Dear SRIS Members,

Thank you so much for being a part of such an integral part of TESOL through your activity and involvement in the Social Responsibility Interest Section (SRIS). Those of us in leadership (chairs, newsletter editors, community manager, past chairs, and the steering committee) believe our interest section is of vital importance to TESOL International Association, now more than ever.

That said, we are working to organize the SRIS so that we can pool our energy and efforts. We sent out an initial survey in April that asked for your areas of expertise and passion within social responsibility. The results of that survey enabled the leadership team to identify four strands within the interest section. We are now sending out a follow-up survey.

We are asking you to take some time to think about your own areas of expertise, passions, and skill sets and identify one strand in which you would most like to participate. You will also be asked to identify a secondary strand.

If you are interested in serving as an active and dedicated leader for your strand, you will be able to indicate that as well.

Our intention behind the creation of strands is to strengthen the interest section and create a strong rationale for the presence of the SRIS in TESOL. The TESOL Board of Directors is meeting this year to decide the structure and role of interest sections in TESOL, and they would like for us to provide input on what a “robust” interest section is.

Here are the four proposed strands of SRIS:

1) EL Advocacy

• Political concerns
• Immigrant rights
• Access to education
  
  

2) Intersections of Identity and Language Teaching

• Race
• Gender
• LGBTQ+
• Nonnative-English Speakers in TESOL
  
  

3) Professional Learning

• Teacher education
• Curriculum development
• Social justice resources
  
  

4) Global Issues in Education

• Peace
• Environment
• Economic justice
  
  

And here is the link to the survey to indicate your primary and secondary areas of involvement, as well as indicate your ability and desire to be an active and dedicated leader for your strand.

If you have any questions, comments, feedback, or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact me directly. I would love to hear from you. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing your responses in the survey!

Again, thank you so much for being a part of this interest section.

Warmly,

Laura Jacob

2017–2018 SRIS Chair