
Igniting real change for English learners with Carly Spina
From Highest Aspirations by Ellevation Education
June 3, 2025 · 40 min
About this episode
Carly Spina discusses her journey and work advocating for English learners and shares insights from her books.
This episode of Highest Aspirations features Carly Spina, an author and passionate advocate for English learners, as she shares her inspiring journey and groundbreaking work. Join us to hear how Carly's upbringing profoundly shaped her deep commitment to ELs, tracing her path from early experiences on Chicago's North Side to becoming a leading voice in education. We'll delve into her impactful work at the Illinois Resource Center, where she dedicates herself to supporting educators in creating more equitable and effective learning environments for these students. Discover the core philosophy behind her first acclaimed book, Moving Beyond for Multilingual Learners , and get an exclusive sneak peek into her new book, Igniting Real Change for Multilingual Learners . This latest work aims to spark even more profound and urgent action within the field. This powerful episode offers a vital call to action for anyone committed to championing all students. Key questions we address: What is the deeper, systemic responsibility of educators beyond compliance when serving English learners, and how can we "do right" by them and their families? What instructional strategies and…
People in this episode
Guest: Carly Spina
Topics covered
- English learners
- education advocacy
- equity in education
- instructional strategies
- multilingual learners
- systemic change
Keywords
- English learners
- education
- equity
- instructional strategies
- multilingual education
- Carly Spina
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Illinois Resource Center
Books & works: Moving Beyond for Multilingual Learners, Igniting Real Change for Multilingual Learners
Places: Chicago
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