Becoming a better English Language Development (ELD) leader was Natalia R. Spiewak’s goal when she enrolled in Arcadia University’s Educational Leadership doctoral program. As a Latina in education, Spiewak advocates for multilingual learners, their families, and her ELD colleagues. Having already attained a master’s in Education from Cabrini University, Spiewak says getting her Ed.D. from Arcadia, “offered everything I was looking for at the specific stage of my life amid the pandemic.” That stage included being the ELD coordinator/supervisor at Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter School, a wife, and a mother of two. 

With her last semester of doctoral courses now in the rearview mirror, Spiewak comments, “This decision has evolved my educational and personal growth beyond expectations.” She hopes to defend her dissertation during the 2024-2025 academic year and complete her principal certification this year.

While she does count research, reading, and writing among her hobbies, Spiewak also enjoys doing arts and crafts with her children, listening to music and cooking with her husband, and soaking up the sun at the shore with her family.