A $2.6 million grant received in 2024 from the U.S. Department of Education’s Professional Development program to address the critical need for highly qualified licensed ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers in the Memphis area has been funded for another year to continue its impact in Memphis Shelby County Schools.
The project is led by Dr. Rebecca Adams, professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of English, and Dr. Emily Thrush, professor in the Department of English, who have recruited bilingual and multilingual students to the UofM who enrolled in the TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) program.
“MSCS and other local school districts have a critical shortage of qualified ESL teachers despite a growing population of students requiring ESL services,” Adams said. “Having qualified ESL teachers in classrooms increases student retention in school, graduation rates, participation in post-secondary education and career training, and economic outputs. Having qualified ESL teachers in schools benefits these students and our whole community.”
“Given the growing number of English Learners across the more than 200 schools in Memphis-Shelby County Schools, our classrooms are becoming increasingly rich with diverse cultures, perspectives and languages. This diversity creates meaningful opportunities for students and educators to learn from one another and build stronger, more inclusive learning communities,” Dr. Abasi McKinzie, MSCS ESL manager said.
“The impact is even greater when students see themselves reflected in their teachers,” McKinzie said. “Multilingual educators bring not only professional expertise but also personal experiences that resonate with the journeys of multilingual learners. We are grateful for our partnership with the University of Memphis in developing a pipeline of highly qualified ESL educators who can support students in acquiring English while also serving as mentors and role models. Their firsthand understanding of multilingualism helps students navigate challenges, celebrate their linguistic and cultural identities, and recognize the strengths that come with speaking multiple languages.”
Ten multilingual students have graduated from the program who have completed requirements for ESL licensure and have an additional 29 currently completing their programs, several of whom are first-generation college students. “Several of the current and graduated participants have already moved into ESL teaching roles in our local schools. This is helping alleviate the critical shortage in ESL teachers in our local schools,” Thrush said.
Among those students working to complete the program is doctoral student Mariele Luciane Cunha de Souza, who began her journey at the University in 2016. When she started, Souza had to validate her degree from Brazil and learned that another year of studies was needed to get her U.S. bachelor’s degree requirements. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she received a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in Spanish and then later completed a master’s degree in education and ESL licensure.
“Throughout this journey, I have always tried to connect what I study with my work as a teacher. I teach Spanish in Memphis Shelby County Schools, so I am constantly thinking about how and what I learn can be useful in a real classroom,” Souza said. “The grant has helped me both academically and professionally. One thing that has made a big difference for me is that the classes I took through the grant are also being used toward my doctoral program. That has helped me move forward in my doctorate while studying topics that are directly connected to my work and interests.”
She said the grant has also changed the way she started sharing what she was learning which has grown to a teacher Instagram account where she shares strategies and ideas (@senorasouza) that began with five followers to now over 5,000.
One of Souza’s main goals is to continue developing as a teacher and researcher while staying connected to the classroom. She is also developing an English course for Portuguese speakers.
“I am very grateful to the University of Memphis for all the doors that have been opened for me. When I look back at my journey since 2016, I can see how one opportunity led to another. I came to Memphis to continue my education, and along the way I was given opportunities that I could not have imagined when I first arrived,” Souza said.
“I am especially grateful to the professors who have encouraged me throughout the years. There have been many moments when I was not sure what my next step should be, and a professor helped me see another possibility or encouraged me to keep going.
For me, the University of Memphis has been much more than a place where I earned degrees. It has been a place where I have been able to keep learning, try new things and grow as a teacher.”
