Biographical Information about presenters

Karen A. Claypool

Total Physical Response Theory (TPR)

Karen A. Claypool has an M.A. in Linguistics – Specialization in English and Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL/ESOL) from Ball State University. She has a B.A. in English Education and German also from Ball State University. She is currently a German and English teacher in the Hamilton County School System. She is fluent in German and has proficiency in Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch. She also has knowledge of Koine`Greek, French, Italian, Latin, Hebrew, Japanese, Swahili, and Turkish. She taught English and German in Brazil from 1991 – 1994.

Valerie Copeland-Rutledge, Ed.D.

Technology in the ESL Classroom

The Office of Civil Rights and Compliance Issues

Dr. Rutledge is the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Foundation Associate Professor and Acting Head of the Teacher Preparation Academy. Dr. Rutledge received her Ed.D. in Leadership Studies from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and ESL certification from Johnson Bible College. She is responsible for teaching the two ESL endorsement classes, EDUC 458 and EDUC 459.

Carol Irwin

State and Federal Mandates related to ESL

SIOP Model

Testing and Evaluation Instruments

Future Direction and Issues in ESL

Carol Irwin is the ESL coordinator for the State of Tennessee Department of Education. She is responsible for ESL, Title III, Emergency Immigrant Education Program grants, and Office for Civil Rights compliance issues. Ms. Irwin has an M.Ed. from Tennessee State University in ESL and an Ed.S. in Instructional Leadership from Tennessee Technological University. She teaches an ESL methodology course for Tennessee State University. In addition, Ms. Irwin has been married for 29 years, has four children and two grandchildren.

Julie McCargar

The Multiethnic Classroom: Curriculum and Instruction Issues

Diverse Populations in America’s Schools: Now and in the Future

What’s the Difference: Bilingual Education and ESL?

What’s the Difference: ESL and EFL?

Julie McCargar is Director of Federal Programs for the Tennessee Department of Education. In this role, she oversees the state’s English as a Second Language (ESL) and Migrant Education programs. Previously, she was the Department’s ESL and Migrant education consultant. Ms. McCargar has extensive training and experience teaching ESL both in the United States and overseas including Afghanistan, Sudan, and Poland.

Tery Medina

An Equity Issue: Providing Appropriate Instruction for English Language Learners

Tery Medina is currently the National Origin coordinator at the Southeast Equity Center.

Sarah Sandefur, Ph.D.

What is Reading?

Multicultural Literature

Sarah Jo Sandefur is currently an Assistant Professor of Literacy Instruction at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She received her B.A. in Speech, Theater, and English Instruction from Western Kentucky University. She received an M.A. in English from Florida Atlantic University and her Ph.D. in Literacy Instruction from the University of Arizona. She has experience working with Taiwanese students entering the United States educational system as well as working with Spanish speaking graduate students who entered Arizona University.

David James Silva, Ph.D.

Philosophy of ESL/Bilingual Education

Theories of Second Language Acquisition

Oral Communication

Approaches to Teaching ESOL

ESL Modifications for Students

Dr. Silva is currently Associate Professor of Linguistics and Program Director at the University of Texas at Arlington. He received a B.A. degree in Linguistics from Harvard University. He received both an M.A. and Ph.D. in Linguistics from Cornell University. He was a Fulbright Scholar in Seoul, Korea (1989-90). He has been published numerous times. He is the son of Portuguese immigrants and has enjoyed many years of living in multilingual and multicultural communities.

Mary Lillian Smith, M.S.

School/Community Partnerships in ESL Programs

Current Trends and Approaches

Mary Lillian Smith is currently teaching hearing-impaired students in Dalton, Georgia. She taught ESOL in Hamilton County Schools for three years and was lead teacher for five years. She has experience in teaching adult ESOL. She received her B.S. degree from Mississippi University for Women in Elementary Education, an M.A. from the University of Alabama in Speech: Deaf Education, and an M.A. from New York University in Asian Studies.

Pam Sulser

Oral Communication in the ESL Classroom

Pam Sulser is from Brookhaven, MS. She received a B.A. degree from Mary Baldwin College in Drama with a minor in psychology. She is a wife and mother who has taught in the ESL Institute for the past two years.

Caryl Taylor, Ph.D.

Determining Special Education Certification for ESL Students

Structured Intellect Basic Learning Abilities

Dr. Taylor is currently an Associate Professor of Special Education Instruction at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She received her B.A. in English with a minor in Education at the University of Florida, Gainesville. She received a M.A. in Exceptional Child Education and her Ph.D. in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Exceptional Child Education from the University of South Florida, Tampa. Her responsibilities include teaching courses to undergraduate and/or graduate classes in the Teacher Preparation Academy each semester.

Jennifer Driver, M.A.

Project Director for the ESL Program at UTC

Jennifer Driver is from Chattanooga, TN. She received her B.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She received her M.A. in K-12 Education from Tusculum College. She has a Montessori 6-9 degree from St. Nicholas, London. She taught for eight and a half years in the Hamilton County School System. She is the current project director for the ESL program at UTC.

Doris Gant, C.P.S.

A Certified Professional Secretary with over 40 year's administrative and supervisory experience. A part-time college student recently inducted into the Adults Scholar Program at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, in recognition of scholastic achievement. In her present position as administrative assistant, she supports the Teacher Preparation Academy and Dr. Valerie Rutledge.

She resides on Lookout Mt., Tennessee with her husband, Larry, and two small, spoiled dogs.