From ‘Them’ to ‘Nosotros’: How Dual Language Academies Unite San Antonio Students

Twelve years ago, Irving Academy in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) faced significant challenges. Conditions were poor, and morale was low, according to teachers and district leaders. “You could smell the mold that was in the carpets. There were no windows in the classrooms,” recalls Jackie Calderón Hernandez, a middle school English Language Arts teacher at the school. Today, through a partnership with the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and a commitment to bilingual education, Irving Academy has become one of the highest-rated schools in the district.

A History of Transformation

Hernandez began her tenure at Irving in 2014, joining a wave of novel hires brought in to revitalize the struggling middle school. Despite initial efforts, the school received a “Improvement Required” rating – equivalent to an F – from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) in 2017. Following a series of unsuccessful rehabilitation attempts, new leadership took decisive action in 2017. They removed the carpeting, installed windows, and began enrolling students as young as preschool-age into the newly renovated and renamed Washington Irving Dual Language Academy.

Embracing Bilingual Education

The transformation extended beyond physical improvements. The district shifted its curriculum to embrace bilingual education, recognizing that approximately half of Irving’s student population came from Spanish-speaking households, while the other half primarily spoke English. The dual language program was designed to have students, starting in Pre-K, use Spanish 80% of the time, gradually increasing English usage until reaching a 50/50 balance.

To foster inclusivity, English and Spanish-speaking students were often paired for assignments. This approach aimed to validate Spanish as a valuable language for learning and expression, rather than viewing it as a barrier to overcome in traditional ESL classes. “That’s very key due to the fact that [Spanish-speaking students] are now a part of the school,” Hernandez explained. “They’re part of the community. They don’t sense like, ‘oh, I’m in this separate class while the rest of the school does other things.’”

The Dual Language Community Lab Schools Partnership

Irving Academy’s success is directly linked to the Dual Language Community Lab Schools Partnership, a program established through Senate Bill 1882. SAISD contracts with UTSA to operate the campus, creating a symbiotic relationship that benefits both students and educators. This partnership extends to three other SAISD campuses: James Bonham Academy, Mark Twain Dual Language Academy, and Charles Graebner Elementary School.

UTSA’s College of Education and Human Development (COEHD) provides teacher training, expertise, and teaching residents who work alongside full-time teachers at Irving. Juanita Santos, executive director of the partnership, conducts regular walkthroughs and gathers input from faculty to continually refine the program. The partnership also facilitates research opportunities for UTSA professors, allowing them to pilot new ideas and collect data in a real-world setting.

Benefits Beyond the Classroom

The program’s impact extends beyond academics. Students have the opportunity to participate in immersive experiences, such as an eighth-grade trip to Puerto Rico, where they can learn about Latin culture and practice their Spanish skills.

Teachers of Tomorrow

Angelica Nieto, a former teaching resident at Irving, exemplifies the program’s success in cultivating passionate educators. Nieto, who learned English as a child, understands the challenges faced by students who are learning a new language. She hopes to provide the support she needed as a student to her own students, believing that bilingual education is crucial for honoring students’ home languages and preparing them for a globalized world.

A Resounding Success

The transformative impact of the Dual Language Community Lab Schools Partnership is evident in Irving Academy’s 2025 TEA rating: an A. This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration, innovative curriculum design, and a commitment to linguistic and cultural affirmation.