Welcome Laura Kronk: Supporting Multilingual Education Across Van Buren ISD
We are excited to announce that Laura Kronk has transitioned into the role of Multilingual Coach & Consultant for the Van Buren Intermediate School District (VBISD). A valued member of our VBISD family, Laura previously served as a dedicated teacher and stepped into her new role in the fall of 2024 to bring her expertise to a broader audience.
Laura’s passion for multilingual education is deeply rooted in her admiration for the students and families she works with. “Knowing and navigating the world in more than one language is an asset to our education system and community,” she shares. Laura credits her parents as great inspirations for her work, instilling in her a respect for diverse languages and cultures.
As a teacher, Laura encountered the unique challenge of teaching students who initially didn’t understand her and vice versa. “I have often been asked if I speak all the languages I service, and the answer is no, although I wish I had that superpower!” she says. However, she has developed effective ways to scaffold and differentiate lessons, making them comprehensible for any student. Now, she is eager to share her experience and research-based strategies with other educators. “I enjoy collaborating with other educators and creating opportunities where language can be accessed and used often in the classroom,” she adds.
In her new position, Laura is prioritizing several key initiatives to support districts within the consortium. She is currently focused on providing technical and physical support for the annual English assessment, WIDA, and partnering with a colleague to deliver two professional learning days for the county in February and March. Additionally, she has started a coaching cycle with a secondary math teacher to help incorporate language into mathematics classrooms and hopes to expand these coaching opportunities to more educators. “I want to be a resource for districts and staff for welcoming and supporting our Multilingual Learners into classrooms across the county,” she emphasizes.
Laura is also excited about developing innovative resources and strategies to support districts. One upcoming initiative involves offering educators the chance to shadow a secondary newcomer student to better understand their educational and language needs. She looks forward to collaborating with teachers to create lessons that incorporate meaningful language opportunities. “Coaching and collaboration are at the heart of what I do,” she explains.
When asked about her vision for multilingual education across the consortium, Laura shares her hope of fostering partnerships with fellow educators who are eager to support all learners. “I want to build capacity in the local schools for quality language instruction in every classroom. It’s a lofty goal but a necessary one,” she states. She also encourages educators to view multilingual students as assets in the classroom. “You are privileged to teach them, and they are lucky to be in a classroom that welcomes them and fosters language growth,” she says.
For districts looking to collaborate with her, Laura wants everyone to know that she is just an email or phone call away. She jokes about often getting flack for never changing her email from her maiden name to her married name, but she’s proud to represent a long legacy of “Colegio” educators. You can reach her at LColegio@vbisd.org.
We are confident that Laura’s dedication, experience, and enthusiasm will continue to make a positive impact across the consortium. Please join us in congratulating Laura Kronk on her new role and thanking her for her ongoing commitment to multilingual education.
Stay tuned for updates as Laura continues to build and share valuable resources. If you have questions or would like to learn more about the support she offers, don’t hesitate to reach out to her through the Special Services team.
Listen to our AI Generated
Podcast introducing Laura Kronk
