Carolina TESOL October 2025
As we enter a new season of learning and collaboration, we would like to express our gratitude to you—our dedicated members—for your ongoing commitment to serving multilingual students and families across the Carolinas. Your work makes a difference every day, and together we continue to strengthen our community of educators and advocates.
We’re excited to share that plans are underway for our Annual Conference, coming up November 5–7, 2025, in Charlotte, NC! This year’s theme, “Our Voices, Our Stories,” celebrates the diversity, resilience, and shared experiences that shape our profession. We can’t wait to come together to learn, connect, and celebrate the incredible stories within our community.
In addition, our Carolina TESOL Impact series is returning this fall and winter! These member-led professional development sessions are designed to highlight the expertise already thriving in our classrooms and communities. Continue reading for details on dates, topics, and instructions on how to access these sessions.
Ultimately, we remain committed to our advocacy for multilingual learners and ensuring equitable access to education. While challenges in funding and policy continue, our collective voice matters more than ever. Together, we will continue to share our stories, raise awareness, and stand up for the students and families we serve.
Please take a moment to renew your membership or invite a colleague to join; our collective strength depends on your participation. Thank you for all that you do—and for being the heart of Carolina TESOL.
Sincerely,
The Executive Board of Carolina TESOL
One Month to Go!
We are less than one month away from our 2025 annual conference, taking place November 5-7, 2025! This year's theme, "Our Voices, Our Stories," speaks to the diversity of who we are in our lived and shared experiences.
- As colleagues, we have stories of what works well in the classroom and beyond for language acquisition.
- As advocates, we have stories of change and how we can advance our profession forward to better meet the needs of those we strive to serve.
- As a people, we have stories of grit, resilience, and hope that illuminate our paths into our futures.
Together, our resonance transcends inequities, and our counter narrative speaks truth! Come and let us communicate, collaborate, and celebrate Our Voices, Our Stories together.
Dr. Amanda Tachine
Dr. Amanda R. Tachine is Navajo from Ganado, Arizona. She is an Assistant Professor in Educational Studies at University of Oregon. Amanda’s research explores the relationship between systemic and structural histories of settler colonialism and the ongoing erasure of Indigenous presence and belonging in college settings using qualitative Indigenous methodologies.
Ron Daise
Ron Daise, a son of St. Helena Island, SC, is an author, Emmy-nominated performer, educator, and cultural interpreter. His productions and recordings about Gullah Geechee culture and history have documented his heritage for decades. He is known by many as “Mr. Ron” from “Gullah Gullah Island,” the Nick Jr. TV’s award-winning children’s program of the 1990s.
Emily Francis
Astrid Emily Francis is a nationally recognized English as a Second Language teacher at Concord High School in Concord, North Carolina. She serves students at various English proficiency levels. Emily is originally from Guatemala and her experience as an English Language Learner inspired her to become an ESL teacher. This affords her a deep understanding of the challenges her students must overcome to succeed.
Order your conference T-Shirt today! The cost is only $20 and comes in your choice of three color options! Our shirts were designed with the theme in mind, where our voices and our stories speak truth to the world about multilingual communities. These will be ready for pickup upon your arrival at the conference to wear on Thursday, November 6! There will only be limited stock available for purchase at the conference, so please order in advance here!
Supporting SLIFE & Newcomers: From Grade-Level Learning to Accelerating Language & Literacy
The 2025 Carolina TESOL Fall Conference is coming to Charlotte, NC—and this year’s pre-conference workshop offers something especially valuable for educators of newcomers and students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE).
We’re excited to welcome Dr. Carol Salva, nationally recognized speaker, consultant, and author of Boosting Achievement, to lead our pre-conference session.
Participants in the pre-conference will receive:
A copy of the Second Edition of Boosting Achievement
Access to follow-up virtual sessions with Dr. Salva throughout the year
Practical tools for building language-rich, trauma-informed, asset-based classrooms
CEU/PD certificates (available for all sessions)
Whether you're a classroom teacher, instructional coach, administrator, or ELD specialist, this session is designed to meet you where you are and connect you with a community of committed educators.
Register for the Pre-Conference before spaces fill up!
We’re excited to announce the return of Carolina TESOL Impact—our member-led professional development series designed to showcase the knowledge and expertise already thriving within our community. The first session will be held on October 23, 2025 and focus on "Bridging the ELD Framework and NC Standards". Also, mark your calendars for November 20, December 18, and January 12! Click the photo to the left for more information.
These engaging virtual sessions feature practical strategies, authentic classroom insights, and a shared commitment to supporting multilingual learners.
- All sessions are virtual and begin at 7:30 PM (ET)
- Certificate of Attendance Provided – participants may submit to their districts for CEUs or recertification credit, per local guidelines
- Google Classroom Resources – Class code: d4ga6b
Throughout the summer, Carolina TESOL members in South Carolina engaged in a book study of Ron Daise’s Raptors in the Ricelands. In three virtual sessions, members discussed multilingual supports (e.g., culturally responsive teaching and cultural identity) as they traced the Gullah Geechee history woven through the narrative. During our final session, participants had the opportunity to meet with Mr. Ron virtually and ask questions about his experience and journey in understanding his Gullah Geechee roots. We are excited to have Mr. Ron in person at our annual conference in Charlotte!
SC Advocacy Updates
- Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello at the SC MLP Conference the week of September 15 and shared their excitement about the upcoming Carolina TESOL conference.
- We want YOUR stories! There is still time to share your or your student's story before the conference in November: Our Voices, Our Stories. Please consider sharing what is happening in your school or community, as every voice matters.
- There is still time to contact your Representatives and tell them to fund Title lll for FY26. The Senate has passed its proposed budget, which includes funding for Title III; however, the House wants to completely eliminate Title III funding. Let your Representatives know how important this funding is for you and your students: Voter Voice
