HISD has selected Bryan Bordelon as the principal of the new Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School.
Applications are currently being accepted for Pre-K, Kindergarten, first, and second grades for the 2012–2013 school year. Visit the HISD Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School website (click image above) for more information about the school or to download a copy of the application.
Bordelon speaks Mandarin Chinese with advanced proficiency and has a Master of Arts degree in China Studies from the University of Michigan. He is also pursuing a Master of Educational Administration as part of the University of Texas Collaborative Urban Leadership Project, a joint endeavor between HISD and the University of Texas. Bordelon has worked as a classroom teacher and currently serves as an HISD Teacher Development Specialist providing job coaching and support for English Language Arts teachers.
“After conducting an international search, we found the right person to lead this exciting new school right here in HISD,” Superintendent Terry Grier said. “Bryan Bordelon is a perfect fit for this position. He recognizes the importance of preparing students to be global citizens and shares our commitment to offering a rigorous academic program at every grade level.”
Bordelon was raised abroad and spent 18 years living in Asia, the Middle East, and South America. In addition to speaking English and Mandarin Chinese, he also has some proficiency in Spanish and French.
“I look forward to engaging the students in Chinese,” Bordelon said. “The kids are going to pick it up quickly. It is going to be second nature to them. They will have a much easier time learning the language than students in middle school, high school, or in their college years.”
Click here for school website.
Click here for video about the program.
Students at HISD’s Mandarin Chinese Language Immersion Magnet School have the opportunity to become fluent speakers, writers, and readers of Mandarin Chinese, the most spoken language in the world. They will also participate in enrichment activities that will highlight the Mandarin Chinese culture.
The school will be located at the current Gordon Elementary campus, 6300 Avenue B in Bellaire. It will initially serve students from prekindergarten to second grade. Core subjects of language arts, math, science, and social studies will be taught primarily in Mandarin Chinese with time set aside each day for English language development instruction.
The school is currently accepting applications and those received before March 9 will be given priority. Visit the HISD Magnet Department website (click here) for more information about the school or to download a copy of the application.