About us
We provide tools, resources and support for emergent bilinguals to integrate into the U.S. school system and social sphere.
We intend to deliver research-based strategies to students and teachers to overcome language barriers and academic issues.
We aim to facilitate coordination and collaboration at the national, state, and local level throughout the educational system to ensure consistent guidance and accommodation policies are in place to close the achievement gap of emergent bilinguals.
Furthermore, we understand that many of these students do not just face school-related issues but deal with various social challenges.
We aspire to become an unequivocal support system. We reaffirm these students that we care for them, and that there is a whole team of support who believes they can unlock and harness their full potential.
Our mission
To ensure immigrant high school students, specifically those in the ESOL Program, graduate high school and forge their unique path to academic success and professional exploration.
Our vision
Emergent bilinguals are provided the tools and resources they need to become proficient in the English language, with access to education and career pathways to successfully emerge into the U.S. system.
Our Values
These core values embody our culture, spirit and dedication to our mission. They unite us and empower us to make our decisions and define our way forward.
Kindness
We bring our whole self, every day. We know empathy is at the core of relationship building - it makes us compassionate of others’ experiences and perspectives. We believe in the power of kindness.
Responsibility
We are accountable to the students we serve.
Confidence
We take ownership in everything we do.
Motivation
Above all, we never forget we are all Achievers and are here to lift each other up.
Our story
ESOL Achievers was established as a grassroots organization, founded in 2011 by our Executive Director, Laura Mutis. Laura’s passion to help immigrant students like herself has inspired many others to join her efforts in creating a supportive and resourceful community for other immigrant students struggling to adapt. Ever since our inception, we have worked to support ESOL students at Gainesville High School to encourage positive behavior, higher academic achievement, and professional development. Over the years, EA has had many volunteers and supporters for whom we are very grateful, especially students from the University of Florida.
A common passion and dedication to help ESOL student progress, brought together five women to rebuild this organization and make it what it is today: an established 501(c)(3) entity working to support catalytic change for ESOL students in northern Florida.
Timeline
This non-profit first started as a student-led organization at the University of Florida. It has been a grassroots, community-focused, labor of love. We have continuously adapted and evolved our model to best support emerging bilinguals, becoming insights-driven and more agile than ever before. We invite you to join us in our journey!
