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Leadership
Page 22 Electronic Edition: www.teachingtodaywi.com

Milwaukee Italian Immersion School Teacher Wins National Award for

her Work at MPS

vation in the Teaching of degree in Philadelphia when an MPS teacher of Italian first, she noted, and then build their
Italian, which honors a emailed her to ask if she would be interested English reading skills in second grade.
teacher at the K–12 level. in teaching in Milwaukee. Two of Fracchia-Miller’s best students
She teaches 1st and 2nd She was indeed interested, and she was are of Iraqi and Mexican heritage. The Iraqi-
grade at Italian Immer- offered the job just three hours after her inter- American student speaks Arabic at home
sion, which is housed in view, Fracchia-Miller recalled. and can switch between the languages with
Victory School, 2222 W. She started teaching 4th grade — not yet no problem. The Mexican-American student
henry Ave. at full immersion — and began preparing mate- “can compare Spanish and Italian and see that
The award commit- rials for the next school year. Fracchia-Miller they’re very similar,” Fracchia-Miller said.
tee reviewed lesson plans then taught Italian to 5-year-old kindergart- Learning another language, the teacher
from Fracchia-Miller and ners, fully immersing them in the language. said, “is an open door” when children grow up
a video that shows her She moved with those kindergartners to 1st and move on to careers.
teaching. The award typi- grade. “You have such a flexibility, a mindset.
cally is given to someone Fracchia-Miller worked to develop a cur- It can open doors for you at work,” she said.
who teaches Italian as a riculum for her students that is easy to use The award comes with a $5,000 prize.
second language, but at and child friendly but still follows the state’s of that, half is to be used in the classroom, to
the immersion school, Common Core standards for teaching subjects advance Italian language and culture through
Milwaukee Public Schools Italian is the primary language, Fracchia- in English, she said. curriculum and programming. The other half
Previously a teacher of English in Italy, Miller noted. Teaching Italian to children that young is is to be used for the winning teacher’s profes-
Enrica Fracchia-Miller has been teaching Fracchia-Miller, a native speaker of a pleasure, Fracchia-Miller said. “Adults want sional development.
MPS students how to speak Italian since 2014. Italian, has been a teacher for 31 years. The to speak another language without mistakes,”
her teaching at Milwaukee Italian Immersion majority of that time was in Italy, teaching and focus on fluency and grammar. With small
School, and her curriculum for her students, English to middle schoolers. “I just transferred children, “the most important thing is that they mps.milwaukee.k12.
impressed the judges of a prestigious national my knowledge here,” Fracchia-Miller said. can understand you,” and that they can make wi.us
award. She grew up in a small town in the Italian themselves understood, she said. “It’s a lot of
Fracchia-Miller is the 2023 winner of the region of Liguria, moving to the united States fun, I’m telling you.”
Coccia-Inserra Award for Excellence and Inno- 12 years ago. She was studying for a master’s The immersion students become readers

Cudahy School District Celebrates Kristy Adams for Winning the Wisconsin

NEA Education Support Professional of the Year Award

paraprofessional within our district, has School but also a resident of the Cudahy district.”
been honored with the prestigious Education community. her commitment to education is The Cudahy School District extends its
Support Professional of the Year Award for the further exemplified by her children, who are heartfelt congratulations to Kristy Adams on
state of Wisconsin by the National Education both graduates and current students of Cudahy this significant achievement. Her recognition
Association (NEA). This esteemed recogni- schools. as the NEA Education Support Professional of
tion makes her a national nominee for the Throughout her career, Kristy has con- the Year is not only an honor for her but also
award, highlighting her exceptional contribu- sistently demonstrated excellence in her role for the entire Cudahy community.
tion to the field of education. and an unwavering dedication to the students
The NEA Education Support Profes- and staff of Cudahy School District. her
sional (ESP) of the Year Award is an annual achievements are a testament to her passion
accolade that celebrates the significant impact for education and her belief in the power of www.cudahysd.org
Education Support Professionals have in community involvement in shaping successful
schools, communities, and their profession. learning environments.
The award recognizes an individual who not “We are incredibly proud of Kristy Adams
only demonstrates outstanding achievements and her remarkable accomplishments. This
but also embodies the critical role ESPs play award is a reflection of her hard work, dedi-
in advancing public education. cation, and the positive impact she has made
Clare Canfield Kristy Adams has been an integral part in our district,” said Dr. Tina owen-Moore,
Cudahy School District of the Cudahy School District for 15 years. Superintendent of Cudahy School District.
The Cudahy School District is proud her journey with the district is deeply rooted, “Kristy embodies the spirit of community and
to announce that Kristy Adams, a dedicated as she is not only a graduate of Cudahy high commitment that we value so highly in our

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