MCAEL Advisory Group Spotlight: Andy Lawrence

July 19, 2022

It’s MCAEL’s 15 year anniversary, and we’re celebrating with a “People of MCAEL"

The "People of MCAEL" series features first person insights and photos from some of the wonderful people involved in English language learning in Montgomery County, MD. You’ll find stories here and on FacebookInstagramLinkedIn, and Twitter; please share and use our hashtag #MCAEL15. We know this coalition thrives because of committed people like you; thank you!

Today we’re introducing our first profile: Claudia Ramos

Tell us a little about yourself and what was your entry point into Adult ESOL.
In the late 1980s, as I was about to enter my third year as an ESOL volunteer for the Montgomery County Department of Adult Education, the Program Director accosted me and pleaded: “I just had a teacher quit. How would you like to teach a class?” I swallowed hard, said “yes,” and was handed a teacher’s guide, a textbook, and a room full of eager students to teach. Oh, how I wish that MCAEL’s Foundations for Adult ESOL Instruction Course existed back then. Hopefully, my enthusiasm for teaching made up for what I lacked in skill in those early days.


Where are you now teaching (or working as an ESOL provider) (at what levels and for which organizations)?
At present, I am teaching a morning and afternoon beginning level class via Zoom for Montgomery College’s Refugee Training Center. The majority of my students are from Afghanistan, and I admire their courage as they adapt to living in our area, including trying to master English, after their abrupt departure from their homeland.


What unexpected successes or previously unknow capabilities have you and the learners you serve experienced during the pandemic?
The desire to learn can easily negotiate around the disruption caused by moving from in-person classes to virtual ones. For

Andy Lawrence

various reasons, nearly all of my Zoom students keep their cameras off, so I find that I need to be more systematic in ensuring that all students participate equally in class. I make a special point to draw out shy students hiding behind blank screens and muted microphones, and I am gratified when I see these students make real improvements in listening, speaking and reading.


What role do you play in MAG [committees, roles]?
I am working with the Learner Leadership Advisory Group that is trying to institutionalize input of student voices into the MCAEL planning process. Since students are our ultimate customers, it is very important that MCAEL take their views into consideration into course design and assessment methods. It is far better to hear directly from students than it is to assume what their needs are.


What do you find most rewarding about your work?
To me, there is no greater reward than creating a safe, collaborative classroom and watching students overcome their fear of making mistakes and gain confidence in their abilities to communicate successfully. Many students are intimidated by classmates who seem to “outshine” them in their command of English, and I feel fulfilled when I see steady improvement from those who needed a little push before they hit their stride as learners.


What brings you joy outside of your professional life?
The joy that my wife and I get from travelling has largely been on hold during the pandemic. While we went on a wonderful tour of Greece in May, we both tested positive for COVID upon our return to the Athens airport and had to quarantine for an additional week. However, we are planning to spend the Christmas holidays on several of the Hawaiian Islands with both our sons and our older son’s wife. 



Andy’s story is part of MCAEL’S 15th Anniversary celebration; every month we’ll highlight some of the wonderful people at the heart of our coalition. Learn more about MCAEL and its mission here: https://mcael.org/.



Learn more about MCAEL and our partner organizations here

By Kayla O'Neil July 11, 2025
MCAEL is excited to welcome Alina Ramirez Joyner to the Board of Directors. Alina brings extensive experience as a consultant, advising senior leaders in government, private industry, and nonprofits on corporate social responsibility, community investment, and multicultural engagement strategies in both Mexico and the United States. She serves as Chair of Community and Inclusion in an educational setting, as a financial stewardship advisor, and as a civic community engagement coordinator in Bethesda, MD, where she leads initiatives to foster connection, transparency, and financial sustainability within local communities. Her professional path has included work with domestic and international organizations such as the Embassy of Mexico, the Washington, DC Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs, CBS Radio, the Mexican Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, Mexico’s Electoral Institute, and various civic and local organizations. She's also collaborated with clients like National Geographic and leading healthcare systems including MedStar Health, Inova, and Adventist HealthCare. “As an immigrant myself, I understand both the challenges and the possibilities of navigating new systems—a perspective that fuels my dedication to advancing language access, inclusion, and fairness as essential tools for community growth and individual success,” said Alina, who is originally from Mexico City. “I integrate global strategy, risk management, and sustainable operations to design systemic solutions that empower individuals and strengthen communities, minimizing resource inefficiencies and accelerating social progress. “Joining MCAEL’s Board is an exciting opportunity for me to help harness the transformative power of language to build connections, create a sense of belonging, and open doors for individuals and communities alike. I’m inspired by MCAEL’s mission and look forward to applying my experience in community engagement, fundraising, and cross-sector collaboration to help strengthen and sustain the organization’s impact.” Outside of work, Alina loves exploring art, history, and the outdoors, especially hiking with her family and their dog.
By Gerard Etienne July 8, 2025
Something important struck me during our recent end-of-year convening of program instructors and administrators. It was a day of celebration, sharing, connecting, brainstorming, and problem-solving – all centered on two fundamental questions: How can we serve our learners better? And how can we improve? The passion and dedication in that room were palpable. What struck me was how deeply everyone cares about this work: it matters to them. It matters to all of us. But as the day progressed, I realized something: many of the English learners in the programs we support may not know just how many people are cheering them on. They may not see the full village behind them – rooting for their success. Everyone in the picture above is part of that village – and they’re only a small fraction of it. Across Montgomery County, program administrators, instructors, volunteers, elected officials, and organizations involved in ESOL instruction are all working toward the same goal: helping our learners achieve the English proficiency they need to improve their financial stability, thrive in their communities, and feel a genuine sense of belonging. So, to all our English learners: even though you may never meet any of us, please know that you are not alone. We are rooting for you. We are cheering you on. We want you to succeed. In today’s political climate, that’s a message we must repeat – and amplify.
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!  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