Dean of the IU School of Education Gerardo Gonzalez recently spoke to a group of Latino parents at Huntingburg Elementary School, sharing his experiences as an immigrant student from Cuba and about preparing students for college. He spoke to a meeting organized by the Southwest Dubois County School Corporation and the Southern Indiana Education Center. In this short video, Gonzalez speaks to community members and education officials trying to assist newcomers to this Southern Indiana school system.

Over the last five years, the Latino population has grown to nearly a quarter of Huntingburg Elementary enrollment.

The IU School of Education is a leader in assisting Indiana’s schools with teaching English as Second Language students. A $1.5 million federal grant to the School of Education at IUPUI is funding a five-year project to revise curriculum and teaching. The TACIT and ICP program based at the School of Education in Bloomington turns out more licensed ESL teachers every year.