Martha Palacios

Overview

Martha Castellón Palacios is an experienced researcher, evaluator, and provider of technical assistance to states and LEAs. As a Senior Program Associate with English Learner and Migrant Education Services, she leverages her knowledge of effective instruction for English and multilingual learners to improve educational equity throughout the system.

Palacios’s work spans national, state, and district contexts. As a researcher for the National Research and Development Center to Improve the Education of Secondary English Learners, she serves as co-PI on a study that investigates models of coteaching and collaboration between ESL and content area teachers. In her work as a technical assistance provider, she works with SEAs to implement policies and practices to transform education for English Learners. As an evaluator, Palacios leads teams in collecting data to improve districts’ ability to provide quality programs and services for students who are learning English as an additional language.

Prior to joining WestEd, Palacios served as Executive Director of Understanding Language, a grant-funded initiative to expand educators’ understanding of new standards as they relate to the needs of English Learners. She began her career as a bilingual elementary school teacher in Long Beach, CA.

Education

• PhD in educational linguistics, Stanford University
• MA in teaching English as a second language, University of California, Los Angeles
• BA in English, Stanford University

Select Publications

Kibler, A., Lesser, V., Castellón Palacios, M., Sandstead, M., Wiger, S., Woodruff, K., & Bovee, J. B. (2023). A national survey of collaborative practices for secondary multilingual learners designated as secondary English learners. TESOL Quarterly.

Castellón Palacios, M., Kibler, A., Burho, J. F., Sandstead, M. G., Wiger, S., & Woodruff, K. (2022). Who is in charge of English learner services? Lessons learned from a national co-teaching and collaboration study. National Research and Development Center to Improve Education for Secondary English Learners. https://www.elrdcenter.wested.org/resources-who-is-in-charge-of-el-services

Kibler, A., & Castellón Palacios, M. (2022). Teacher collaboration to support multilingual students designated as English Learners: Ecological perspectives and critical questions. New York State TESOL Journal, 9(2), 3–8. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED621820

Santos, M., Castellón Palacios, M., Cheuk, T., Greene, R., Mercado-Garcia, D., Zerkel, L., Hakuta, K., Skarin, R. (2018). Preparing English learners for college and career: Lessons from successful high schools. Teachers College Press.

Valdés, G., & Castellón, M. (2010). English language learners in American schools: Characteristics and challenges. In T. Lucas, (Ed.), Teacher preparation for linguistically diverse classrooms: A resource for teacher educators (pp. 18-24). Erlbaum.

Recent Media Appearances

• Prince William schools enhancing English learner program following outside review, InsideNoVa.com, November 18, 2024