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Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MLPAC)

Empowering families to bridge the gap between home and school, amplify their voices, and support multilingual learners while celebrating their cultures in a safe, supportive environment.

At Nauset Public Schools, we value the input and collaboration of our diverse community. Our Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MLPAC) plays a crucial role in enhancing our English Language Education (ELE) programs and ensuring that we meet the needs of our multilingual students and their families.

2024-2025 Meetings

Snowy Owl, 2624 Main Street, Brewster

5:00-6:30 PM

Tuesday October 22

Tuesday January 28

Tuesday March 25

Tuesday May 6

Meet the MLPAC

Paola Collazos

President

Paola Collazos

ypaito8@gmail.com

I’m Colombian living in Cape Cod for 18 years, I speak Spanish, English and I understand Portuguese. I’m a mom of 3 Boys, all of them are in different schools of Nauset, elementary, middle and high school. Navigating the school with my children and trying to raise my kids bilingual has been my motivation to be part of the MLPAC understanding how things work in the school and helping other parents that may be having the same questions.

Monica Montoya Quintero

Vice President

Mónica Montoya-Quintero

Montoyaquinterom@nausetschools.org

Mónica Montoya-Quintero a 2022 elected member of the Eastham School Committee who also serves as the Vice President of the MLPAC. A dedicated mother of two boys in 2nd and 5th grade, I am passionate about supporting education in my community. Originally from Medellín, Colombia, I moved to the United States 28 years ago. Currently, I work for the Children's Place as an Early Learning Specialist in a program call PC+ a program that focuses on nurturing young children's development and learning . Also, I work for a nonprofit organization called Helping Our Women.

Tanya Swaby

Community Outreach Coordinator

Tanya Swaby

trosario1982@gmail.com

I am Cuban-Portuguese and was born and raised on Cape Cod. I graduated from Nauset high school and I am raising two bi-racial boys at the elementary level in the Nauset schools. My husband is from Jamaica and speaks Patois, and although I don’t speak another language, I have always understood the importance of learning other languages and starting them at the elementary level. This was why I joined the committee last year in Brewster to keep languages in the school budget. Through that, I was introduced to the MLPAC. The organization aligned with my beliefs on language and diversity within our schools.

I am happy to be the community outreach person on the MLPAC and hope to help people to navigate our schools by providing resources and an inclusive community for all.

Rheanna Hastings

NRHS PTO Liaison & Festival Coordinator

Rheanna Hastings

hastingsfamily126@gmail.com

Rheanna Hastings is a first generation Greek American who grew up surrounded by her culture. She speaks, reads, and writes Greek, and loves to share her culture with others which includes history, language and especially Dance! She likes to spread awareness about her culture and teach others about cultural diversity through ethnic dance, language, and dialogue. Rheanna is the Vice President of the Nauset Regional High School PTO and the Festival Coordinator of Nauset School District's Multilingual Parent and Caregiver Advisory Council (MLPAC).

Paige Sullivan

Family Liaison & Secretary

Paige Sullivan

sullivanp@nausetschools.org

In addition to my role as the EL teacher at Orleans Elementary School, I became involved with the MLPAC through my work as our department's family liaison. This year, I’m thrilled to step into the role of secretary and look forward to seeing this group grow and make a meaningful impact on our schools for multilingual students and their families.

MLPAC

More Information

What is MLPAC?

The Multilingual Parent Advisory Council (MLPAC) is a group of parents and guardians of multilingual learners (MLs) who come together to provide input and support for our language education programs. MLPAC serves as a bridge between families and the school district, ensuring that parents' voices are heard and their needs are addressed.

Objectives of MLPAC

  1. Advocate for MLs: MLPAC members advocate for the needs of ML students and their families, helping to shape policies and practices that improve educational outcomes for multilingual learners.

  2. Provide Feedback: The council provides feedback on current ELE programs, ensuring that they are effective and responsive to the needs of students and their families.

  3. Enhance Communication: MLPAC facilitates communication between the school district and multilingual families, helping to address concerns and promote greater family engagement in education.

  4. Promote Family Involvement: MLPAC encourages active participation from parents and guardians in school activities and decision-making processes related to language education.

Meetings and Activities

MLPAC meets regularly to discuss issues, provide feedback, and collaborate on initiatives related to language education. Meetings may include:

  • Discussions on Program Effectiveness: Evaluating the success of existing ELE programs and suggesting improvements.

  • Workshops and Training: Offering opportunities for parents to learn more about language education and how they can support their children’s learning.

  • Community Events: Organizing events to celebrate multilingualism and engage families in school activities.

How to Get Involved

Parents interested in joining MLPAC or learning more about its activities should:

  1. Contact the School: Reach out to the school’s administration or the ELE department for information on how to join the council.

  2. Attend Meetings: Participate in MLPAC meetings to provide input and stay informed about ongoing initiatives.

  3. Engage with the Community: Actively participate in MLPAC activities and encourage other parents to get involved.

More Information

For more details about MLPAC and how you can get involved, please contact the Nauset Public Schools ELE Department or the MLPAC. We look forward to working together to support our multilingual students and their families!