Bilingual Hub gives students leg up in STEAM

The Western Massachusetts Bilingual Hub has paved the way when it comes to training teachers in bilingual and dual language education. Led by Marialuisa Di Stefano, assistant professor of language, literacy, and culture in the College of Education, the Bilingual Hub is a Department of Elementary and Secondary Education-funded collaboration benefiting school districts in Springfield, Holyoke, and Amherst. According to program liaison Elizabeth Llorca, a PhD student in the College of Education, the hub provides professional development for participating teachers and promotes STEAM learning (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) in its programming. With an emphasis on equity and social justice, the hub allows students to learn complicated concepts in both their home language and English. Learn more.