LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

In a city where over 39 languages are spoken and classrooms reflect a tapestry of global cultures, Linden Public Schools is doing more than preparing students for the future—it’s helping define it on a global stage.

Danie Orelien, Director of Multilingual Learners, was formally 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗶 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝗽𝗲𝗶 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗧𝗮𝗶𝘄𝗮𝗻, 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟱–𝟯𝟭. This prestigious international event highlights cutting-edge advancements in education, youth development, and technology.

Orelien has been representing Linden Public Schools and the State of New Jersey, exchanging ideas and strategies with global education leaders throughout the week.

𝘼𝙄 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝘼 𝙋𝙤𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙊𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙀𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚

On Monday, May 26, Orelien 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗤𝘂𝗶-𝗦𝗵𝘂𝗶 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, where she collaborated with 10th-grade students on hands-on artificial intelligence projects. Under the direction of technology teacher Chai Chia Fu, participants explored real-world applications using the Realtek AMB-82 MINI development board—tackling everything from facial recognition to video processing.

“This experience reaffirmed what I believe for Linden: AI isn’t just the future—it’s the now,” said Orelien. “Our students deserve access to cutting-edge technology and a seat at the global table of innovation.”

She also met with educators eager to understand how a multicultural district like Linden integrates language, culture, and technology to fuel student achievement and equity.

“The level of curiosity and openness among Taiwanese educators was inspiring,” she added. “They wanted to know how we are leveraging diversity to drive innovation—and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

𝘼 𝙆𝙚𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚

On Wednesday, May 28, Orelien d𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝟭𝟴𝟬 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮. Her talk, titled “Transforming Education with AI: Opportunities and Challenges,” spotlighted how Linden Public Schools is using technology to enhance cultural fluency, equity, and future readiness in its world language classrooms.

From adaptive tools to real-time translation apps, she demonstrated how Linden is bridging technological innovation with student voice.

“Being selected to represent Linden—and the state of New Jersey—on the world stage is more than an honor,” she said. “It’s a statement that public education, done right, can be globally relevant, culturally powerful, and deeply human.”

𝘼 𝙇𝙤𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙖

Hosting Orelien was Taiwan, a country long celebrated for its leadership in technology, education, and innovation. According to Forbes, Taiwan ranks 14th globally in GDP per capita, ahead of Japan, South Korea, China, and Hong Kong—making it a fitting host for this high-level educational exchange.

“This is about visibility,” she said. “For our students, our educators, and our multilingual families. It tells them: you belong in every room, at every table, in every part of the world.”

A District That Reflects the World It’s Preparing For

With over 7,000 students representing more than 30 countries, Linden Public Schools is one of the most diverse districts in New Jersey. Under Orelien’s visionary leadership—alongside Tania Miguelez, Stephanie Ross, and Harjot Kaur—the district’s Multilingual Learners Department has become a model of global readiness and innovation.

This year, 98 students at Linden High School earned both the New Jersey State Seal of Biliteracy and the Global Seal of Biliteracy, reflecting exceptional achievement in language proficiency and cross-cultural competence.

𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣, 𝘼𝙄, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙇𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙪𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜

Among the department’s most forward-looking initiatives is the expansion of Mandarin instruction at the elementary level—a program that directly supports the district’s international vision and long-range cultural exchange goals.

Equally transformative is the infusion of artificial intelligence into language education. Students are learning how to communicate, innovate, and lead in a world increasingly shaped by technology and global interconnectedness.

𝘽𝙖𝙘𝙠𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙑𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙮 𝙇𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥

This global milestone for Linden Public Schools reflects the district’s strategic commitment to equity, excellence, and innovation—a vision championed by Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins and the Linden Board of Education.

“We are so proud of Director Orelien,” said Dr. Perkins. “Her leadership reminds us that the work we’re doing here in Linden is not just local—it’s world-class.”

𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙇𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣, 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙚

As Orelien continues her international engagements, she does so not just as an educational leader—but as an ambassador for Linden’s values: inclusion, empowerment, and global citizenship.

“Linden belongs in every global conversation,” she said. “And our students don’t just belong at the table—they’re being prepared to lead it.”