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Sky Lantz-Wagner
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Federico Salas-Isnardi
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This letter comes on the heels of Joe Biden’s presidential inauguration, characterized by a notable change in tone coming from the highest office in the U.S. We have all felt a collective burden, weighing more than we had imagined, lifted from our chests, and the country’s heart has begun to beat again. With our rediscovered heartbeat, we look around and measure the state of the world, which is still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating effects of climate change, and extremist ideology and intolerance.
Addressing these issues is no small task, but the challenges speak to our group. They are part of the reason we have joined this TESOL International interest section to begin with. We are here to “help teachers and learners around the world better understand the causes of global issues that affect the human family and strive toward finding solutions to these issues” (Statement of Purpose, n.d.) and to “advance social equity, respect for differences, and multicultural understanding through education” (Mission Statement, n.d.), among others, and the work has never been more important than it is today.
The voice from the Biden administration is strong and focused, and we will add our voices to theirs as they advocate for teachers’ rights, immigration reform, student-loan forgiveness, and other TESOL-related elements of his plan: Battle for the Soul of the Nation. In 2021 and beyond, we will continue to create safe spaces for TESOL professionals to come together virtually until it is safe to do so in person. We look forward to seeing you in an SRIS session at the 2021 virtual conference, which was originally to be held in Houston: The City with No Limits and Federico’s hometown.
We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage you to consider volunteering your voice, time, and skills as a member of the SRIS leadership team. Elections for chair(s)-elect will be held during the spring, and we will reach out soon via TESOL’s communication channels with more information. We are honored and humbled to have served as leaders for the past two years, and we are looking forward to supporting new leaders in the year to come as our roles shift outgoing chairs, making way for Ethan Trinh and Luis Javier Pentón Herrera to assume the roles of co-chairs.
Federico and Sky |
