This year is the year where we saw the true grit of teachers all over the world. Despite challenges to their own physical and mental well-being, teachers have given it all to support their students’ learning and to be there for them, even from a distance. Angela Duckworth (2016) says of true grit as the unrelenting belief in the future. Through all that has happened during these arduous months, teachers have kept their efforts and their eyes focused on their students’ future, day in and day out and not just for the week, not just for the month, but as long as it takes, to keep that future on track and to give it the traction it needs.

TE-IS has spent this 2020-2021 celebrating these efforts of teachers near and far. In this special newsletter issue, we celebrate volunteer English teachers from around the globe. The teachers volunteer their expertise and energies without the expectation of compensation or recognition. They take action simply for the good and betterment of others.

The newsletter guest editors, Nikki Ashcraft and Brock Brady are two TESOL leaders who are themselves exemplars of volunteerism. They have demonstrated commitment to the support and mentoring of members through their long and dedicated service to the association and to the profession. We also express appreciation to Fatma Ghailan and Bridget Schvarcz, TE-IS’ long-standing newsletter co-editors, whose unseen hands in TE-IS newsletters, have enabled the SIG to reach and showcase its members’ multifaceted opinions, abilities and talents.

Thank you, everyone!

Faridah

Duckworth, A. (2016). Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Scribner.