Monday marked the beginning of another school year at E.E. Miller Elementary School in Fayetteville, N.C. As students walked to their classrooms, teachers greeted them in not just one, but two languages.
E.E. Miller features a full immersion Spanish dual language program, with 90 percent of instruction conducted in Spanish and the remaining ten percent in English.
This year is particularly special for E.E. Miller, as it marks the tenth year as a language immersion school.
In 2007, E.E. Miller Elementary introduced its dual language program with its first cohort of students, becoming the first school in Cumberland County Schools to adopt this approach. Today, the program spans all grade levels, K-5.
Gerald Hernandez, principal at E.E. Miller, highlighted the transformative potential of bilingual education.
“When students join the dual language program, they’re not just entering a new curriculum—they’re becoming part of a unique community,” Hernandez said. “There’s so much potential for success for a student who becomes bilingual.”
Rocio Evans, a former teacher at E.E. Miller and now a Dual Language Specialist at Participate Learning, reflected on the challenges of launching the immersion program and the immense rewards it brings.
“When we started that first program in Cumberland County, we didn’t have many models to follow,” Evans said. “It was a small group of teachers sharing resources and ideas.”
Evans explained that music became an invaluable teaching tool. “I taught students songs, and suddenly they started using phrases from the songs in conversation,” she said.
The benefits of bilingualism extend beyond academics. Evans shared that she remains connected with parents and students from her first class at E.E. Miller.
“Parent and community support has been essential to the program’s success,” Hernandez added. “Families trust that what we’re doing is helping shape confident, globally minded learners.”
In 2016, E.E. Miller began incorporating global learning into all classrooms, enriching the educational experience for every student.
Walking through the school’s halls, visitors encounter vibrant displays celebrating cultures from around the world. Hernandez noted that these cultural learning experiences are helping to shape empathetic, forward-thinking leaders.
“We believed in the power of languages and cultures to drive academic success,” Evans said. Now, ten years later, E.E. Miller’s Spanish immersion program continues to thrive, thanks to the dedication of its educators and the ongoing support of its community.
Discover how bilingual education can transform your students’ learning experiences. Explore our Dual Language Mastery Program today to enhance your program and help students thrive!
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