Language Exploration Enrichment Inc. (LEE) Spanish Program is a 90-minute per week enrichment program after school in elementary and K-8 academies. LEE offers basic, intermediate and advance Spanish classes during the school year.
The curriculum is designed to help students develop strong language skills while exploring the traditions, music and history of Spanish-speaking cultures. Interactive lessons, games, storytelling and cultural activities keep students engaged.
“Our goal is to give students the confidence to communicate in Spanish and appreciate the beauty of diverse cultures,” said Donna Guzzo, president and CEO.
LEE Instructors have been recognized as Rookie of the Year, or Most Valued Educator seven times by the school district and Florida Foreign Language Association, FFLA. For 13 years a LEE student has been recognized as Scholar of the Year by the district and by FFLA at the elementary level. This year, the Rookie of the Year award went to Manuel Andres Guzman, LEE Spanish Instructor at Ocean Palms Elementary, Freedom Crossing Academy and St. Augustine Montessori.
The two co-founders and directors, Guzzo and M. Janet Robles, have been inducted in the Florida Teacher Hall of Fame.
This semester, Patricia Rodriguez-Rostvold, LEE Supervisor and Instructor at Lakeside Academy and at The Nest Christian Co-Op, and Manual Andres Guzman, instructor at Ocean Palms Elementary have been accepted to the MINELE Master’s Program at the University of Salamanca, Spain. They have an opportunity to participate in an intensive Spanish language and pedagogy professional development. MINELE is based on a socio-constructivist approach, so its teaching methodology revolves around presentations, reflections and classroom practice. This official degree aims to train teachers who are specialized and competent in teaching Spanish as a foreign language, offering modern, comprehensive, and high-quality training.
The training will have a lasting impact by enriching the Language Exploration Enrichment’s Spanish curriculum and fostering a collaborative network of language educators. Materials and strategies developed will be reused and adapted for future classes. To sponsor this opportunity, please contact Donna Guzzo via email at administrator@leestjohnsedu.gov
Language Exploration Enrichment has been a provider of economic growth on the First Coast since 2003. It has hired more than 40 instructors, 30 artists, two part-time directors, a part-time LEE supervisor and a part-time bookkeeper. The classes and camps have generated more than $250,000 in donations to St. Johns School District participating schools.
Participating students have benefited from the program by becoming bilingual and obtaining higher paying jobs. There is evidence of these students supporting community building, which impacts the economy.
We are grateful for visits from former district superintendents, past and current board members Kelly Barrera and Beverly Slough; Sheriff Rob Hardwick; Paladar Cuban Café Co-Owner Nelly Santiago who joined the students on a Cuban culinary craft, chefs from Michael Lugo’s restaurants who led a culinary presentation for the students, and many more visitors.
Parents can learn more about LEE at: leestjohns [licensed for non-commercial use only] / LEE Home Page.
