Roy E. Howard, Ph.D.
Gallup Graduate Studies Center, Western New Mexico University
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The Western New Mexico Bilingual Education Training Program (WNMBET) will offer Masters level degree/endorsement programs to prepare 200 new bilingual/ESL teachers and other educational personnel over five years. This objective meets Competitive Priority 2. WNMBET will fund peer mentoring for participants while they are teaching in bilingual programs during and after the training. This objective meets Invitational Priority (1). WNMBET will help faculty incorporate language acquisition principles and culturally appropriate instruction into courses in the following masters degree programs at WNMU: Educational Leadership, Special Education, and Counseling. This objective meets Invitational Priority (2). WNMBET will train teachers who can address the learning styles of students enabling students to study a language in addition to English throughout elementary and high school. This meets priorities for effective education and bilingual Americans addressed by the Secretary of Education in 1999.
Due to a large percentage of language minority students in schools, a critical need has been identified for additional and better trained bilingual education teachers in the state of New Mexico. Few of the thousands of LEP students in Northwestern New Mexico are currently receiving appropriate services. For example, one local district indicated that 200 additional certified Navajo bilingual endorsed teachers will be needed over the next five years.
In response to this need, the Gallup Graduate Studies Center of Western New Mexico University proposes to provide training for 200 participants at the graduate level during the five-year project period. Training will help participants meet degree and endorsement requirements in Navajo or Spanish bilingual education.
The Western New Mexico Bilingual Education Training Program (WNMBET) will provide 50 participants each semester with financial assistance to cover tuition and fees, books, and travel support; and allow for counseling, advising, and peer mentoring throughout the project period. Faculty of the WNMU Gallup Graduate Studies Center will administer the project and will serve as instructors and advisors. Each participating district will assign and supervise a Peer Mentor for each participant.
The WNMBET will offer various academic options approved by the State of New Mexico: Master of Arts (Elementary or Secondary) with New Mexico State endorsement in Navajo or Spanish Bilingual Education, or an endorsement in bilingual education (Spanish or Navajo) for those not interested in the MAT. Students will complete their work in as early as one and a half to three years depending upon their current status and number of courses taken each semester. At the end of the five-year period, Project WNMBET has the potential to produce 200 new professionals to work with LEP students in bilingual classrooms.

Proposed 1999 by Roy E. Howard (not funded)

Roy E. Howard, Ph.D.
Gallup Graduate Studies Center, Western New Mexico University
e-mail | Vita