I really do not see an effective Teacher's Supervisor being other than an former successful teacher.  This is for any subject, much more so, ESOL.

--- On Tue, 1/13/09, Mangum, Laurie (ACE) <Laura.Mangum1 at fcps.edu> wrote:


> From: Mangum, Laurie (ACE) <Laura.Mangum1 at fcps.edu>

> Subject: [EnglishLanguage 3342] FW: Re: managing programs for adultEnglishlearners

> To: englishlanguage at nifl.gov

> Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009, 9:17 AM

> I wanted to respond to Brigitte's

> thought 

> 

> "I think it would be very interesting to explore this last

> point a

> little

> bit more. We have already asked if we think that ESOL

> Program Managers

> should ideally have ESOL classroom experience - but what do

> we think

> about the need for an effective ESOL Program Manager to

> have been a

> good, or really good teacher? Is this a necessary

> pre-requisite? And is

> an effective ESOL Program manager's effectiveness derived

> from their

> ongoing expertise as a classroom instructor? Is it really

> possible for

> an ESOL Program Manager to remain current and a model of

> good

> instructional practice? If they don't, could they still be

> able to

> manage and supervise other ESL instructors effectively?"

> 

> 

> My name is Laurie Mangum, I manage the Family Literacy

> program under

> Adult ESOL for Fairfax County Public Schools.  I had

> taught a

> non-intensive ESOL class (first as a volunteer and then

> paid) before

> taking on the responsibility to coordinate this program but

> I always

> think of my professional background as a project

> manager.  I am often

> frustrated by the idea in Education that good teachers make

> good

> administrators.  I don't necessarily think being a

> really good teacher

> is a pre-requisite to running a really good program. 

> What I find more

> important is recognizing really good teaching methods and

> resources

> available and providing opportunities to share those in

> your program.  I

> see part of my job to be a consulting role and look for

> best practices

> to share with my staff.  Managing the many facets of a

> program and being

> adept at changing strategies when something isn't working

> are also

> instrumental to being successful in the role.  Or as

> some people have

> described my job: having the ability to juggle while

> herding cats.  

> 

> 

> 

> Laurie Mangum

> Family Literacy Specialist/Adult ESOL

> Fairfax County Public Schools

> Adult & Community Education

> Plum Center for Lifelong Learning

> 6815 Edsall Rd. 

> Springfield, VA 22151

> 

> Phone:  703-658-2760

> 

> ----------------------------------------------------

> National Institute for Literacy

> Adult English Language Learners mailing list

> EnglishLanguage at nifl.gov

> To unsubscribe or change your subscription settings, please

> go to http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/englishlanguage

> Email delivered to cgv757 at yahoo.com

>