TESOL: Program Reviewer

TESOL: Program Reviewer
From: Diane Staehr Fenner (dstaehrfenner@tesol.org)

The Standards for P-12 ESL Teacher Education Programs were approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and the TESOL Board of Directors in October 2001, and since then, institutions from around the globe have been using them. In the United States, an ever-increasing number of institutions have sought national NCATE recognition. To meet this demand, TESOL is recruiting at least 10 volunteer program reviewers to serve a 3-year term.

*URL CORRECTION: For reviewer qualifications and application forms, please download the Reviewer Requirements and Application Package (PDF): http://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/seccss.asp?CID=1795&DID=9600
Please submit all applications via email to Diane Staehr Fenner, TESOL/NCATE Program Coordinator, (dstaehrfenner@tesol.org ) by Friday, February 20, 2009.

The primary qualification for this volunteer position is 5 years of teaching and/or other experience with English language learners at the P-12 level. Program reviewers are required to attend a full-day training session on March 25, 2009, at the 2009 TESOL Convention and Exhibit in Denver, Colorado USA. TESOL will pay for one night’s lodging and will provide lunch and all materials on the training day. Program reviewers are not required to register for the convention unless they plan to attend convention sessions or events following the March 25 training.

Although reviewers are not paid, this volunteer opportunity offers other potential benefits:
·         Meeting professionalism criteria in the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards
·         Useful for tenure or performance reviews
·         Professional service that could be used for merit pay
·         Listing on your resume/curriculum vitae
·         Multiple networking opportunities with TESOL professionals from around the globe
·         Admission to two complimentary TESOL virtual seminars per year
·         One TESOL publication per year (up to $30)
·         Recognition at the TESOL Convention

This is an exciting opportunity to advance your professional development within the TESOL standards arena. Being named a TESOL reviewer is an honor, and as a reviewer, you will help address the need for consistency in P-12 teacher preparation throughout the United States. And if your institution is planning a TESOL/NCATE program review, becoming a program reviewer will help you prepare for the process.

If you have further questions, please contact Diane Staehr Fenner at dstaehrfenner@tesol.org