OXNARD : Bilingual Students to Help Instructors

About 50 bilingual students attended a training seminar Thursday as part of the Oxnard Union High School District’s effort to “grow our own” teachers.

Spurred by a shortage of bilingual educators, the district recruited high school seniors who speak Spanish and English to form the Migrant Teacher Corps, said Ray Tejada, migrant instructional support teacher.

“There is a tremendous shortage of bilingual teachers throughout the state, but especially in Oxnard,” said Tejada, who graduated from Oxnard High School.

“In the past, the district has gone outside the area to recruit teachers, but now we’ve decided to grow our own.”

The students also work one class period a day as assistants to ninth- and 10th-grade teachers, Tejada said.

Blanca Rodriguez, a 17-year-old senior at Channel Islands High School, said she is participating in the program because students who don’t speak English well need help.

“I come from the same background, and I know what it’s like not being able to speak good English,” Blanca said.

Oxnard High School senior Karina Zamarripa agreed.

“Many students don’t feel secure,” she said.

“They’re afraid to talk with the teachers or show their feelings. Being in the classroom, we’re able to communicate with them and help them.”

Don Kelly, a consultant with the state Department of Education who is helping the district administer the Migrant Education program, said the project is the first of its kind in the state.

“It’s a win-win project,” Kelly said. “Students learn about teaching and it helps the teachers reach the students who are having trouble.”

Tejada said the district will keep track of the students as they go through college, but they will not be obligated to become teachers.

“We’re just hoping that they will want to come back and teach when they graduate,” he said.