Empowering Voices: Ahmed Bitar’s Work with Young Language Learners

For Ahmed Bitar at Escuela Avancemos!, teaching is more than delivering lessons. It is about helping students understand their language, culture, and place in the world. As a middle school Spanish Language Arts teacher and Spanish Program Coordinator, Bitar works in a school community where nearly all students share similar cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Through the Professional Innovators in Education program, he is expanding both his credentials and his ability to support them in meaningful ways.

Bitar teaches sixth through eighth grade at a school where 99% of students are Hispanic, and about 90 percent are English Language Learners and migrant students from Latin American countries. His classroom focuses on more than vocabulary and grammar. His students read stories, analyze themes, and discuss social issues while strengthening their language skills.

Ahmed shares that the Professional Innovators in Education program has played an important role in strengthening his work as an educator. He is pursuing Standard Certification for both Spanish and Bilingual Education. His experience in the program is broadening his perspective on teaching and leadership.

“Working toward these endorsements has pushed me to think about teaching in a broader way,” Bitar notes. “It has encouraged me to think more intentionally about leadership, collaboration, and how educators can influence positive change.”

Middle school students bring constant energy, and Bitar embraces the challenge. He works to help them grow academically while building confidence in their language. His role also extends beyond his classroom. As the Spanish Program Coordinator for kindergarten through eighth grade, he also observes elementary teachers, coaches them, and leads conversations about how to best support their students.

Bitar says the Professional Innovators program has helped him become more reflective about his teaching. He regularly considers how to make lessons more engaging and meaningful for his students. Strategies introduced through the program have encouraged him to try new approaches and refine his instructional methods.

One course that stood out to him was Exploring the Art of Pedagogy. The class encouraged him to reconsider how lessons are structured and how students move through different levels of thinking.

“It made me revisit Bloom’s Taxonomy and think about how to move students beyond simple recall toward deeper analysis and evaluation,” he said.

For a language teacher, that shift is especially important. Rather than focusing only on memorization, Bitar wants students to interpret texts, discuss ideas, and engage thoughtfully with the material they are studying. The course helped him design lessons that challenge students to think more deeply.

After three years at his current school, Bitar feels confident that he has found the community where he belongs. His focus remains on serving his students and continuing to grow as an educator. The endorsements he is pursuing through the program will help him continue growing professionally while staying grounded in the classroom.

“The key is to stay committed to your students, keep growing as an educator, and find a school community where your strengths and philosophy of teaching are valued.”

Through the Professional Innovators in Education program, Bitar says he is gaining tools that strengthen both his teaching and leadership. At the same time, his dedication to students and colleagues continues to shape the learning environment around him.

To learn more about our various program endorsements offered, click HERE.