ELL Program (English Language Learners)

MEET OUR ELL STAFF

ELL Program: Mrs. Lisa Engelsman, Teacher

Paraprofessionals: Mrs. Kozmi, Mrs. Movsisyan, Mrs. Rivera, Mr. Samb, Mrs. Zaim

Celebrating cultures, we all smile in the same language. Vandenberg is the Bi-Lingual magnet elementary school in Southfield Public Schools.

Hi!  My name is Mrs. Lisa Engelsman.  I have been the English Learner Teacher at Vandenberg for 1 ½ years, and I have been with Southfield Public Schools for 4 years.  Before that I taught at both the high school and middle school levels.   Altogether I have 11 years of teaching experience.  I was born in Michigan, and I have lived in Taiwan and China for 5 years.  I received my Bachelor and Master degrees  in education from Michigan State University .  I am fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese.

In the ESL department we have five wonderful bilingual paraprofessionals that work daily with students and families.  They are:   Mrs. Suha Kozmi, Mrs. Irina Movsisyan, Ms. Brenda Rivera, Mr. Momar Samb, and Mrs. Samira Zaim.

Mrs. Suha Kozmi was born in Iraq and taught English at a secondary school in Mosul, Iraq.  She has worked with Southfield Public Schools for 20 years.  She is fluent in English, Arabic, and Chaldean.

Mrs. Irina Movsisyan was born in Ukraine, and she taught math in the Ukraine for 15 years.  She has worked for Southfield Public Schools for 25 years. She is fluent in English, Ukrainian, and Russian.

Ms. Brenda Rivera was born in Brooklyn, NY and has family in Puerto Rico.  She received her Bachelor degree from Oakland University, and she has worked 7 years in Southfield Public Schools.  Ms. Rivera is fluent in English and Spanish.

Mr. Momar Samb was born in Senegal and he taught English in Gabon. He taught has worked 7 years in Southfield Public Schools.  Mr. Samb is fluent in English, French, and Wolof.

Mrs. Samira Zaim has lived in Iraq.  She has worked 30 years in Southfield Public Schools.  Mrs. Zaim is fluent in English, Arabic, and Chaldean

In a small group setting, Vandenberg students receive supportive services from ELL staff.