The Internationals Network of Public Schools (INPS) is a U.S.-based network of 31 secondary schools designed to serve recently arrived immigrant English learners (RAIELs). Established in 1985, the network addresses students’ academic, linguistic, and social-emotional needs while celebrating their multilingual and multicultural identities. These schools challenge dominant educational discourses that marginalize learners based on nationality and English proficiency, offering innovative approaches to education that prioritize equity and empowerment.

This panel examines INPS as a model of sanctuary schools that move beyond protection to empower immigrant students and educators. The first panelist, a professor of education, will provide historical context and ethnographic research on the network’s origins and innovations. The second panelist, the network’s director, will share insights from a study on leadership development within the network, focusing on strategies that strengthen teacher and administrator capacity. The third panelist will highlight the HELLO principles—Heterogeneity and Collaboration, Experiential and Project Learning, Language and Content Integration, Localized Autonomy and Responsibility, and One Learning Model for All—developed by practitioners in INPS. Drawing on global experience as a coach and consultant, this panelist will share actionable leadership strategies for applying these principles in diverse contexts to foster collaboration, celebrate multilingualism, and create student-centered learning environments.

The session will conclude with an interactive discussion on how the Internationals model can inspire schools worldwide to create dynamic, empowering spaces for im/migrant youth, offering adaptable strategies for international contexts.

Authors:
Chandler Miranda, Molloy University, United States
Lara Evangelista, Internationals Network of Public Schools, United States
Gaylea Prichard-Silvers, Internationals Network of Public Schools, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Chandler Patton Miranda is currently an Assistant Professor of Education in the Educational Leadership for Diverse Learning Communities (Ed.D.) program at Molloy University, Rockville Centre, New York.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandler-patton-miranda-1678691b/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Wednesday Schedule

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