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! 

By Kairy Castro Barrios June 18, 2025
Last Friday, June 13th, 2025, MCAEL hosted its End-of-Year Celebration & Sharing Session, attended by adult English Instructors and program staff representing 24 programs from the MCAEL network. This End-of-Year Celebration was designed to bring ESOL professionals together to celebrate their dedication and commitment to helping a community of non-native English speakers learn English as a second language, thereby supporting them in their daily lives. Their passion for teaching English as a second language contributed to everyone's eagerness to share the ways their lessons work, teaching methods that engage learners, and identifying the specific instruction skills they'd like to develop. One English instructor mentioned that, towards the end of class, she plays "Hangman" with the learners to help with spelling words; so far, no one has been hanged! ๏ปฟ All English instructors and program staff share a common goal: to make a difference in their communities and make a direct impact on those around them. During this celebration, they were asked, “what inspired you to work in the ESOL field?" Instructors mentioned that enabling a community to learn English empowers them to grow and better integrate themselves within society. Brenda Voit, an ESOL instructor at the nonprofit Identity, mentioned that she is an English instructor who fulfills community needs and is passionate about the work she does. Christine Patton; an ESOL teacher at JSSA, spoke about her family’s personal experience emigrating from Germany to the United States and the shared frustrations of not knowing English, as well as navigating that experience in their daily lives. Christine views Montgomery County’s ability to provide free and accessible English classes as a reassuring sign of support. This invaluable resource can make a difference in the lives of many, creating a vibrant, growing coalition of Adult English learners. Kairy Castro Barrios MCAEL Intern
By Gerard Etienne June 17, 2025
This past Saturday, I was invited to speak at the Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA)’s Learning English Together graduation ceremony – and what a wonderful event it was! The first thing that surprised me was the number of people in attendance: there were over 320 attendees, of which 146 were proud graduates. Even more impressive is the fact that there were another 150 graduates who did not attend the ceremony! But what stood out even more was how important this ceremony clearly was to so many of the learners. As a guest speaker, I joined the entrance procession and lined up with the graduates. The pride and excitement were palpable, not just among the learners, but among the instructors as well. Almost everyone was dressed up for the occasion. This was the first clue that these weren’t “just” English classes to the graduates—this was a meaningful milestone, a real achievement. As the ceremony progressed and certificates were awarded, several learners gave speeches. I found myself nearly in tears as I listened to them describe what learning English had meant in their lives. It would be easy to reduce ESOL classes to simply language instruction for immigrants—but these classes are so much more than that. ๏ปฟ They are a gateway to connection, self-expression, better jobs, and more education. They foster belonging, friendships, relationships, and a kind of freedom that only language can provide. For many learners, these classes are truly life-changing, as many of the student speakers described. And the fact that these classes were so meaningful to them is a testament to the care and quality of instruction that JSSA and its instructors have provided. As each speaker shared their story, I thought back to my own English-learning journey. I could relate strongly to their experiences: the feeling of isolation, the frustration of not being able to say the simplest things, the fear of picking up the phone, the avoidance and anxiety around engaging with others. And the feeling of sometimes being reduced to “someone who doesn’t speak English” – as if that’s all there was to me. Learning English is a way out of those limitations. It gives learners the chance to grow, to build relationships, and to show who they really are. Congratulations to the graduates!
By Emma Starr June 16, 2025
The Montgomery Coalition for Adult English Literacy (MCAEL), announces $1,465,853 in grants awarded to support adult English language learning programs across Montgomery County. Funding for the grants is provided in partnership with the Montgomery County Government, with the support of County Executive Marc Elrich and the Montgomery County Council. Adult English language learners experience life-changing benefits as participants in these programs, from being able to navigate the health system and their children’s schools, to attaining better-paying jobs. The goal of the MCAEL grants program is to increase the availability of adult ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) services that support identified community needs and diverse populations, while also improving the quality of those services. Blanca, who was a teacher in Guatemala and is now a housekeeper, is currently enrolled in her third consecutive English language class. She says learning English has “made communication with doctors, teachers – everyone – easier. I have more confidence and am able to speak clearly with others.” Blanca hopes to eventually get a better-paying job so that “I can continue to raise my family in the U.S. while also supporting those still living in Guatemala. But my most important goal is to see my three children graduate from college.” This year, grants have been awarded to 24 organizations that provide 29 programs across Montgomery County, including eight brand new programs, both small and large in scale. In addition, MCAEL is actively pursuing the expansion of services to communities where adult ESOL learning opportunities are scarce and there are increased barriers to participation. MCAEL thanks the panel of community members who donated extensive time and energy to review and evaluate the grant applications. MCAEL also thanks the Montgomery County Government for increasing funding for program grants this year, as well as for their ongoing support of English language learning opportunities in Montgomery County. Read the complete Grants Announcement.