Dual language programs on the rise in Manatee County

Harrison Rimer, a rising second grader at Braden River Elementary School, will walk around with his parents, Lauren and Adam Rimer, while they’re at work and talk to employees in Spanish. 

Harrison Rimer will greet them and ask them how they are that day all in Spanish. 

Lauren Rimer said she’s been impressed with how much Spanish her son has learned since starting the dual language program at Braden River Elementary as a kindergartner.

“Obviously, he’s not fluent and sometimes he’s shy to speak Spanish but he’ll be doing his homework and start counting in Spanish,” Lauren Rimer said of her son. “It’s cool to see how he’s progressed from knowing basically nothing to now it’s starting to pop up every day.”

The dual language program at Braden River Elementary School has progressed since the school began offering it in the 2021-2022 school year. The program started with two kindergarten classes and has expanded to higher grade levels as the students have progressed through elementary school.

Photo by Liz Ramos

Braden River Elementary is among five elementary schools in the School District of Manatee County to offer a dual language program.

Debra Estes, the director of English for Speakers of Other Languages, migrant and dual language programs for the district, said the idea for a dual language program came up five years ago when a community member approached then-Superintendent Cynthia Saunders about bringing dual language to the district. After conducting research and figuring out the logistics, the program was first implemented at Daughtrey Elementary School.

Since then, the district has added a new school each year. The district now has close to 400 students participating in the dual language programs.

As students spend half the day learning in English and the other half in Spanish, Estes said the program is a good fit for students who want to learn Spanish as well as students who are English Language Learners. She said English Language Learners from Spanish-speaking countries “don’t miss a beat” when they enter the dual language program because they can read and have math skills in their native language, but they need help learning English. 

Laurie Baker, the mother of rising third grader Benjy Baker, said she appreciates her son is able to learn about different cultures in the dual language program as well. 

Estes said the dual language teachers in the district see their students excel academically and have fewer behavior issues because they are “completely engaged” in their lessons.

Lauren Rimer said she appreciated how her son’s kindergarten dual language teachers incorporated songs and movement into their lessons. She recalled Harrison Rimer coming home one day singing a song about fire trucks in Spanish. 

Estes said starting in elementary school is perfect timing because students are like sponges, and they can learn and adapt quickly. 

Lauren Rimer said it’s a “cool experience” to see that Harrison Rimer is able to come home and teach the family how to speak and read in Spanish. 

Laurie Baker said when people hear Benjy Baker speaking Spanish in public, people assume they speak the language at home because of the authenticity of his annunciation. 

Another aspect Lauren Rimer appreciates about the dual language program is that the 36 families stay together as their students progress through the grade levels. 

“You get to know the families and the kids become friends,” she said. “(Harrison Rimer) has this comfort and confidence going into the next year with the kids that are going to be in his class. They have built really cool relationships with them.”

Photo by Liz Ramos

But now the district is focused on the future. Estes said the district will stop adding more elementary schools to the program and focus on strengthening the program at the current schools. 

The district also is finding ways to expand the program into middle school so current dual language students can progress as they finish elementary school. 

“Our goal is they’ll eventually graduate from high school being completely biliterate in both English and Spanish and be able to graduate with a seal of biliteracy on their high school diplomas,” Estes said. “That way, these children are prepared to work in our global economy by being biliterate. … We know people that are biliterate, no matter what other language they speak, they are more hireable in the workforce. We’re hoping to set our students up to be successful in the future.”

Laurie Baker said she wants to see the dual language program continue through middle school. 

"I couldn't be more happy with the program," she said. "It's not anything I would have ever thought was going to be available. There are just so many opportunities for folks that are dual language."

With the oldest students in the dual language program in the district preparing to enter fourth grade, the district has two years to finalize its plan moving forward. 

Estes said she would ultimately love to see some language arts or social studies courses in middle school taught in Spanish and English so students can progress through the program, but no decisions have been made yet. 

Although Spanish courses are offered at middle schools and high schools, Estes said the courses don’t prepare students to become fluent speakers by the time they graduate high school. 

Over the summer, dual language teachers from the district were invited to participate in a three-day Dual Language Institute where teachers shared best practices, worked on planning and more. 

“The teachers involved in our dual language program are such committed educators that they’re willing to go above and beyond for their students,” Estes said. “I know lots of teachers are that way, but our dual language teachers are truly quite special, talented and gifted educators, so we’re lucky to have them in our district.”