Beth Puma
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​transforming our hearts, transforming our classrooms, transforming our world

About Me

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       Language shapes our vision(s) of the world. By understanding our students' multilingual experiences we can transform our instructional practices and schools to help our students' thrive.
       I worked with linguistically diverse students in New York City and Tucson, Arizona public schools; two cities that are at the center of public discourse around educational language policy and planning. When I moved overseas to China, I was part of a core team of educators working at a catalyst immersion school for host country nationals. Language and cultures' intersection with education has been a passion for my entire teaching career. 

PictureFushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto, Japan
       I served as an MLL Specialists and Instructional Coach at The American School in  Japan for 8 years, developing a strong co-teaching program alongside many other talented educators .  During this time I served as ELLSA Japan Chapter Coordinator.  Previously, I have assisted Dr. Virginia Rojas as part of the Principle Teacher Training Center's EAL Certificate. I also worked as a coach and course developer with MiniPD. 
       I have a broad range of experience as a classroom teacher, EAL teacher, and curriculum coordinator in the K-12 setting. I specialize in working with schools in visioning and designing systems where multilingual learners can thrive.  I also specialize in working with teachers in unit and lesson planning that strategically meets students’ needs through standards aligned-instruction, inquiry, differentiation, and progressive scaffolding. I am dedicated to building a more transformative educational landscape that honors linguistic diversity and challenges societal paradigms. I am passionate about helping other educators take their own professional journey in order to use research based best practices for multilingual students and transform their classrooms.

PictureTucson, Arizona
​     When I am not teaching, I love to travel and experience local cuisines.  I also enjoy hiking with my family; some of my favorite spots are the Catalina Mountains of Tucson or Mount Takao outside of Tokyo. I also am an avid painter and crafter. One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new country is explore the local art supply stores. I'm a ferocious reader. Some of my favorite fiction titles  include: The Hummingbird's Daughter by Luis Alberto Urea, Franny and Zooey by J.D Salinger, Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, and What Our Bones Know by Stephanie Foo.


  • Home
  • About Me
    • Professional Presentations, Workshops, and Affiliations
  • Learning Design
  • Consulting Services
    • Professional Learning
    • Personalized Coaching
    • MLL Ecosystem Project
  • Contact