Howard students traveling to Washington, D.C., to learn ‘American story’

ESOL teacher Ellen Smith works with students Paola Ramirez, left, and Amilcar during a directed studies period at Howard School on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Smith and fellow Howard ESOL teacher Andrea Dyer are taking 18 of their students to Washington D.C. for their senior year.

By Meghan Mangrum March 5, 2018 5 min read

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Howard teachers, ESOL students to travel to Washington, D.C.

Roxana Chilel, left, and Carolina Cano work on an assignment during a directed studies period in Ellen Smith's classroom at Howard School on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Smith and fellow Howard ESOL teacher Andrea Dyer are taking 18 of their students to Washington D.C. for their senior year.

Howard seniors Amilcar, left, and Ricardo Escobar work on an assignment during a directed studies period at Howard School on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Escobar and Figueroa will be among 18 students going with Howard ESOL teachers Ellen Smith and Andrea Dyer to Washington D.C. for a senior trip.

Howard senior Ricardo Escobar works on an assignment at his desk during a directed studies period at Howard School on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Escobar will be among 18 students going with Howard ESOL teachers Ellen Smith and Andrea Dyer to Washington D.C. for a senior trip.

ESOL teacher Ellen Smith, right, works with students Ricardo Escobar, center, and Ingrid Galvez on an assignment during a directed studies period at Howard School on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Smith and fellow Howard ESOL teacher Andrea Dyer are taking 18 of their students to Washington D.C. for their senior year.

ESOL teacher Andrea Dyer helps student Alex Lopez with an assignment during a directed studies period at Howard School on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Dyer and fellow Howard ESOL teacher Ellen Smith are taking 18 of their students to Washington D.C. for their senior year.

ESOL teacher Ellen Smith poses for a portrait in her classroom at Howard School on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Smith and fellow Howard ESOL teacher Andrea Dyer are taking 18 of their students to Washington D.C. for their senior year.

ESOL teacher Andrea Dyer poses for a portrait in her classroom at Howard School on Friday, March 2, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Dyer and fellow Howard ESOL teacher Ellen Smith are taking 18 of their students to Washington D.C. for their senior year.

Amilcar was 16 years old when he came to the United States from Guatemala. He came without any of his family and with limited English-language skills.

Because he was an “unaccompanied minor,” he spent time in two immigration detention centers before ending up in Chattanooga. Before ending up at The Howard School.

Amilcar is one of 35 students in two English as a second language (ESOL) classes at Howard who have made it to their senior year and are about to graduate. Because Amilcar is in the United States illegally, he asked that his last name not be used. The students’ teachers, Ellen Smith and Andrea Dyer, want to celebrate their accomplishments so they are taking 18 of these seniors to Washington, D.C., later this month.

“I’m excited to go,” Amilcar said. “It’s one thing to learn about these places and history, it’s not the same as seeing it in person.”

Amilcar is most excited to see the Washington Monument; his classmate, Ricardo Escobar can’t wait to see the White House.