ESOL

Welcome to the ESOL Department!
ESOL LOGO

Department Chair: Esther Santos

The main focus of the curricula taught in ESOL classes is to encourage students to use academic language while working on authentic tasks.

The credit for ESOL 1 is equivalent to the credit for English 9, while the credit for ESOL 2 is equivalent to the credit for English 12.

Every year, ESOL students take the WIDA test to measure their English proficiency level.  

For more information on WIDA, please Click Here

Classes Offered

  • ESOL 1
  • ESOL 2
  • ESOL 3
  • ESOL 4
  • ACADEMIC FOUNDATIONS
  • ESOL NEWCOMER
  • LEARNING THROUGH CONTENT
  • ESOL MATH

Message From the Department/DC

Welcome to the ESOL Department at Woodlawn High School!

At Woodlawn, we value and celebrate every student’s background, culture, and home language(s).

We offer a variety of ESOL courses, school events, and academic & social-emotional supports to help our diverse population of non-native English speakers adapt to a new environment, acquire the English language, and become lifelong learners bound for success in school and life.

Besides working directly with our ESOL students to help them develop their skills, we constantly collaborate with our colleagues to make content classes more accessible and meaningful to multilingual students. 

Meet our Department Members Below!

Santos

Name

Esther Santos

Email

[email protected]

Classes Taught

ESOL 3
Coteaching ELA 10, US History, IPC

College(s) Attended

UMD (BS)
Currently: Loyola University (Master's in Ed Leadership)

Hometown

Miami, FL


Bio: My name is Esther Santos, I am Dominican Puerto Rican and grew up in Miami, FL. I am currently the Acting ESOL Department Chair here at Woodlawn High School. I aim to create a safe and inclusive community for our multi-lingual learners and their families. Currently, I teach ESOL 3 and co-teach IPC, English 10, and U.S. History. I hold a bachelor’s degree in social science and African-American Studies, reflecting my passion for understanding society and culture. I am working on my master’s in educational leadership and aspire to be a school administrator one day. Since 2017, I've been dedicated to working with children and advocating for students of all backgrounds. My mission is to inspire students, emphasizing empathy, diversity, and cultural understanding in education. I am committed to empowering young minds through the transformative power of education.



Baum

Name

Peter Baum

Email

[email protected]

Classes Taught

ESOL 2

ESOL 4

College(s) Attended


Carleton University (BA)

Notre Dame of Maryland University (MATESOL)

Hometown

Buffalo, New York

My Name is Mr. Baum and I am in the ESOL department. My hobbies are cooking, photography, and playing my guitar. I am looking forward to the 2023-2024 school year!



Eligio

Name

Maria Eligio

Email

[email protected]

Position

ESOL Paraeducator

College(s) Attended

CCBC

UMBC

Hometown

Mission, Texas

My name is Ms. Eligio and I am in the ESOL department. I have been working at Woodlawn High School for over 4 years. I graduated from La Joya High School, which is in south Texas, in 2009. When I am not in school, I enjoy spending time hiking and at the beach! I also love music and dancing. 

Follow my Instagram - ms._eligio



Nadeem

Name

Najla Nadeem

Email

[email protected]

Position

ESOL

College(s) Attended

Coming Soon

Hometown

Coming Soon

My name is Ms. Nadeem and I moved here to the United States when I was a child. I am fluent in Urdu & English, and I want to learn more Spanish & Arabic. This is my first year at Woodlawn High School so I am looking forward to getting to know everyone, getting to know the school environment & culture, and getting involved into the school programs and activities. I heard lots of amazing things about Woodlawn high school so I am really excited and curious to learn about this school and culture!



Quanico

Name

Quanico Semper

Email

[email protected]

Classes Taught


ESOL 1

ESOL HS American Culture
Government (Co-Teaching)
English 11 (Co-Teaching)

College(s) Attended

Towson University (BS)

Hometown

 Baltimore, MD

My Name is Quanico Semper, I am a native of Baltimore, MD. This is my first year in the ESOL department. Previously, I was a Paraeducator within BCPS. I graduated from Towson University, class of 2022, with a Baccalaureate in Family Science and a Minor in Human Services.

 I am not a native Spanish speaker and studied the language while attending Towson University. Also, I am a self-taught baker and cake decorator who spends most weekends making delicious goods. My life's mantra is " I am fulfilling my purpose in this world." Doing this is rewarding and brings great joy to my life.



Chunlian

Name

Chunlian Valchar

Email

Coming Soon

Classes Taught


ESOL Newcomer
ESOL Academic Foundations
Physics & Chem (Co-Teaching)

College(s) Attended

UMD (BA & MEd)

Hometown

 Coming Soon

Hi! My name is Chunlian Valchar, and this is my first year at WHS! I graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, and received my Bachelor of Arts in Chinese and my Master of Education in TESOL. 

I love to learn languages, so I'm looking forward to learning some phrases from my students this year. I also enjoy watching anime, drawing, painting, and knitting.