At Dallas ISD, speaking another language is a superpower.
“It’s an opportunity to create a group of bilingual future employees that are able to navigate language and cultures,” Edwin Flores, trustee for District 1, said.
One way school officials are investing in students’ ability to learn and speak a second language is through the newly installed book vending machine at the Margaret and Gilbert Herrera International Welcome Center. On April 16, representatives attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the welcome center to unveil the newest book vending machine.
Made possible through a partnership with the Dallas Education Foundation and Superior Text, the vending machine will be fully stocked with multilingual titles available to all who visit the welcome center.
“Books open the doors to a child’s imagination – and more importantly – to a brighter future,” said Regina Montoya, board member of Dallas Education Foundation.
The vending machine is more than a piece of equipment, said Elizabeth Casas, deputy chief of special populations for Dallas ISD.
“It symbolizes hope, opportunity, and the possibility of a brighter future for our children,” she said. “By providing them with access to literature from the moment they enroll and register in our district, we are empowering them to embark on a journey of self-discovery, imagination, and lifelong learning.”
The center, located at 9400 North Central Expressway, is a one-stop shop for families looking to enroll in Dallas ISD.
Welcome center employees not only help register children for the next school year. They also offer parent orientation, language proficiency testing, and health screenings. For the 2023-2024 school year, the welcome center registered over 7,000 students from 76 countries, speaking over 36 languages.
“We hope the book vending machine will be a symbol to families that the love of literacy starts at home,” said Amanda Clymer, director of Dual Language ESL.
When students see books written in their mother tongue, and in the languages they hope to speak, they realize opportunities are endless, said Superintendent Stephanie S. Elizalde, Ed.D..
“Today, we no longer see speaking Spanish as a deficit. It’s not just an opportunity, it’s another talent. It can be a superpower,” she said. “It’s not just Spanish, it’s any language.”
