Sessions are located in either the Georgia World Congress Center or the Omni Hotel.

TESOL Leadership Forum

A session that provides leaders an opportunity to learn more about the association’s initiatives, projects, and activities. Leaders from TESOL’s Professional Councils, Communities of Practice, and Affiliate Associations are brought together to hear an update from the Board of Directors and exchange ideas about TESOL International Association’s strategic direction. Due to room size restraints, one representative per affiliate is requested to attend.

Affiliate Leaders’ Workshop

Order of the Day

1:30 pm–1:45 pm, Welcome and Introductions (GWCC, B401)

2:00 pm–2:45 pm, Workshops 1 & 2 (GWCC, B403 & B404)

3:00 pm–3:45 pm, Workshops 3, 4, & 5 (GWCC B401, B403 & B404)

4:00 pm–5:00 pm, Q & A with Speakers and Moderators (GWCC, B401)

First Session: 2:00 pm–2:45 pm

Second Session: 3:00 pm–3:45 pm

Workshop Descriptions

Empowering affiliate collaborations through leadership: Sharing best practices from MDTESOL

This workshop focuses on sharing best practices that have been used and are being used in Maryland TESOL to empower and promote affiliate collaborations. The premise of the presentation is that, in order to create an organizational culture that values and promulgates collaboration with affiliates and other teacher organizations, the leadership must guide the process. The presenter will share specific examples of the different collaborations Maryland TESOL board members have participated in with TESOL affiliates, as well as other education organizations and professionals in our community and surrounding states.

In this presentation, the presenter will share information about MD TESOL’s organizational culture, which has shaped its approach to affiliate collaboration. In addition, examples of collaborations and the impact it has had in the community and the TESOL field in Maryland will be shared.

Luis Javier Pentón Herrera ,Ph.D., is a high school ESOL teacher and an adjunct professor in TESOL at University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) and Spanish at University of Maryland University College (UMUC). He is currently serving as President of MD TESOL (2018-2019). His research focuses on Bilingual Education, Spanish, ESL/ESOL, Literacy Education, and Problem-Based Service-Learning (PBSL). For more information about Luis and his work, please see his website: https://luispenton.com/

Creating Opportunities For Collaboration: What We Learned From This Experience
Presenter will examine various models for international collaboration utilized by ELT professionals, highlighting the benefits of international exchange on professional growth and focusing on cases when teaching can be greatly impacted by international exchange. The participants will learn about the long- term collaborative efforts between TexTESOL V and Yakut TESOL, focusing on planning and designing a model, highlighting different strategies utilized by two affiliates to make the partnership successful. The presenters will reflect on the opportunities and challenges of this professional development exchange and will share thoughts on how affiliates could strengthen the impact of international collaboration and advance English Language teaching quality and TESOL pedagogy through these global interactions.

Yuliya Summersis a second language teacher educator and researcher. She has been in education for sixteen years, teaching in ESL and Bilingual classrooms in the United States. For the past 8 years, Mrs. Summers has been teaching courses related to Bilingual/ESL education at various American universities. Her community involvement includes serving as a treasurer and now President of TexTESOL IV.

Struggles, Solutions, & Scaling: Effectively Developing and Sustaining TESOL Affiliates
This workshop aims to contribute to the development of leadership skills of novice and experienced affiliate members from a diverse geographical spread. Drawing from the experience of TESOL Turkey, a fairly young association, the workshop will be based on the two essential levels of ELT Associations: ‘Development’ and ‘Scaling-up’. The workshop will be delivered in 4 stages: 1- Context and history of TESOL Turkey (15 minutes) 2- Group task 1 (15 mins) A) Presentation of three issues that TESOL Turkey faced at the level of development, followed by suggested solutions elicited from the participants; B) Elicitation of the challenges participants faced at the development level, followed by a discussion of possible solutions. 3- Group task 2 (15 mins) A) Presentation of three issues TESOL Turkey faced at the level of scaling up, followed by the discussion of suggested solutions by the participants; B) Elicitation of the challenges participants faced at the level of scaling up, followed by a discussion of suggested solutions 4- Open Forum Discussion: Experienced affiliate leaders and/or members will be invited to share their tips and tricks for coping with development and growth challenges (i.e., ones that have not been covered in the earlier discussions). (15 mins) The workshop will end by highlighting implications for all of the affiliate members present.

Bahar Gün, Asst.Prof.Dr. Bahar Gün holds BA, MA and PhD degrees in ELT. She currently works as the Head of the Teacher Development Unit in the SFL at IUE. She is in charge of in-service teacher training and development programs in the SFL. Her research interests include EFL teacher education in general, and teacher cognition and reflective teaching and learning in particular. She is also a CELTA a tutor, and a trained CEA reviewer. She has presented in many national and international conferences and extensively published in the field of ELT. She is the president of the TESOL Turkey Association.

Supporting High School ELLs and Professionals through Scholarships and Awards
Non-native English speaking college students must overcome significant linguistic and cultural barriers to achieve post-secondary education, so scholarships are increasingly important for providing financial support. For English Language Learners, the challenges of applying to college can be overwhelming, the students may be the first members of their families to have attend college, and they may require financial support. To meet this need, ARKTESOL began offering two scholarships for graduating ELL high school students who had a desire to continue their post-secondary education and realize their dreams. This interactive session will present the journey of how ARKTESOL grew from offering two (2) college tuition scholarships in 2013 to now providing twenty (20) annual renewable scholarships for ELL undergraduate students, an award for a graduate student, an educator grant, and an administrator award. How to obtain funds for the awards, create scholarship criteria and an application, select recipients, and promote the awards will be part of the session. Additionally, participants will have access to sample applications and rubrics and will hear about successes and challenges. Participants will work in small groups to share ideas and design action plans for how to move their affiliates to "paying it forward" by providing at least one scholarship or award to an ELL student, teacher, or administrator in 2020.

Kristina M. Howlett is an Assistant Professor of TESOL in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Arkansas. She is a former public school ESOL/Migrant Specialist with over 20 years of experience teaching and mentoring teachers, and she has taught English Learners (ELs) of all ages and proficiency levels. Dr. Howlett is the recipient of numerous grants and awards for ELs, and she serves as the Scholarship/Awards Chair for ARKTESOL. Her research interests include professional development and teacher preparation, service learning, multicultural education, and biliteracy. She is fluent in Spanish, French, and Italian.

Judy Hobson is ESL Curriculum Specialist for Springdale Schools, Springdale, Arkansas. She is a former teacher, assistant principal, and ESOL program director. She was Education Renewal Zone director for the University of Arkansas, director of Project EQUIP for John Brown University, and adjunct for Arkansas Tech University’s MATESOL. She has been involved with training teachers in ESL for 23 years. As a member of ARKTESOL for 25 years, she served as treasurer, vice president, and president. She is the treasurer and one of the liaisons for SETESOL and TESOL. She has chaired two state conferences and co-chaired two SETESOL conferences.

Dawn Shinn is the ESOL Coordinator for Bryant Public Schools in Bryant, Arkansas. She is the current past-president of ARKTESOL as well as an adjunct professor for Henderson University. Dawn has over 20 years of experience working with English learners of various grade levels.

K.E.Y.S. to Cultural Proficiency: Unlocking the Power of Your Affiliate
Participants will hear from the Georgia TESOL President as she shares her background, passion for diversity, and experiences with leading her affiliate. She will share how she applied results of her own “transparent and personal reflection” to leading the Executive Board to locate their personal mastery: KNOW yourself. Participants should prepare to share ways they are reflective in their teaching, preparation, and interaction with their affiliates and communities. Next, she will share how she worked to ENGAGE various individuals in her community to organize the 36th Annual GATESOL Conference and welcome it to Macon for the first time ever! Participants will explore and share ways they engage businesses, community leaders, and legislators as they worked to affect a change in the lives of their English Learners and affiliate members. Then she will share how she prepared to YIELD to public policy, process current events, and participating in the TESOL Advocacy & Policy Summits. Participants will explore and share ways they might reach out to their Legislators, Representatives, Senators, and other guiding organizations responsible for overseeing education and outreach. Last, she will summarize how she worked with the affiliate leadership and existing Constitution and Bylaws to STRATEGIZE and plan to meet the needs of her affiliate leaders and members. Participants will develop their own K.E.Y.S. their affiliates’ successes and return to their communities with power! The following will be used: photos, video clips, and key principles from Peter Senge, Gloria Ladson Billings, Randall B. Lindsey, and Raymond D. Terrell.

Kendra M. Castelow, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, moved to Georgia in 2002. For over 17 years, she has taught K-12 and adult English Learners and general education students and is an ESOL teacher in the Houston County Board of Education. Kendra is the immediate Past President of Georgia TESOL. She has earned a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology, an M.A. in Education with a specialization in TESL, and 2 Educational Specialist degrees, one in Curriculum and Instruction and the other in Educational Leadership. Kendra is a Lifetime Member of Phi Kappa Phi, an Alum of the 2016 Leadership Robins Region class, and the Local Co-Chair for the 2019 TESOL Convention & English Language Expo. 

Affiliate Communications Workshop

This workshop focuses on strategic communication, organizing and sustaining professional learning communities, and networking among the affiliate leadership. Two 60-minute workshops will be presented during the session.

Workshop Descriptions

Collaborating on Social Networks: Case study of CATESOLs efforts

Does your affiliate have an active social network? Strong social networks raise awareness, encourage donations and develop deeper relationships with members. Using a team approach, CATESOL set up social network accounts and created a plan to strengthen these opportunities. This presentation will share key takeaways CATESOL has learned since 2017.

Susan Gaer is the President-elect of CATESOL, Professor Emeritus of Santa Ana College and a frequent TESOL presenter that is passionate about helping students use digital tools as a learning support. She has been CALL IS chair, nominations committee chair and a member of the professional development council and awards committee member.

Amy Pascucci has taught English language learners for the last 13 years in the US and abroad in secondary, post-secondary, adult education, and teacher training programs, including as a US Department of State English Language Fellow at Al-Azhar University in Cairo. She has been a part of TESOL committees or professional councils and CATESOL affiliate leadership for the last 5 years, focusing on advocacy, employment issues, professional development, and connecting ELT professionals through social media.

Danielle Pelletier is the President of English League, Professor of ESL at Cañada College and President of CATESOL.

Using G Suite for Cross-Cultural Collaboration

This workshop introduces effective ways one can use Google Suite to navigate diverse perspectives and improve communication and engagement strategies. Participants will brainstorm how to apply the key principles and knowledge to their own work.

Ravneet Parmar is the immediate past President of NYS TESOL. Ravneet is an ESL Instructor at Adelphi International, Adelphi University, New York. She received her M.A. in TESOL from New York University. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Ravneet has taught ESL (collective and various skills separately), and academic and business English in her over eight years of teaching.

Affiliate Assembly

The official business meeting for affiliates of TESOL International Association. Affiliates are required to send a delegate to the meeting every three years. The assembly focuses on the relationship between TESOL and the affiliates.

Affiliate Colloquium

The Influence of Collaboration Initiatives on TESOL Communities

Collaboration is a process whereby entities work together sharing information, resources and responsibilities to plan strategies to achieve a common purpose. Professional collaboration is a subject most TESOL affiliates have focused on since they were conceived. The purpose of the 2019 TESOL Affiliate Colloquium is to share successful collaboration initiatives from a wide array of affiliates that have influenced the future of diverse TESOL communities worldwide.

Facilitator: Georgios Kormpas, Affiliate Network Professional Council

Presenters: Mary Allegra, VenTESOL; Omaima Ayoub, NileTESOL; Christina Chorianopoulou, TESOL Greece; Susan Spezzini, SETESOL;

Mary Allegra is MA in Applied Linguistics and holds a Specialist degree in TEFL from Simon Bolivar University. She is an Associate Professor of English Phonetics and Phonology at the undergraduate and graduate levels of the Modern Languages Department of the School of Education at the University of Carabobo (UC). She is also the Chair of English Phonetics and Phonology at the UC since 2007. Mary co-authored the book “Pronunciation Book One” of the American English Course Series. Currently, she is writing a book on pronunciation games and co-founding two digital research journals. She is also Venezuela TESOL (VenTESOL) President.

Omaima M. Ayoub has two MA degrees in English Composition and Linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL USA. She is currently the president of NileTESOL, the biggest organization of English language teachers in Egypt and the Middle East. Over the past eighteen years, she has been teaching a wide range of English courses to university students in Egypt and America. Ms. Ayoub is the founder and owner of Lingua Language Academy, Sharqia, Egypt. She’s also working as an English language instructor and Cambridge Examiner at the School of Continuing Education, American University in Cairo, Egypt.

Christina Chorianopoulou is a freelance English and Greek language educator, passionate about project and game-based learning. With academic background in Pre-School & Primary Education and being multilingual, her focus is always on building safe learning environments. Reflection and community are her building blocks; she blogs at mymathima.wordpress.com, tweets as @kryftina and serves TESOL Greece as Vice-Chair and Journal Editor.

Dr. Susan Spezzini is Professor of English Learner Education and Coordinator of the TESOL program at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA. Dr. Spezzini is past-president of the Alabama-Mississippi TESOL (AMTESOL) affiliate and currently represents AMTESOL on the regional Southeast TESOL (SETESOL) council. She chaired the 2016 AMTESOL conference and the 2017 regional SETESOL conference. Before coming to Alabama in 2003, Dr. Spezzini had been a teacher educator in Paraguay where she was a founding member of Paraguay TESOL (1989), served as affiliate president and conference chair, and was active with the Regional Southern Cone TESOL.