MCAEL Advisory Group Spotlight: Cindy Newland

February 22, 2022

Tell us a little about yourself and what was your entry point into Adult ESOL.

I am originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, but didn’t grow up there.  As a young child, I moved around the world with my family as diplomats. I have lived in Thailand, Venezuela, Mexico, Bolivia, and the United States.  I learned to speak Spanish while living in various Spanish-speaking countries.  After receiving my BBA in Business Management from Howard University I found my love of teaching English when I volunteered teaching ESOL to adults after work.  A few years later, after my first daughter was born, I decided to leave my job as a Senior Sales Manager at a large drug science organization and pursued teaching regularly. I taught every level from literacy to advanced. After teaching ESOL for close to 14 years, I became the program coordinator at Sheppard Pratt’s Linkages to Learning English Literacy Program.


Where are you now teaching (or working as an ESOL provider) (at what levels and for which organizations)?

I stopped teaching ESOL a couple of years ago when I started working as a full-time program coordinator. However, through my connections from teaching ESOL, I was offered the opportunity to help immigrant students gain their citizenship. In 2018, I began teaching citizenship classes for Montgomery County and have helped countless number of students become U.S. citizens.


What unexpected successes or previously unknown capabilities have you and the learners you serve experienced during the pandemic?

When the pandemic happened, we were forced to transition in person classes to virtual only.  I for one, wasn’t familiar with online platforms, but quickly learned how to use them. It was difficult for our teachers as well as learners to navigating classes online. I thought this was the end of our program. But to my surprise the opposite happened. Online registration and surveys were easier for our students to use. Our registration numbers almost doubled, our students and teachers love the convenience of online classes, and our approval ratings increased. Teaching virtually, at least in some part, is the future and we will continue to do so.


What role do you play in MAG [committees, roles]?

I am new to MAG. I am still learning my role, but I hope to work with others on my committee to find better ways to keep students engaged and motivated to attend class, educate them online, and help them achieve their personal goals.


What do you find most rewarding about your work?

The most rewarding part of my job is seeing how our ESOL classes touch and change the lives of our students. Hearing success stories from students how learning English has given them their confidence and independence back. They found financial independence with better paying jobs; social independence because they can write notes to teachers, ride the Metro, or connecting more with their community; and personal independence because they can buy groceries or speak with doctors without their children as interpreters. Learning English has improved lives and brought families closer together. Their successes are the reason I love my job.


What brings you joy outside of your professional life?

I enjoy reading mystery novels or watching a good Who Done It show on TV. I love dancing especially to salsa music.  I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes and I love traveling with my husband and two beautiful daughters.

Tell us a little about yourself and what was your entry point into Adult ESOL.
I am originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, but didn’t grow up there.  As a young child, I moved around the world with my family as diplomats. I have lived in Thailand, Venezuela, Mexico, Bolivia, and the United States.  I learned to speak Spanish while living in various Spanish-speaking countries.  After receiving my BBA in Business Management from Howard University I found my love of teaching English when I volunteered teaching ESOL to adults after work.  A few years later, after my first daughter was born, I decided to leave my job as a Senior Sales Manager at a large drug science organization and pursued teaching regularly. I taught every level from literacy to advanced. After teaching ESOL for close to 14 years, I became the program coordinator at Sheppard Pratt’s Linkages to Learning English Literacy Program.

Where are you now teaching (or working as an ESOL provider) (at what levels and for which organizations)?
I stopped teaching ESOL a couple of years ago when I started working as a full-time program coordinator. However, through my connections from teaching ESOL, I was offered the opportunity to help immigrant students gain their citizenship. In 2018, I began teaching citizenship classes for Montgomery County and have helped countless number of students become U.S. citizens.

What unexpected successes or previously unknown capabilities have you and the learners you serve experienced during the pandemic?
When the pandemic happened, we were forced to transition in person classes to virtual only.  I for one, wasn’t familiar with online platforms, but quickly learned how to use them. It was difficult for our teachers as well as learners to navigating classes online. I thought this was the end of our program. But to my surprise the opposite happened. Online registration and surveys were easier for our students to use. Our registration numbers almost doubled, our students and teachers love the convenience of online classes, and our approval ratings increased. Teaching virtually, at least in some part, is the future and we will continue to do so.

What role do you play in MAG [committees, roles]?
I am new to MAG. I am still learning my role, but I hope to work with others on my committee to find better ways to keep students engaged and motivated to attend class, educate them online, and help them achieve their personal goals.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?
The most rewarding part of my job is seeing how our ESOL classes touch and change the lives of our students. Hearing success stories from students how learning English has given them their confidence and independence back. They found financial independence with better paying jobs; social independence because they can write notes to teachers, ride the Metro, or connecting more with their community; and personal independence because they can buy groceries or speak with doctors without their children as interpreters. Learning English has improved lives and brought families closer together. Their successes are the reason I love my job.

What brings you joy outside of your professional life?
I enjoy reading mystery novels or watching a good Who Done It show on TV. I love dancing especially to salsa music.  I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes and I love traveling with my husband and two beautiful daughters.
 

A picture of Gerard Etienne, MCAEL's new Executive Director. He wears a navy-blue suit.

A Letter from MCAEL's New Executive Director

By Emma Starr • May 21, 2025
Dear MCAEL Community, It is such an honor to be joining you as MCAEL’s new Executive Director. With my many years of mission-driven work rooted in Montgomery County – and as an English language learner myself – I could not be more thrilled to join this amazing staff and network of programs. I’ve known MCAEL for years through my work in the county, both at Interfaith Works and most recently as Chief Program & Innovation Officer at the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA). But after just two weeks on the job at MCAEL, I’ve gained an even deeper understanding of the breadth of work that we do – and the impact that we have on the lives of so many. Not speaking English affects your life in almost every way, from asking for directions or help in a store to securing employment and an education. I speak from experience. I was a young teenager when my family moved to the United States. Not knowing how to speak the language, I had to navigate not only a new country, but eighth grade in an American middle school (arguably challenging even for native speakers). At a time when some of our learners are afraid to come to class, we need to stand tall and continue to do what we have always done – offer pathways to a better quality of life through English learning, and to support our strong network of programs in doing so. I am excited to take on this work and I look forward to meeting all of you through planned visits to programs, as well as at meetings and community events. I welcome your phone calls, emails, and visits! Please reach out at any time – I would love it. Warmly, Gerard

MCAEL’s First-Ever Learner Celebration

By Emma Starr • May 14, 2025
One hundred and sixty-five people came out for food, performances, resources, and inspiring stories at MCAEL’s first-ever Celebration of English Learners last month. Attendees may have hailed from across the globe, but they shared common experiences as immigrants and English language learners. At the event, they had access to organizations offering services ranging from healthcare to legal advice – and all enjoyed an abundance of international food, and a lively program featuring the personal stories of learners and dance performances by Grupo Folklorico Internacional and CCACC Evergreen Martial Arts Health Dance Class. Representatives from the offices of Councilmembers Jawando and Mink presented a special citation, signed by the Council Education Committee, to Sonia Peñate, long-time volunteer (and former learner) from the Seneca Creek Community Church ESOL program. Kanidiengue Kone, who moved to the US from the Ivory Coast three years ago and currently serves as a member of MCAEL’s Learner Leadership Group, had these words for the crowd: “Today, I want to encourage you: keep going with your classes, even when it feels hard. Growth happens when we step outside of our comfort zone.”
Image of Gerard Etienne, MCAEL's New Executive Director.

MCAEL Welcomes Gerard J. P. Etienne as New Executive Director

By MCAEL • April 16, 2025
MCAEL is delighted to announce the appointment of Gerard J. P. Etienne as its new Executive Director. Gerard brings a depth of experience overseeing and growing large programs, most recently as Chief Program & Innovation Officer at the Jewish Council for the Aging (JCA). He will assume his new position at MCAEL on May 5, 2025. Gerard began his career as a mechanical engineer and then a management consultant for both small and large companies, focusing on intrapreneurship and innovation. He discovered his passion for mission-driven work through years of volunteering – leading him to a position as Director of the Vocational Services Program (VSP) at Interfaith Works, where he worked directly with immigrant job seekers, including non-English speakers, to help them overcome cultural and employment barriers. “Gerard brings a deep personal connection to MCAEL’s mission and a strong commitment to serving vulnerable and marginalized communities in Montgomery County,” said Sean Klein, MCAEL Board Chair. “His record of equity-centered leadership, along with his experience managing multidisciplinary teams and complex programs, make him the ideal choice to lead MCAEL into its next chapter.” ๏ปฟ "I am thrilled and honored to serve as MCAEL'S next Executive Director,” Gerard stated. “As a long-time Montgomery County resident and someone with lived experience as an English learner, MCAEL'S mission is deeply personal to me. It's a privilege to give back to my community and to help expand opportunities for adult learners across our county." Gerard’s family moved to the United States when he was a teenager, and he entered the American school system speaking no English. A Montgomery County resident for almost 40 years, Gerard and his wife raised two sons here. He and his wife are both avid fans of Arsenal Football Club (they never miss a game). They live in Silver Spring with their dog, Doug.