Our Mission
In all of our years of education, our main goal was always to make a difference for the students and their families who crossed our paths. As Language & Literacy Associates for Multilingual and Multicultural Education, (LLAMAME, LLC) we are committed to helping all educators develop effective instructional techniques and create affective learning environments for culturally and linguistically diverse students.
For over four decades, Barbara Tedesco has taught multilingual learners at every level. As the principal of an elementary school with a state-recognized model bilingual program, she shaped an exemplary Professional Development school in conjunction with Kean University. As a result of her tremendous achievements, Barb was recognized as the 2003 - 2004 NJ Principal of the Year. She then shared her expertise by inspiring aspiring administrators through the NJEXCEL program. Barb was also honored by the Diversity Council at Kean University for her work throughout the state of New Jersey. Barbara brings her personable, engaging style to all of LLAMAME’s presentations.
Elizabeth (BJ) Franks has been a passionate teacher, supervisor, and advocate for ELs at all levels. As a supervisor in conjunction with administrators and staff at Harrison School, she developed a model bilingual program in the state of New Jersey. In this capacity, BJ had the opportunity to participate in the original Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) Training of Trainers created by the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL). One of her greatest accomplishments was the completion of her doctorate with a dissertation on a Contextual Case Study of a Model Bilingual Program. BJ adds a wealth of knowledge and experience to LLAMAME’s workshops.
As lifelong learners, Barb and BJ have attended several trainings offered by Dr. Alba Ortiz at the University of Texas at Austin on Bilingual Special Education Issues. During the last ten years, they have also trained over 1000 general, special and ELL educators on a variety of topics at Kean, William Paterson, Rutgers and Stockton Universities in addition to customized presentations in more than 75 local districts in NJ, Prince William County, Va. and Columbus Ohio.
Atlantic County
Atlantic City
Stockton University
Bergen County
Bergenfield
Closter
Dumont
Fair Lawn
Franklin Lakes
Garfield
Hackensack
No. Arlington
Oradell
Ramsey
River Edge
Tenafly
Burlington County
Cinnaminson
Delran Twp
Maple Shade
Medford Twp
Camden County
Cherry Hill
Mastery Charter School
Cape May County
Wildwood
Cumberland County
Vineland
Essex County
Bloomfield
East Orange
Irvington
Livingston
Montclair
Newark
Orange
West Orange
Gloucester County
Kingsway
Hudson County
Guttenberg
Kearny
Hudson County Consortia
Hunterdon County
Flemington-Raritan Regional
Tewksbury
Mercer County
Ewing
Lawrence Twp
Princeton
Trenton
Middlesex County
Carteret
Dunellen
East Brunswick
Edison
Highland Park
Middlesex County Vo- Tech
Middlesex
New Brunswick
Perth Amboy
Rutgers University
Woodbridge Twp
Monmouth County
Atlantic Highlands
Avon-by-the-Sea
Belmar
Eatontown
Freehold Boro Elem
Freehold Reg HS - Colts Neck Campus
Freehold Twp Elem
Hazlet
Henry Hudson Reg
Holmdel
Howell
Keyport
Long Branch
Manalapan-Englishtown Regional
Manasquan
Middletown
Neptune Twp
Red Bank Boro
Tinton Falls
Morris County
Morris School District
Parsippany Troy Hills Twp
Randolph
Ocean County
Jackson
Lacey Twp
Lakewood
Manchester
Plumsted/New Egypt
Passaic County
Clifton
Passaic City
William Paterson University
Somerset County
Bound Brook
Branchburg Twp
Bridgewater Raritan Regional
Franklin Twp
Hillsborough
Montgomery Twp
No. Plainfield
Somerset Hills
Somerville
Union County
Berkeley Heights
Elizabeth
Hillside
Kean University
Linden
New Providence
Rahway
Roselle Boro
Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Summit
Warren County
Phillipsburg
Resources
Testimonials
Working in the Ramsey school district, I am exposed to lots of PD throughout the year. Although they are all wonderful opportunities to learn, some just stick out. It’s no surprise that your PD was one that definitely stood out.
Thank you both for taking the time to educate us on SIOP. Your passion, knowledge, and creativity are obvious to anyone in attendance. I also admire how in sync you both are. You make co-teaching look easy (and I know it definitely is not an easy task)!
After the first week, I was already implementing strategies in my classroom and will continue to do so. Thanks for making yourselves available to us past the PD— please feel free to reach out to me also. I love networking with such incredible educators!
Michele Megna, Third Grade Teacher
Tisdale School, Ramsey, NJ
Sheltered
We came to learn of instruction
Of the sheltering kind
To find a better way to serve
Those otherwise left far behind
To choose equality or equity
Supports or universal design
We’re brought to table and given sup
In manner most sublime
Analysis of factors
That impact how ELs learn
We listen, speak, read and write
Each in equal turn
Kinesthethics play a part
In this, each learner differs
For acculturation to occur,
We must offer brand new slipper
Whose look may cause excitement
And blisters all at once
While ache to slip on shoes of old
Is always ghostly presence
Made aware, good teachers sense
When sore feet must rest
They also know the time to push
Each fledgling from the nest
Academic words to learn
Of SIL and LoLA, too
LoMa, LoSc and LoSS – regard
All waiting in the queue
Pictures, words, and phrases
Simple sentences to complex
Scaffolded conversation
Becomes discourse fluidly expressed
ELP is a butterfly
An egg, its transformative start
Soon larvae hatches – learning begins
Educators all must take part
For nourishment matches development
And a village can feed more than one
Collective commitment – optimal results
Many hands is work swiftly done
Rapid growth slows while digesting
And the chrysalis quiets and stills
Metamorphic changes happen within
With each acquired new skill
And just as time might feel wasted
And others believe all is for naught
Emerges the beautiful butterfly
Perfection so beautifully wrought
Thank you, BJ and Barbara, for taking the time to share both your expertise and enthusiasm for Sheltered Instruction. These three days have been a wonderful experience. Your facilitation techniques trigger memory response while reinforcing best practice in education. Thank you for offering this course.
Sincerely, Rita Williams, 2017
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