and the broader community. The Collaborative, announced in a press release by the district, aims to address the needs of Middletown’s multilingual students and their families by fostering a sense of connection and support.
The initiative was born from a series of community meetings held last fall, organized by Middletown Schools’ Director of Family and Community Engagement Megan Mainzer and the nonprofit Root Cause. These sessions gathered feedback from stakeholders, which was then used to develop the Collaborative’s framework. The van Beuren Charitable Foundation is providing support for the Collaborative.
The group’s primary focus for the first year is to host quarterly gatherings for families, providing a platform for information sharing and community building. These events will feature presentations from community partners on available resources and workshops led by organizations like Parent Leaders for Equitable Education (PLEE).
Marina Costa, a Middletown parent of two multilingual students, emphasized the importance of families and schools connecting. “I think the well-being of children improves when we are working together.”
The Collaborative also aims to empower multilingual students through leadership opportunities. A partnership with The Center for Youth and Community Leadership in Education (CYCLE) at Roger Williams University will enable students to participate in a youth participatory action research project, giving them a voice in their educational experience.
The Multilingual Learner Collaborative is spearheaded by a team of community organizers, parents, and school family liaisons, including Jamoya Ridgell, Marisa Portillo, Ana Gomes, and Megan Mainzer.
“The Middletown Public Schools are excited for the work of the Collaborative to begin,” said Superintendent Billy Niemeyer. “We know that making connections between families and schools impacts learning positively. Supporting ALL Middletown students is a priority, and The Multilingual Learner Collaborative is a meaningful step in that direction.”
The next gathering of the Multilingual Learner Collaborative is scheduled for Tuesday, December 3rd. The next gathering will be held Tuesday, December 3rd; details will follow.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
