Jose Jimenez describes Internationals Network as ready partner for Portrait transition
Jose Jimenez, a graduate of International High School at LaGuardia and Senior Director at Internationals Network, says his own experience as an immigrant multilingual learner matches Portrait attributes. He urges the Council and NYCPS to recognize Internationals Network as a model and partner.
Good afternoon, Chair Dinowitz and members of the Committee on Education.
My name is Jose Jimenez.
I'm a proud graduate of International High School at LaGuardia Community College and Senior Director of Finance and Operations at the Nonprofit International Network for Public Schools.
International's network and affinity partner to NYCPS supports a network of 17 schools in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Manhattan, as well as a national network of schools for newly arrived immigrant multilingual learners.
International's network also partners with other schools, districts, educators, and leaders beyond that network to put our proven approach into practice.
When I entered international high school as a 12-year-old immigrant learning English, I was not asked to wait until my English was perfect before taking on challenging work.
I learned language and academic content together through hands-on projects, collaboration, presentations, and experiences beyond the classroom.
Those experiences taught me to communicate across differences, solve problems, reflect feedback, and take the responsibility for my learning.
I wanted to graduate from college and graduate school, the first person in my family to do so, and to devote more than 20 years to public service in New York City.
That is why the New York State portrait of a graduate feels familiar to me.
Its six attributes, including academic preparation, critical thinking, effective communication, and global citizenship, describe the Eddie.
I received and the approach International's Network has helped schools and educators put into place for decades.
As New York expands the way students demonstrate learning, portfolios, performance-based assessment, project-based learning, work-based learning, and early college experiences can make graduation requirements more meaningful.
Newcomer multilingual learners deserve rigorous opportunities to show what they know and can do so while developing English, not their potential reduced to one test score.
I urge the Council and New York City Public Schools to recognize International Network, our network schools, and the many schools and educators with support in New York City.
As models and partners in this transition, including students and alumni.
Thank you.
As well as ex-people.
Sorry.
Thank you.
And to all the adults here, you can always submit the rest of your testimony in writing, and it'll be on the record.
I'd like to thank this panel for testifying today.
Gracias.
Merci.
And next we have Tabitha Peterson, Eric Lee, Rianne Bato, and Seaver Chen.
Okay, you may begin when ready.
We'll start, unless you have an order you've already prepared, we'll start from my left, your right, and go down.