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Billy Mitchell students, staff showcase dual immersion, pathways and makerspace programs
Summary
At the March 27 Lawndale board meeting, Billy Mitchell Elementary staff, students and families highlighted the school's dual immersion program, a high‑inclusion pathways program and a district-leading makerspace and CS First coding curriculum.
Billy Mitchell Elementary School presented a school spotlight to the Lawndale Elementary School District Board of Trustees on March 27, showcasing its dual immersion program, a pathways/high‑inclusion class and a makerspace that uses CS First coding curriculum.
Principal Doctor Dahlia Coronel opened the presentation and described school programs, calling staff “amazing” and saying school drivers guide their daily work. Assistant Principal Marisol Perez described the Pathways program as “a specialized day class… serving students that start in TK all the way through fifth grade” that provides “access to general education settings” through a high‑inclusion model.
Teachers and students demonstrated classroom work. Makerspace lead Amaris Lorenzini said the school’s makerspace — the district’s first — supports technology, robotics and engineering, aligned with NGSS and California Computer Science Standards. Fifth‑grade teacher Kathy Mai described use of CS First, and student Elias Martinez told the board, “CS First allows me to learn how to code movement and sounds. I have created really cool things.”
Parents and students praised the dual immersion classes. Parent Stephanie Kingdon, whose child began in the kindergarten cohort that started dual immersion in 2022, said the program “has been wonderful… it’s been wonderful to see Casey’s literacy grow in English and Spanish.” Second‑grade dual immersion student Willow Irvin said learning Spanish “will help me speak with other people that speak Spanish.”
The presentation also included two students from the Pathways program describing their classroom experiences, and PTA treasurer Shai Johnson summarized community events such as the school’s Black History Month Soaring Legacies program.
Why it matters: The spotlight highlighted district priorities — bilingual education, inclusive services and STEM learning — and provided board members direct examples of student outcomes and family engagement.
Board response: Trustees praised the presentations. Trustee Morales said the dual immersion “is working very well,” and Trustee Phillips and Trustee Burrows complimented student speakers.
