Kerrie Neu
Kerrie Neu retired in 2025 from Granite School District (Salt Lake City, UT) as Elementary Dual Language Immersion Specialist after 18 years in DLI and 31 years in education. She now provides professional learning workshops independently, equipping K-12 DLI and Gen Ed teachers with classroom-tested strategies for biliteracy and language growth.
She began her career teaching kindergarten, where she discovered the wonder of early childhood education. In 2002, as District Early Childhood Specialist, she supported 60 elementary schools with training, curriculum, and assessment—including as Kindergarten Math Specialist, guiding teachers to spark complex thinking in 5-year-olds through hands-on, developmentally appropriate math.
When Granite launched DLI in 2007 (starting first grade), district leaders tapped her Spanish fluency and early learning expertise to coordinate the program, support teachers, and develop curriculum. As district supervisor—a role she loved—she earned her master's in Second Language Acquisition from the University of Utah, solidifying her expertise in teaching both language and content.
Kerrie collaborated with Utah DLI leaders across Spanish, French, Chinese, Portuguese, German, and Russian programs—delivering professional development for teachers and administrators, while creating curriculum specifically for Spanish programs. She also trained Gen Ed teachers in language acquisition strategies to teach content and language together, boosting multilingual learner success.
Nationally, she's supported immersion districts with implementation, planning, and lesson design; served as secretary for ACTFL's Dual Immersion SIG; engaged with NADFL; presented at ACTFL and the International Dual Immersion Conference; and co-taught four CARLA Summer Institutes on proficiency with Johanna Watzinger-Tharp.
In retirement, Kerrie enjoys time with her grandchildren and aging parents while providing professional learning for teachers seeking to improve their students' language proficiency.
She began her career teaching kindergarten, where she discovered the wonder of early childhood education. In 2002, as District Early Childhood Specialist, she supported 60 elementary schools with training, curriculum, and assessment—including as Kindergarten Math Specialist, guiding teachers to spark complex thinking in 5-year-olds through hands-on, developmentally appropriate math.
When Granite launched DLI in 2007 (starting first grade), district leaders tapped her Spanish fluency and early learning expertise to coordinate the program, support teachers, and develop curriculum. As district supervisor—a role she loved—she earned her master's in Second Language Acquisition from the University of Utah, solidifying her expertise in teaching both language and content.
Kerrie collaborated with Utah DLI leaders across Spanish, French, Chinese, Portuguese, German, and Russian programs—delivering professional development for teachers and administrators, while creating curriculum specifically for Spanish programs. She also trained Gen Ed teachers in language acquisition strategies to teach content and language together, boosting multilingual learner success.
Nationally, she's supported immersion districts with implementation, planning, and lesson design; served as secretary for ACTFL's Dual Immersion SIG; engaged with NADFL; presented at ACTFL and the International Dual Immersion Conference; and co-taught four CARLA Summer Institutes on proficiency with Johanna Watzinger-Tharp.
In retirement, Kerrie enjoys time with her grandchildren and aging parents while providing professional learning for teachers seeking to improve their students' language proficiency.
