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 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
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.  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.