WCOE Newsletter | July 2024 Edition
Presented by Jordi Solsona-Puig, coordinator of the Spanish Bilingual Authorization Program, the award recognizes Valenzuela's exceptional dedication to bilingual education.
The Spanish Bilingual Authorization Program equips aspiring educators with the skills to provide high-quality bilingual education to diverse student populations. Valenzuela, the first recipient of the Outstanding Student Award and the Integrated Bilingual Authorization Program Grant, served as an ambassador for the 2024 Dual Immersion Symposium, demonstrating her commitment to the field.
"Rosaura has excelled in every aspect of the program," praised Solsona-Puig, an assistant professor of education who witnessed Valenzuela's growth firsthand. "Her teaching skills in two languages were awe-inspiring."
Valenzuela's passion for bilingual education stems from her experiences growing up in a Spanish-speaking household. After attending a Spanish-only school in Mexico during her secondary years, she returned to the U.S. with a strong command of the language, eventually pursuing a Spanish minor at CSUSB. Her student teaching experience in a dual language immersion classroom solidified her desire to become a bilingual educator.
"Being bilingual has opened up many doors," shared Valenzuela.
"I want to help future generations develop biliteracy and experience the same benefits."
She believes biliteracy is a vital life skill that empowers individuals and strengthens communities.