It has been a pleasure to be the Board Liaison for the past year to the Affiliate Network Professional Council. I was on the TESOL Board when we revised our governance structures, changing committees into Professional Councils, and creating a new body to help TESOL and the affiliates work together more systematically and strategically. Other elements in TESOL International Association, such as Interest Sections and Professional Councils, are within TESOL’s governance structure. TESOL affiliates, however, are independent – and this wide variety of ways and perspectives that affiliates bring makes the affiliate relationship potentially very powerful and mutually beneficial.

One of my goals as 2019-2020 TESOL President is to deepen the relationship with affiliates and find new ways to collaborate on resources. The three external objectives of TESOL’s 2019-2021 Strategic Plan can all be better achieved through collaboration with affiliates. Outcome 1, expanding TESOL’s global presence and connectivity, is the most directly linked. Outcomes 2 and 3 are enhancing knowledge and expertise in the field and strengthening voice and advocacy, both of which benefit from working with affiliates. I am particularly interested in developing ways to share information about advocacy, perhaps by providing some sort of clearinghouse where we can all contribute our questions, issues, successes, and resources. Advocacy for language teachers and students is an ongoing area of interest globally. From cost-cutting measures in local schools and language institutes to government language policies that do not align with best practices, we as teachers need to be advocates for our students, ourselves, and our colleagues. We know that teachers can do better in their teaching as well as in advocacy when we work together in communities of practice.

A colleague at the British Council estimated that there may be as many as 12 million English language teachers worldwide. The vast majority of them are not involved in an association, and many may be struggling as the sole English language teacher in a school. I would like to see all of us reaching out more within our networks and beyond them to encourage others to feel connected by becoming part of a community of practice. Access to resources shared online is one way to encourage teachers to join in: TESOL’s Resource Center, ANPC webinars, and the resources that many affiliates make available to their members are all examples.

While I will not be continuing as the Board Liaison for the ANPC once I become TESOL President, I am pleased to announce that the Board Liaison role will be taken on by the incoming President-elect, Deborah Short. (You may be familiar with her name from her work on TESOL’s 6 Principles of Exemplary Teaching of English Learners brochures and books – see www.the6principles.org.) The Affiliate Network is a key player in improving English language teaching and learning globally. I and the rest of the TESOL Board, as well as the ANPC, are committed to making the Affiliate Network as strong and vibrant as possible, for our mutual benefit.