NPS Names New Principal for Silvermine Dual Language Magnet School

Norwalk Public Schools is pleased to announced that Elizabeth Chahine has been selected as the next principal of Silvermine Dual Language Magnet School.

In her new role, Chahine will continue to implement a unique opportunity for students to realize the benefits of being bilingual, biliterate and bicultural through a robust dual language program. Additionally, she will further support the school’s mission to empower students with the skills they need to be of strong moral and ethical character, while providing a high quality academic program that challenges students to reach their full potential.

For the past two years, Chahine has worked as the dual language program coordinator at Silvermine. During this time, she led dual language teachers through a program redesign, changing the delivery model to align with research-based best practices and modifying the curriculum for a biliteracy approach. Her role also included teacher coaching, professional development, teacher recruitment, communication with parents and community members, and assessment modifications. Chahine worked closely with long-time Silvermine Principal Ivette Ellis, who retired at the end of the 2017-18 school year. Prior to her most recent position, Chahine taught at Silvermine, Nathan Hale Middle School, and at Inter-American Magnet School in Chicago.

Chahine was chosen for the position after an extensive selection process in collaboration with the Silvermine School Governance Council. Both internal and external candidates were considered. Chahine takes over the role from long-time Silvermine Principal Ivette Ellis, who retired following the end of the 2017-18 school year. Her appointment will be confirmed at the August Norwalk Board of Education meeting. 

Chahine has completed the intermediate administrative program in education leadership at Sacred Heart University and holds a Connecticut 092 certification in intermediate administration and supervision. Recently, she completed the rigorous Emerging Leader program offered through NPS’s leadership development pipeline. She earned a Master of Education in bilingual education from DePaul University, a Bachelor of Arts in Latin American studies and economics from George Washington University, and has studied economics at the University of Buenos Aires. A certified teacher for K-12 TESOL (Teaching Students of Other Languages) and Spanish grades 4-12, Chahine also has a national board certification for early and middle childhood literacy.

As part of Norwalk Public School’s strategic plan to create more choices that meet diverse student needs and interests, Silvermine’s long-time dual language program is being expanded to become a full dual language immersion school. At Silvermine, teachers plan and coordinate instructional programs in a team teaching environment at each grade level:  one instructs in English, and the other in Spanish. The program strives to develop high levels of proficiency in both English and Spanish, develop academic performance that is at or above grade level in both languages and promotes cross-cultural competence.  

Norwalk Public Schools is a long-time leader in international studies and dual language programming. In addition to Silvermine, the Center for Global Studies at Norwalk’s Brien McMahon High School is a well-known, inter-district magnet school that focuses on Arabic, Chinese and Japanese language, history, and culture.