Springdale School Board Honors Gonzales Worthen

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Diana Gonzales Worthen

The Springdale public schools' board of directors presented Diana Gonzales Worthen an award last fall in recognition of her work with the district on a Toyota Family Literacy Program grant.

Gonzales Worthen, a University of Arkansas employee, initiated and wrote the Toyota grant, which is funded in partnership with the National Center for Family Literacy. The initial three-year, $600,000 grant served three elementary schools in Springdale, and the grant expanded to five more schools this year. The program brings parents with limited English skills into their children's schools for a minimum of 10 hours per week. They participate in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes for six hours per week, two hours in parent time classes and then spend two hours with their children in their classrooms.

The district presented a plaque to Gonzales Worthen that reads: “In deep appreciation of her partnership efforts that were instrumental in the initiation and development of the exemplary Toyota Family Literacy Program in our Springdale schools and her continuing devotion of time and support we hereby recognize Diana Gonzales Worthen as a true and cherished ‘Friend of Springdale Schools’.”

At the University of Arkansas, Gonzales Worthen directs Project Teach Them All, a federally funded project based in the curriculum and instruction department in the College of Education and Health Professions. She formerly worked for the Springdale district as an assistant curriculum supervisor specializing in English for speakers of other languages.

Project Teach Them All is also a partnership with the Springdale district. Teachers take graduate classes based at their schools to earn a teaching endorsement in English as a second language.