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To the Editor:

At the last Board of Education meeting of March 25, during a discussion of potential budget cuts, our elementary World Language program was mentioned. I am a Spanish teacher at Smith STEM and Bugbee Elementary Schools. I am honored to serve as the Connecticut World Language Teacher of the Year, representing our state at the regional level. I am a town taxpayer, and mother of two bilingual students, one at Wolcott Elementary and one at Sedgwick Middle School.

As a parent and educator, I am proud of the Spanish program in West Hartford’s elementary schools – and deeply concerned it may be cut due to budget pressures.

Starting Spanish in grades 3-5 does more than teach a language. It develops critical thinking, literacy, and cognitive skills that support learning across all subjects. Students learn Spanish through a rich, multidisciplinary curriculum: for example, we practice season and weather vocabulary by studying how the Earth’s rotation, orbit, and tilt determine seasons in each hemisphere; to learn vocabulary for school supplies, we compare urban and rural schools in Colombia; and when studying family connections, we explore rich cultural traditions expressed in artistic exhibitions throughout Latin America.

Students also engage in reading comprehension that enables them to decode Spanish words and transfer meaning to English vocabulary, use context clues to understand new language, and write extended paragraphs using details to support ideas – directly reflecting 4th- and 5th-grade ELA standards. These lessons immerse students in authentic language while reinforcing literacy, analytical thinking, and effective communication. Remarkably, all of this learning happens in just one hour a week, demonstrating the efficiency and impact of our program as well as the instructional capacity of our professional teachers.

Every student can be successful in our Spanish classes. We create a learning environment where students gain confidence, pride, and a sense of agency. Our program nurtures cultural competence, empathy, and social-emotional growth. It builds connections with families and the wider community. By celebrating multilingualism and sharing cultural experiences, we strengthen bonds between students, families, and schools – making West Hartford a richer, more inclusive place to live and learn. Programs like ours are recognized statewide as exemplary, reflecting positively on our schools and enhancing our town’s appeal to families, which contributes to property values.

Cutting elementary Spanish would not only reduce opportunities for students to thrive academically and socially; it would diminish the community we have built around learning together. I urge West Hartford residents to join me in advocating for this program that so well reflects our town’s cultural and educational values.

Most sincerely,

Carolina Gieczewski, JD
Spanish teacher, Smith STEM and Bugbee Elementary Schools
CT World Language Teacher of the Year (2025-2026)
Mother of two WHPS students
Taxpayer