About New Chapter Coaching & Consulting
Building sustainable instructional systems for secondary schools serving newcomer and refugee multilingual learners.
Education is strongest when language development, instructional clarity, and a strong sense of belonging support multilingual learners’ active participation in academic learning. At New Chapter Coaching & Consulting, we partner with secondary schools to strengthen instructional systems that support MLL (ESL/ENL/ELD) educators while advancing meaningful academic opportunities for multilingual students.
This work is implemented through the New Chapter Multilingual Learner Instructional Partnership Model™, a collaborative framework designed to strengthen multilingual learner instruction in secondary schools.
“Education thrives when language development and belonging are intentionally supported. Through partnership with secondary schools, we strengthen instructional practices that support newcomer and refugee multilingual learners and the educators who serve them.”
About Me
Hi, I’m Dr. Mehtap Akay, educator, researcher, and multilingual education specialist.
With over sixteen years of cross-continental experience across K–12 schools, higher education, and refugee-serving organizations, my work focuses on strengthening instructional systems that support educators serving newcomer and refugee multilingual learners.
I hold a Ph.D. in Teacher Education and Teacher Development from Montclair State University and an M.A. in Teaching and Learning from Roehampton University. My research and professional practice focus on multilingual adolescent identity, belonging, culturally responsive language instruction, and sustainable educator support within secondary settings.
Throughout my career, I have led and contributed to multi-school coaching initiatives, refugee education programming, curriculum development, and professional learning partnerships.
These efforts focus on helping schools move from well-intentioned support toward structured, sustainable instructional systems for multilingual learners.
Through New Chapter Coaching & Consulting, I now partner primarily with secondary schools committed to strengthening multilingual, newcomer, and refugee student support in ways that are embedded, aligned, and protective of teacher capacity.
You can also connect with me on LinkedIn.
My Journey & Instructional Philosophy
My work is shaped by my experience as an immigrant and multilingual educator navigating new languages and educational systems. These lived experiences, combined with years of classroom teaching, research, field work, and coaching, have reinforced a central belief:
Belonging is foundational to language development, and educators need sustainable systems that make that belonging possible.
In my partnerships with schools, this philosophy is reflected through:
Structured Collaboration
Grounded in classroom observation, reflective coaching, and practical instructional shifts aligned with school priorities and classroom realities.
Asset-Based Multilingual Perspectives
Viewing language diversity as a strength and designing instruction that builds on students’ identities, experiences, and linguistic resources.
Sustainable Educator Support
Focusing on manageable, high-impact changes that protect teacher capacity and support long-term instructional clarity.
Equitable Instructional Systems
Connecting daily classroom practice with broader goals for multilingual access, belonging, and academic success.
Our Commitment
Every partnership is grounded in listening, collaboration, and meaningful instructional growth.
Our work is designed not to introduce additional initiatives, but to strengthen existing practices and systems so educators feel supported and multilingual learners experience belonging, academic growth, and sustained opportunity.
This work is informed by years of classroom practice, educator collaboration, and research in multilingual and refugee education.
Who We Partner With
New Chapter Coaching & Consulting partners primarily with:
• Secondary schools serving newcomer, refugee, and multilingual learners
• District MLL/ESL/ELD leaders seeking stronger alignment around multilingual instruction and educator support
• School leaders committed to sustainable support for multilingual learners
• Select educational agencies and organizations supporting newcomer and multilingual youth and families
Let's Begin the Conversation
We partner with secondary school leaders and district MLL teams seeking thoughtful, structured alignment around support for multilingual learners.
During an exploratory consultation, we review institutional priorities, existing support structures, and potential partnership alignment, including availability for the upcoming academic cycle.