South Sioux City
Community Schools
MANY LANGUAGES. ONE COMMUNITY
"My language and culture are my strengths. SSCCS helps me learn English, succeed in my classes, and build my future. I feel seen, respected, and confident in who I am."
25%
of SSCCS students are Multilingual Learners 3X the state average
SPANISH, SOMALI, OROMO
languages and more are spoken in our district
TRACY GARVEY
ML Program Coordinator
What is the Multilingual Learners Program?
We're here to support your child — in English and in the language of your home.
At South Sioux City Community Schools, our Multilingual Learners program supports students who are learning English while also speaking another language at home. We believe that every language your child speaks is a strength — and our job is to help them grow in English while honoring who they already are.
Our ML teachers work with students at every school in the district, from kindergarten through high school. We focus on building English skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening — while making sure students can fully participate in all of their classes.
South Sioux City is a multilingual community. More than 1 in 4 students in our district speaks a language other than English at home — nearly three times the state average. That is not a challenge. It is one of our greatest strengths.
How Does the ML Program Work?
1
IDENTIFICATION
2
LANGUAGE SUPPORT
3
PROGRESS MONITORING
4
PROFICIENCY & EXIT
Home language survey + ELPA21 screener
ML teacher assigned, instruction begins
Annual ELPA21 + classroom data reviewed
Milestone celebrated, 4-year monitoring follows
MEET OUR TEAM
TRACY GARVEY
ML PROGRAM COORDINATOR
SCHOOL | ML TEACHER |
|---|---|
CARDINAL ELEMENTARY | Georgie Quinlain Lori McGuire Julie Hoss |
COVINGTON ELEMENTARY | Kathy Keane Karin Swanson Darrell Langley Kelly Vander Leest |
DAKOTA CITY ELEMENTARY | Jaime Anderson Andrea Gonzalez Stephanie Paul |
HARNEY ELEMENTARY | Trisha Crawford Kamyl Hoing Kennedy Brand |
LEWIS & CLARK ELEMENTARY | Tahlia Deitloff Maria Arana Laddy Saavedra |
MIDDLE SCHOOL | Sara Bunker Becky Bleil Andy Tostado |
HIGH SCHOOL | Ryan Ingalls Derek Anderson Sara Freiberg Heather Jenkins Sophia Davies |
DISTRICT SECRETARY | Diane Zeller |
2026-2027 ML Department Team
FOR FAMILIES
You are your child's most important advocate. Here are resources to help you stay connected. Each resource is available in English, Spanish, Oromo and Somali
Understanding the ML program — a guide for families
Plain-language walkthrough of the identification-to-exit process.
How to support your child's language learning at home
The best thing you can do is keep using your home language. It builds the foundation for English.
ELPA21 — what is it and what do results mean?
Nebraska's English language proficiency assessment, explained in plain language.
COMPLIANCE AND LEGAL
The federal and state laws that protect your child's right to language services — and your rights as a family.
Annual Program Review
We review our ML program every year. Read the public summary.