The Superintendent of Coalinga-Huron Unified School District in Coalinga, California, Dr. Helen K. Foster uses her enthusiasm, integrity, and creativity to bring positive change and growth to the schools. Dr. Foster was the first Superintendent to bring the award-winning Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) Model to the Central Valley of California to serve the many Spanish-speaking students in her district.
Located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, Coalinga is largely Spanish speaking, with over 51 percent of the population engaged in learning English. The Sobrato Early Academic Language (SEAL) program starts in preschool and continues through third grade, forming a strong English foundation. With a curriculum rich in reading and speaking, this powerful language-learning model reaches thousands of students.
Studies of the program over a five-year period show that despite starting school with a literacy deficit, many students manage to catch up or surpass their peers after participating in the program from start to finish. Language skills and cognition improve, and by third-grade, students learning in this academic language-rich environment score higher on standardized tests than those taught in regular education classes.
The Sobrato Early Academic Language program focuses on oral language, giving students self-esteem and a safe place to express their feelings and a consistent curriculum, as well as encouraging parent involvement. It has been shown that family engagement promotes more academic success, and many workshops also are held for parents and siblings to discuss child development.
