Welcome to the English Language Development (ELD) Department!
ELD Administrator: Ms. Reyes
[email protected]
Welcome Center
Phone/Teléfono: 443.809.6752
615 Bishops Lane Catonsville, MD 21228
Questions about the ELD Program in BCPS?
Need help enrolling an ELD student in BCPS?
The ELD Welcome Center of Baltimore County can help!
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¿Preguntas sobre el programa de ELD en BCPS?
¿Necesita ayuda para inscribir a un estudiante de ELD en BCPS?
¡El Centro de Bienvenida de ELDdel Condado de Baltimore puede ayudarlo!
WHS ELD Department
The
main focus of the curricula taught in ELD 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, ELD 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
- ESOL Math
- American Culture
Message From the Department/DC
Welcome to the ELD 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 ELD 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 ELD 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!
Mrs. Abraham - ELD Teacher
nabraham@bcps.org
College Attended: Lebanese University - Beirut
Bio: I joined WHS in 2025 and bring extensive international teaching experience to my role. Prior to coming to WHS, I taught Chemistry and Math for many years in Lebanon, along with Arabic and French language instruction. I am currently teaching ESOL Level 4 to high school students across various grade levels. I’m passionate about supporting multilingual learners and helping them build both academic language and confidence in their learning journey.
Ms. Itunu Afolabi - ELD Teacher
iafolabi@bcps.org
Ms. Marie Charles - ELD Teacher
mcharles@bcps.org
Ms. Mariah Darden - ELD Teacher
mdarden@bcps.org
College Attended: Virginia State University
Bio: My name is Mariah Darden, and I am thrilled to be joining Woodlawn High School as an ESOL 2 instructor. I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to engage with and support our diverse student body throughout the school year. Originally from Portsmouth, Virginia, I bring a deep passion for language education and cultural exchange to the classroom. In addition to my professional interests, I am an avid baker, with my banana pudding being a favorite among family and friends. I also have a fondness for tacos and pizza, which are among my favorite foods. I am looking forward to a productive and rewarding year ahead, and I am excited to work with each of you!
Ms. De'cia Dimoh - ELD Teacher
ddimoh@bcps.org
College Attended: Morgan State (BA & MA)
Bio: De’cia C. Dimoh is a proud alumni of the “illustrious “ Morgan State University , where she received her bachelors of art degree in Elementary Education & Urban Studies and pursing a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies and Historical Preservation .In and out of the classroom, Ms.Dimoh is known as a dynamic educator who brings a ball of energy with her!
Dr. Linda Morales - ELD Teacher
lmorales@bcps.org
Ms. Najla Nadeem - ELD Teacher
nnadeem2@bcps.org
Bio: 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. 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!
Ms. Quanico Semper - ELD Teacher
qsemper@bcps.org
College Attended: Towson University (BS)
Bio: 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
Ms. Chunlian Osterhout (Valchar) - ELD Teacher
cvalchar@bcps.org
College Attended: UMD (BA & MEd)
Bio: 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
Dr. Jesús Zamora - ELD Teacher
jzamoraalarcon@bcps.org
College Attended: Alcala University (BA), Autonomous University of Madrid (MA), Complutense University (PhD)
Bio: My name is Jesús Zamora, and I am ESOL/Social Studies teacher at Woodlawn High. I have a PhD in Classical Studies, and I am working in a second doctoral degree in Modern History. As you can see, History is my passion. Also, I love to travel different places in the world where the most important historical events happened.