PASEO ACADEMY: DUAL LANGUAGE CERTIFICATION

Paseo Academy of Fine and Performing Arts integrates a rigorous performing arts and academic curriculum, offering extensive training by experienced professionals and multiple opportunities for students to excel in local and national arts scenes. Graduates benefit from scholarships, internships, and can earn an associate degree alongside their diploma, preparing them comprehensively for higher education and careers in the arts.

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  • Paseo Dual Language Program

    Dual Language students at Paseo Academy can pursue a bilingual pathway in addition to pursuing an art major in order to continue their journey as multilingual, multiliterate, and multiculturally-minded scholars. They complete a portion of their courses each year fully in Spanish, network with the diverse Latine communities of Kansas City, and celebrate and share through cultural outreach events.

    1. Spanish coursework

    2. Community excursions

    3. School-wide cultural events

    • In 2023 our 9th graders were the youngest students in the state to receive dual credit.

    • High school dual language students at Paseo are participating in a 4-year pilot that predicts that they will graduate within two credits of a Spanish minor.

    • Dual language students were the highest scoring performers in every tested subject area.

    • Students who have English Language Learner status exit the program at twice the first as those who are not in the program.

    • Biliteracy Advantage

    • Bilingual Excellence (Seal of Biliteracy, candidacy)

    • College and Career Readiness

  • oflores@kcpublicschools.org

OLIVIA FLORES | PASEO ACADEMY

Dr. Jennifer Collier · Superintendent-Kansas City Public Schools

“My mother is a former teacher and Principal in Kansas City, and I had an opportunity to observe her, and other dedicated African American educators provide meaningful learning opportunities for students in Kansas City.  Observing their work and impact, inspires me to strive each day to lead and work in a way that advances equity, access and opportunities for the students in KCPS, where I serve.”

Support the Work

  • VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

    • Please follow us on Instagram at: paseo_dual_language and complete this form

  • Dear Families, We cannot thank you enough for beginning this historic bilingual journey with us. We know that this educational model is the only language model proven to close the achievement gap for so many groups of students and believe that being bilingual should not only accelerate learning in every subject, but also benefit the entire community through its cultural responsiveness and emphasis on community. We are looking forward to building a committee to continue to capture your vision, and look forward to continuing to partner with you in the future. In Solidarity, Paseo Dual Language.

    - Olivia Flores

  • A huge thank you to our founders: now Principal Andrew Murphy and Amanda Niedzwiecki. Your vision and advocacy for continuing the bilingual track offered at the primary school level have created a form of language justice, unity, and culturally responsiveness that benefit all students and will change public education in Kansas City and nation-wide. Thank you also to the Carver Elementary and Foreign Language Academy communities for fostering multilingualism in Kansas City for years.

    Next, a thank you is owed to our Paseo Dual language teachers of the past and present (Ms. Cabral, Mr. Caleb Edwards, Sr. Gavila, Sr. Donnelly to name a few). You fostered and nurtured this program at Paseo and are the heartbeat of its culture today. Thank you too to Ms. Arla Jones for supporting our multilingual learners as they continue to build their fluency in both languages.

    Thank you to our beautiful, already multilingual Paseo community. We are truly such a dynamic space with so many different means of expressing ourselves here. We love that multilingualism can be a part of our tapestry. A thank you specifically to our building leadership who have fiercely advocated and produced rapid results to provide this opportunity to our already artistic and talented student body. Your work does not go unnoticed, Dr. Keyona Powell and Mr. Kent Mailen, and we thank you for it.

    Thank you to Diane Bosilevac who embraced the Dual Language staff and who has tirelessly advocated and celebrated us. You are one of our most treasured allies and has given us a home and guidance as we forged our way forward.

    Thank you to Andrew Urban for establishing a historical 4-year university pilot program that has made our program one of the most innovative and college-aligned of its kind and rewards students for strengthening their academic competency in such a complex and important language.

    Thank you to Dr. Jennifer Collier, a compassionate and incredible leader who has always emphasized the importance of all students feeling welcomed to embrace their complex identities, maintain their multiple cultures, and to use language as a means of building community and understanding. We cannot thank you for your support and encouragement.

    Finally, muchísimas gracias to our vibrant community who has supported us in our ambitious endeavors. We have created incredible learning experiences and partnerships through Urban Hikes KC; the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Telemundo and their collaboration with our own Eva Santiago; UMKC, Dea Marks, the UMKC Multicultural Center, and Dr. Alberto Villamandos; Cafe Corazón; the Nelson Atkins team; the Latinx Educators Collaborative; our folkloric dancing community; the Lyric Opera; ITRACON, and mentors and politicians throughout our community who have served on panels and have mentored our students including Councilman Crispin Rea and Mario Vasquez. Thank you for your support, time, donations, and mentorship. It means so much to us that we can see just how far bilingualism can take us through you, and we appreciate you being our collaborative partner in live-long learning. We hope to continue to make you proud.