ESOL Instructional Program
The goal of the Conway Public Schools ESOL instructional program is to emphasize the acquisition of English language skills while helping students improve their performance in the academic areas and increase their self-confidence. Students will be enrolled in the content-area instruction with modifications made for language proficiency. The ESOL instructional program provided will be based on the language proficiency levels, age levels, and prior schooling of the ELL or LEP students.
Sharon Nichols, ESOL Coordinator
nicholss@conwayschools.net
Mrs. Nichols taught French at Conway High from 1990 to 1991. She has been teaching ESOL in Conway Public schools from 1991 to the present. She currently teaches English Language Learners at Conway High West, Conway High East, Marguerite Vann Elementary, and Julia Lee Moore Elementary. Her afternoons consist of coordinating duties which include facilitating Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) conferences at all K-12 schools in the district. She and her husband have two sons. They love to travel and spend time with family. Mrs. Nichols enjoys keeping in touch with her students and their families. In recent years she has been able to teach the children of her past students. One of her favorite quotes is, "Don't worry. Be happy!"
nicholss@conwayschools.net
Mrs. Nichols taught French at Conway High from 1990 to 1991. She has been teaching ESOL in Conway Public schools from 1991 to the present. She currently teaches English Language Learners at Conway High West, Conway High East, Marguerite Vann Elementary, and Julia Lee Moore Elementary. Her afternoons consist of coordinating duties which include facilitating Language Proficiency Assessment Committee (LPAC) conferences at all K-12 schools in the district. She and her husband have two sons. They love to travel and spend time with family. Mrs. Nichols enjoys keeping in touch with her students and their families. In recent years she has been able to teach the children of her past students. One of her favorite quotes is, "Don't worry. Be happy!"
Cindy DeRosa, ESOL Specialist
derosac@conwayschools.net
Mrs. DeRosa is an ESOL teacher for the Conway Public School district currently working with English language learners in Kindergarten-6th grade. In 2001 she earned her BSE from the University of Central Arkansas, and received a Master of Arts degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Arkansas Tech University in 2008. She is a Teacher Consultant for the Arkansas Geographic Alliance, and was the 2009 recipient of the Fulbright-Hays Travel Abroad Scholarship. Cindy has spent time in Mexico, Honduras, and Russia, visiting schools and studying daily life and culture. Her hobbies include gardening, spending time with family, and traveling the globe. Cindy and her husband David have two daughters, Morgan and Dayle. Her favorite saying is, “We all smile in the same language.”
derosac@conwayschools.net
Mrs. DeRosa is an ESOL teacher for the Conway Public School district currently working with English language learners in Kindergarten-6th grade. In 2001 she earned her BSE from the University of Central Arkansas, and received a Master of Arts degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from Arkansas Tech University in 2008. She is a Teacher Consultant for the Arkansas Geographic Alliance, and was the 2009 recipient of the Fulbright-Hays Travel Abroad Scholarship. Cindy has spent time in Mexico, Honduras, and Russia, visiting schools and studying daily life and culture. Her hobbies include gardening, spending time with family, and traveling the globe. Cindy and her husband David have two daughters, Morgan and Dayle. Her favorite saying is, “We all smile in the same language.”
Saba Harris, ESOL Specialist
harriss@conwayschools.net
Ms. Harris has taught for Conway Public Schools since 2000. She taught five years as a 2nd grade teacher at Ellen Smith prior to becoming part of the ESOL team. Her specializations include, P-6 Early Childhood, K-12 English as a Second Language, K-12 Arkansas Reading Specialist, and experiences at Conway Adult Education Center as an ESOL teacher. Ms. Harris also taught ESOL/ Social Studies at Hendrix College in the Education Department. Ms. Harris has two beautiful children who both attend Conway Schools. She attends New Life Church and on occasion sings with the praise and worship team. She enjoys walking her snoodle Raja and her yorkie-poo Zoe. She loves attending her childrens' sporting events, volunteering in the community, and planning to travel the world.
harriss@conwayschools.net
Ms. Harris has taught for Conway Public Schools since 2000. She taught five years as a 2nd grade teacher at Ellen Smith prior to becoming part of the ESOL team. Her specializations include, P-6 Early Childhood, K-12 English as a Second Language, K-12 Arkansas Reading Specialist, and experiences at Conway Adult Education Center as an ESOL teacher. Ms. Harris also taught ESOL/ Social Studies at Hendrix College in the Education Department. Ms. Harris has two beautiful children who both attend Conway Schools. She attends New Life Church and on occasion sings with the praise and worship team. She enjoys walking her snoodle Raja and her yorkie-poo Zoe. She loves attending her childrens' sporting events, volunteering in the community, and planning to travel the world.
Rita Strause, ESOL Specialist
strauser@conwayschools.net
Mrs. Strause has been teaching ESOL since 2007, and currently teaches English and Reading at Bob Courtway Middle School, Simon Intermediate, and Carl Stuart Middle School. She has her BSE from UCA, as well as her M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership. She is certified in English and Social Studies with an endorsement in English as a Second Language. Mrs. Strause has 10 years of teaching experience and 9 years experience as an Assistant Principal at St. Joseph School in Conway. She and her husband, Craig, have two grown children, Joshua, who lives in Winetca CA, and Jessica Miller, who lives in Conway with her husband Michael. Mrs. Strause’s hobbies are traveling with her husband in their RV, reading, and walking their Cocker Spaniel, Sophie.
strauser@conwayschools.net
Mrs. Strause has been teaching ESOL since 2007, and currently teaches English and Reading at Bob Courtway Middle School, Simon Intermediate, and Carl Stuart Middle School. She has her BSE from UCA, as well as her M.S.Ed. in Educational Leadership. She is certified in English and Social Studies with an endorsement in English as a Second Language. Mrs. Strause has 10 years of teaching experience and 9 years experience as an Assistant Principal at St. Joseph School in Conway. She and her husband, Craig, have two grown children, Joshua, who lives in Winetca CA, and Jessica Miller, who lives in Conway with her husband Michael. Mrs. Strause’s hobbies are traveling with her husband in their RV, reading, and walking their Cocker Spaniel, Sophie.
