Instructor Spotlight: Megan Dry | Sheppard Pratt (Family Discover Center & Thriving Germantown)

October 29, 2021

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what has inspired you to be a teacher?

I am the adult education instructor at Family Discovery Center in Rockville. I've been teaching ESOL to adults in the DC area for over seven years. I received my bachelor's degree from the Ohio State University - Go Buckeyes! Looking back on my own educational experience, there are only a handful of teachers that had a big impact of me as a student. Passionate and inspiring teachers can make or break a student's classroom experience, and I wanted to be that teacher that inspired students to continue learning and improving their skills.

What are the biggest challenges you face as an ESOL teacher?

One of the biggest challenges of being an adult ESOL instructor is the many different backgrounds and education levels that the students bring to the class. Trying to pick a chapter book that is suitable for all students in the class can be quite a challenge!

What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you?

Teaching remotely during a global pandemic has reminded me of the importance of simple face to face interactions and the impact they have with building relationships with students. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we mostly have been virtual, but our students would stop by the center to pick up food, books, activity kits for their children, and other materials. We only saw the students for a few minutes, but those interactions allowed for us to get to know each other more and develop a better relationship beyond the computer screen.

What advice would you give to a new ESOL teacher or volunteer?

Expect the unexpected and have several simple activities available if needed. And just have fun! Play games, be silly, and laugh in class, and encourage students to do the same. I often feel like class can be a big game of Charades for me!

What have been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19?

I started a garden about three years ago and it has grown larger each year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, gardening each night was a big stress reliever for me after working on the computer all day.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

I love seeing the growth students make in their personal lives, whether it's getting a driver's license or a new job, and how their growth has a positive impact on their family and community. Many of our students come from a culture that are very different, and seeing students become more adaptable and comfortable to living here in the U.S. is a great thing to see!

What is something you learned about your students during this remote teaching period?

Our program works with ESOL students who have a child under the age of four. Several of our students have a newborn baby at home! I am so proud of our students and their dedication to the class. It's not easy to attend a class virtually while having young children at home, plus having school-aged children attend school from home too!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and what has inspired you to be a teacher?
I am the adult education instructor at Family Discovery Center in Rockville. I've been teaching ESOL to adults in the DC area for over seven years. I received my bachelor's degree from the Ohio State University - Go Buckeyes! Looking back on my own educational experience, there are only a handful of teachers that had a big impact of me as a student. Passionate and inspiring teachers can make or break a student's classroom experience, and I wanted to be that teacher that inspired students to continue learning and improving their skills.

What are the biggest challenges you face as an ESOL teacher?
One of the biggest challenges of being an adult ESOL instructor is the many different backgrounds and education levels that the students bring to the class. Trying to pick a chapter book that is suitable for all students in the class can be quite a challenge!

What has teaching remotely during a global pandemic taught you?
Teaching remotely during a global pandemic has reminded me of the importance of simple face to face interactions and the impact they have with building relationships with students. Since the beginning of the pandemic, we mostly have been virtual, but our students would stop by the center to pick up food, books, activity kits for their children, and other materials. We only saw the students for a few minutes, but those interactions allowed for us to get to know each other more and develop a better relationship beyond the computer screen.

What advice would you give to a new ESOL teacher or volunteer?
Expect the unexpected and have several simple activities available if needed. And just have fun! Play games, be silly, and laugh in class, and encourage students to do the same. I often feel like class can be a big game of Charades for me!

What have been your favorite pastimes during COVID-19?
I started a garden about three years ago and it has grown larger each year. During the COVID-19 pandemic, gardening each night was a big stress reliever for me after working on the computer all day.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?
I love seeing the growth students make in their personal lives, whether it's getting a driver's license or a new job, and how their growth has a positive impact on their family and community. Many of our students come from a culture that are very different, and seeing students become more adaptable and comfortable to living here in the U.S. is a great thing to see!

What is something you learned about your students during this remote teaching period?
Our program works with ESOL students who have a child under the age of four. Several of our students have a newborn baby at home! I am so proud of our students and their dedication to the class. It's not easy to attend a class virtually while having young children at home, plus having school-aged children attend school from home too!

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Picture of WUMCO Help's location in Poolseville, MD.

MCAEL Partner Spotlight: WUMCO Help, Inc

By Kayla Savoy • November 1, 2024

On Friday, October 25th, the MCAEL staff had the privilege of visiting WUMCO Help's facility in Poolesville, MD. What began as a quick journey to distribute our Adult English Language Program Directories turned into an insightful tour of WUMCO’s expansive ESOL classroom, designed for local residents, and their food pantry, where they provide shelf-stable goods and fresh produce to the community. Supported by a dedicated team of volunteers, community members, and local Boy Scout troops, WUMCO is committed to addressing food, language, health, and financial insecurities in Poolesville and the surrounding areas. We are proud to partner with WUMCO Help , which began with MCAEL as a Start-Up Grant recipient in 2023 and then grew to become an Access Small Grant recipient the following year. To learn more about WUMCO and the good work of all of our current Grant Partners, click here.

Leadership Change at MCAEL

By Kathy Stevens • August 29, 2024

Dear MCAEL Community: I am writing to share with you that I will be leaving MCAEL as of early October. I have accepted a position as President and CEO at the Healthcare Initiative Foundation. After 12 years of stewarding and growing the coalition, our team, and the organization’s role in the county, it is time for me to pass the torch to new leadership and pursue some new challenges of my own. MCAEL is a strong organization that has proven the value of having one entity coordinate the work of the coalition to build a diverse network of adult English language learning opportunities. With the partnership of Montgomery County government, dedicated coalition organizations, and incredible supporters and volunteers, MCAEL continues to provide much needed and much desired English classes. With an incredible staff, the organization is well positioned to continue to meet the needs of our community. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have served as MCAEL’s Executive Director. It has been rewarding to work alongside such a remarkably talented team, engaged Board members, dedicated program staff and instructors, and committed funders and supporters. While I'll miss MCAEL, the people I've worked with, and most especially the thousands of adult learners we have been able to support, I am excited to see MCAEL continue its growth and leadership in the county. The Board of Directors is meeting to identify the search process and timeline for a successor leader of MCAEL and that information will be shared as soon as practical. I will be working with the staff, board, and coalition to ensure a thoughtful and smooth transition. Thanks to you and the many other people who support MCAEL’s work, I am confident that the organization will continue to be strong and impactful. With gratitude, Kathy Stevens

Uber Impact

By Kathy Stevens • July 30, 2024

I’ve had to use Uber more in the last month than the entire last year while my car was out of commission. As you may know, the app offers you the option to indicate your comfort level with conversation. While I was trying to lean into just relaxing on the car rides and not talking much, I couldn’t help myself and quickly started conversations with my drivers. Many of my drivers were non-native English speakers, and they shared their experiences adjusting to a new country while not being comfortable with the language. Their stories echoed an all-too-common experience among immigrants in our community, who often work at jobs below their training levels. We discussed how to find English classes, should they be interested, and I was even able to connect one of my drivers to a workforce development opportunity. Sure, it would have been more convenient to have my car in working order so I could drive myself to work. But I never would have made these rewarding connections.