ESL Department

 Welcome to the ESL Department at Niver Creek Middle School!

In the ESL classroom, None-English and Limited-English proficient students learn to read, write, and speak in English. ESL students learn about the American culture, its language, geography and history. ESL students take between 2 to 3 hours of intensive English as a Second Language classes every day.  At the lower levels, ESL students receive special assistance during their regular classes by a trained ESL Paraprofessional.Placement in ESL classes is determined by the students’ CSAP score, LAS-O score, screening test, parent/student interview, and/or ESL teacher recommendation.

 

ESL Teachers:

Janet Stockham (Ms. Stockham)

Janet Stockham has a Bachelor’s from California State University – Fullerton in Political Science and English. She obtained her teaching credential in English from California Polytechnic State University – Pomona. She also has a CLAD endorsement from California and an ESL endorsement from Colorado. Mrs. Stockham has taught 9^th and 10^th grade English and ESL in California for 5 years before returning to Colorado –her native home. Mrs. Stockham has two grown children and raises box turtles. She loves all animals and children.

 

Fabricio Velez (Mr. Velez)

Mr. Velez is originally from Ecuador. He graduated from the Central University of Ecuador in June of 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in acting and dancing. He came to the United States in August of 1999 to learn English. He was offered a job as an ESL teacher at Niver Creek and decided to stay in the United States. He graduated from the Unvesity of Colorado in Denver with a Master’s of Arts in Linguistically Diverse ESL/Bilingual Education in December of 2004. Mr. Velez enjoys activities such us reading, snowboarding, walking his dog Mona, rollerblading, watching movies, and working out. This is Mr. Velez’s 6^th year at Niver Creek Middle School.

 

Mary Fuhrman-Saponaro

Mary Saponaro has taught school for over 20 years.  She has certificates and degrees from four different universities.  Her teaching career began in a rural area in Costa Rica with the Peace Corps. She taught elementary special education for two years in a small agricultural community.  After the Peace Corps, she traveled in Nicaragua, Ecuador and Peru.  She has taught at the elementary, middle and high school level.  Her and her two sons enjoy: outdoor mountain sports (skiing, camping, hiking), going to Rockies games and cooking.

 

ESL Paraprofessionals:

Maddi Scott (Mrs. Scott)

Maddi Scott has a B.S. degree in zoology from Colorado State University.  She is a longtime Westminster resident with twin sons who are freshman at Northglenn High School. Mrs. Scott enjoys walking with her dogs, tennis biking and cooking. She also enjoys making a difference helping the students at Niver Creek as an ESL Para. Mrs. Scott is planning on hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail this summer.

 

Leslie Bouslfield (Mrs. Bousfield)

Mrs. Bousfield has been a resident of Westminster, Colorado for twenty years. She has five children and three grandchildren. Her youngest child is a senior at Northglenn High School. She attended Brigham Young University where she took classes in Social Work and Special Education. Before coming to Niver Creek, she worked at Westview Elementary for three years. She enjoys learning something new everyday. She also likes needlework, crocheting, and taking walks.