Teaching English as a second language is a team sport!
That’s the basic finding of a Hunter researcher in an article that won this years’ James E. Alatis Prize for Research on Language Planning and Policy in Educational Contexts.
Assistant Education Professor Scott E. Grapin won The International Research Foundation for English Language Education award for “District Supervisors’ Sensemaking and Implementation of English Language Development Standards: WIDA 2020 Edition.”
“Scott’s findings are significant; they will strengthen instruction for bilingual students and ensure classrooms reflect and support how they learn,” said Klara and Larry Silverstein Dean Julie Gorlewski.
The prize shows the depth of expertise and impact of Hunter’s School of Education. Founded in 1870 as New York City’s first teacher-preparation school, the school strives to enrich our understanding and improve the conditions of our communities. Its faculty, staff, and students positively affect the lives of individuals, families, and communities. Graduates from its programs contribute through roles in pre-K–12 classrooms, schools, districts, research and policy centers, and community agencies.
Grapin and a former advisee, Eunae Kim, interviewed 18 English as a second language – bilingual supervisors across diverse school districts in a northeastern state about how they seek to meet state standards for bilingual learners. They found that effective English-language teaching requires concerted cooperation among subject-matter teachers as well as language teachers to keep students on track.
“I am grateful for this generous award and hope the article raises awareness of the potential of English-language development standards as a policy lever for multilingual learner equity,” Grapin said.
Grapin’s research centers on policy and practice for multilingual learners in K-12 education. He focuses on advancing curriculum, instruction, and assessment for multilingual learners in content classes, especially STEM subjects.
Grapin has served on the editorial boards of journals across several fields, including TESOL Quarterly, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, and Educational Researcher. He has also partnered with local and national organizations to develop educational resources and facilitate professional learning for teachers of multilingual learners.
Before joining Hunter, Grapin was an associate professor at the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami. He earned his PhD from New York University after beginning his career in education as an ESL and Spanish teacher in the New Jersey public schools.
