Migrant Ed Students Sweep Awards

The Long Beach Unified School District’s Migrant Education Program was once again a top winner at the annual Los Angeles County Office of Education’s Migrant Education Program Speech Competition.

For the third year in a row, LBUSD swept the competition by receiving the most trophies in Los Angeles County — with a total of 25 student winners ranging from grades 6 to 12. The winning students won third, second and first-place trophies in the prepared and extemporaneous speech categories. Some students competed in English while some competed in Spanish.

“This is a testament to the value of preparing our students for success in public speaking and bilingualism,” said Martha Ensminger, program specialist at LBUSD’s Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development. “This is the third year in a row that LBUSD’s MEP speech team earned the most wins in the tournament. We hope to continue this tradition in the future with the support of the District, speech coaches and our dedicated students and parents.”

LBUSD’s Migrant Education Program began in 1994 and serves children and young adults whose parents or relatives work in jobs related to fishing, forestry, nurseries, livestock and agriculture. The aim is to prevent the discontinuity in education that can occur when a family relocates repeatedly due to seasonal work. Such families also are at a disadvantage because most live in extreme poverty, and some students must work with their families. This year marked LBUSD’s third year offering a speech class during its Saturday School Program.