Success for Taft Students

Taft Middle School has had such success with its English language literacy efforts that more than 40 students were applauded this week at a special ceremony commemorating their achievement. All students have graduated from being English learners to becoming fully fluent in the language of their adopted homeland. What made the school’s reclassification ceremony even more remarkable was the global reach of its student body. Taft is a veritable United Nations with students who come from many countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, China, Colombia, Somalia and Mexico.

The ceremony featured students receiving medals and an official certificate of Reclassification to Fluent English Proficiency. Principal Mike George praised the work of English Learner Support Teacher (ELST) Carlos Ramirez, who is a success story himself. He arrived in the U.S in the 1990s, worked hard to learn English and then graduated from San Diego State University. The ceremony was highlighted in El Latino, the leading Hispanic newspaper in San Diego. Read the article (PDF).