Closing Statement

The Bilingual Bicultural Program helped me define my values when it comes to bilingual education and the multicultural community. This program has allowed me to open my eyes more to the different cultural background we as educators encounter. It has emphasized the importance of treating our multicultural bilingual students with equity rather than just equality. Ensuring that the English Language Learners in our schools receive the appropriate services needed is also one thing that has been emphasized throughout my endeavor in this program. The goal of bilingual education is not only to help students learn the English language and transition into the mainstream classrooms but also to foster and appreciate their cultural background.

Both personal and professional growth is vital for continuing success. Overtime, I have grown into a person that is outspoken. Speaking my mind and standing up to what I believe in has been a growing aspect personally and professionally. It allows me to stand up and be an advocate for the bilingual children and parents I work with on a daily basis. The knowledge I have gained throughout the Bilingual Bicultural Program at Touro College is also deemed as a professional growth for me. The more I am able to learn and gain the more I will be able to service the multicultural families in the schools. I am a helping professional as well as an educator. My purpose is to ensure that my students receive the appropriate services they need in the special education setting as well as in the general education setting. It is also my purpose as a liaison between parents and schools, to educate parents of their rights and assist them in understanding all the services and resources they can access.

As a School Psychologist, my plan is to continue servicing children of all ages grades PreK- 12. My mission continues to be and will continue to be to care and encourage the growth of all the students I work with, the teachers and parents. As a school psychologist, I feel like it is my duty to extend the support to not only my students but also to the adults providing their public service to them as well. With the new knowledge I had the privilege of gaining, I will succeed in providing the appropriate service for my bilingual student population.