19 October 2023
DULUTH The Nueva Vision Spanish Immersion program at Lowell Elementary School was handed a difficult blow with the loss of its coordinator and developer Crystal Goldman.
Goldman, 42, died Sept. 11 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Co-workers feel the loss of her leadership for the program.
“I looked up to Crystal for her quiet, constant leadership. Her ability to problem solve, diffuse situations and create unity among teachers was unsurpassed,” said Megan Bennett, a teacher at Nueva Vision. “She just had a way with students and adults alike. She drew on past experience, best practice and research to help guide the entire Nueva Vision Spanish Immersion program in a direction of success, stability and joy.”
Bennett met Goldman in St. Louis Park while she was in college and doing an observation at a Spanish immersion school. Goldman was originally from Owatonna, but moved to the Cities for college and her master’s degree before she started teaching at a different Spanish immersion program.
Both Goldman and Bennett moved to Duluth in the early 2010s due to their spouses’ positions. Bennett taught at Raleigh Edison for a few years before applying to the new Spanish immersion program Goldman was developing at Lowell.
“I interviewed and was hired for a first-grade position. Crystal was part of hiring and, after things were official, she quickly started to mentor the new hires. We wrote curriculum in the summer and one day she offered a walk through the forest,” Bennett said. “We all agreed, and I got teary. It was spiritual, moving, and completely unexpected in the middle of the city.
“Crystal was a huge proponent of forest learning and always shared research to support its benefits with district and school personnel as well as teachers.”
Goldman’s passion for forest learning extended beyond her fellow staff members. She joined the Hartley Nature Park board in 2019 and co-led the organization’s annual fundraising event, Wine in the Woods, which raises scholarship funds for Hartley’s field trip, camp and preschool programs. She also served as vice chair of the executive committee and served on the diversity, equity and inclusion task force at Hartley.
“What struck me most about Crystal was simply that she was a giver,” said Tom O’Rourke, executive director of Hartley Nature Center. “Despite her incredibly busy life young kids, a rewarding but demanding career she gave of her time and her many talents in countless ways over the last five years. Even amidst her latest round of treatments, Crystal continued to show up and contribute to Hartley whenever and however she could. What a legacy. And what an inspiration.”
Goldman was known for being a problem solver as well. She worked with the Nueva Vision staff to ensure they received the support they needed and filled in any gaps that emerged.
“Nothing was ever a problem. It would be like a hiccup, roadblock or barrier would come up and she would just solve around it,” said Jen Larva, former Lowell principal and current director of secondary education for Duluth Public Schools.
Larva was principal at Lowell while the Spanish immersion program was in its infancy. Larva said she leaned on Goldman for support and understanding as the program took off.
“Here I was the principal of a school that had three programs in different languages and I don’t speak anything but English,” Larva said. “But she was always inclusive and making sure I understood what was going on around me.”
Goldman’s passion for cultural understanding was a key element of her work. She set up a program that allows education students from Spanish-speaking countries such as Spain and Mexico to visit the school and participate in the immersion program.
“It brings another wealth of information, learning, culture and language within the program,” said Rebecca Sheldon, a teacher at Nueva Vision. “And it’s not something the district pays for; it’s something she set up and planned all these fundraisers to make sure it happened.”
Sheldon also noted that Goldman was quick to step in when more intervention was needed for students to grasp the language.
“She’d take extra time out of her day to make sure students were getting the attention and focus they needed to thrive,” Sheldon said. “She was just truly dedicated and loved this program so much. It’s her legacy and I hope we continue to make her proud.”
]]>