Welcome to English Language Learners (ELL)

  • Program Goals:

    photo of ELL student The instructional goals of the Olathe USD 233 English Language Learner Program are for all ELL students to:

    • Develop a sense of affiliation and connection to school and community
    • Accelerate English language proficiency in the four domains of speaking, listening, reading, and writing
    • Develop high levels of academic achievement in core content areas
    • Meet the same challenging state academic standards as all children are expected to meet
    • Be college and career ready upon graduation
    • Olathe Public Schools believes these goals are best reached though a collaboration among classroom teacher, ELL teacher, administration, and support staff, as well as parents/family.

    Who are Our ELL Students?

    In addition to our ELL students, we have students of many diverse languages and cultural backgrounds. In our student body, we have 82 languages represented. After Spanish, our most common languages are Amharic, Vietnamese and Arabic.

    For information about specific ELL services available, please contact our ELL office at 913-780-8036 or contact one of the individuals listed below.

    ELL Department Contacts

    Michael Flenthrope, coordinator for ELL and world language programs, can be reached at 913-780-8177 or by emailing him.

    Christy Clayton, ELL instructional coach, can be reached at 913-780-7006 or by emailing her.

    Julie Osterhaus, ELL specialist, is available at 913-780-7006 or by emailing her.

    Elizabeth Weems, administrative assistant, is available at 913-780-8036 or by emailing her.

    For questions regarding interpreting services, contact Linda Barrandey at 913-780-7979 or by emailing her.