Dear SRIS members,

I am honored to be the incoming chair for 2015–2016. Currently, I am a teacher educator at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. However, my interest in social justice and advocacy began as an ESL specialist, when I worked with immigrant families and their children in public school. These families taught me that marginalization takes many forms and is often hidden from plain view. I learned that raising awareness and raising our voices can make a significant difference in someone’s life.

With TESOL entering into its 50th year, there is much to celebrate, but now more than ever there is also work to be done. SRIS provides language teachers a needed space to bring overlooked social responsibility and equity concerns to the forefront of our professional discussions about language teaching and learning. I am eager to hear your thoughts about equity and social responsibility. What matters in your teaching and learning environment? Share your experiences, ideas, and concerns on Twitter, the SRIS community Listserv, or Facebook.

As a new member of the SRIS leadership, I appreciate the opportunity to work with such an energized and experienced group, and I am also grateful for their wise and gracious guidance. Working together, I am looking forward to a productive and exciting year.

Warmest regards,

Josie Prado