Alabama-Mississippi
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
AMTESOL has a new mailing address! AMTESOL PO Box 360122 Hoover, AL 35236
PCI Workshop D
Thursday, January 29, 2026
1:00 - 4:00pm
Flowood, Mississippi
Sheraton Flowood The Refuge Hotel & Conference Center
Building Bridges in TESOL Teacher Preparation: A Collaborative Networking and External Funding Workshop for Faculty in TESOL Teacher Preparation Programs
Faculty working in TESOL teacher preparation programs often lack opportunities to connect and collaborate with colleagues beyond their own institution. This interactive workshop provides a dedicated space for university faculty to network, share best practices, and co-develop innovative approaches to preparing future English language educators. We will also walk participants through the process of applying for external funding, using real-world examples of a U.S. Department of Education National Professional Development (NPD) project (awarded) and an NSF Discovery/Research PK12 (DRPK12) project (submitted Fall 2025). Through structured discussion, collaborative problem-solving, and resource exchange, participants will leave with new professional connections, actionable ideas, and a deeper understanding of the shared challenges and opportunities in TESOL teacher preparation. Participants will also leave with an action plan for pursuing external funding that can support exploration of their innovative ideas and leverage the connections they have made.
Presenters
Chimène Gecewicz, Ed.D.
Dr. Chimène Gecewicz has shared her love of learning, languages, and cultures for over twenty years with a wide variety of students as both a teacher and a program director. In addition to having theoretical knowledge in the areas of anthropology and the teaching of languages, she has practical experience which enriches her approach to education. She has lived in England, conducted fieldwork in Africa, and traveled throughout Europe and Mexico. She has taught ESL in both K12 and university settings, and has been involved in curriculum development, grant writing, scheduling, policy writing, teacher training, and supervision. Chimène feels strongly committed to actively serve her students and colleagues.
Andrea Word, Ed.D.
Dr. Andrea Word has worked in the field of TESOL for over 25 years. Since 2016, she has focused primarily on P-12 teacher training in ESOL within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in UAH's College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences, where she delivers core courses for the M.Ed. ESOL, Alt-MA ESOL, and TESOL Certificate programs. Currently, she also serves as PI and Project Director for Project DIAL, a U.S. Department of Education 2022 National Professional Development grant supporting the preparation of secondary content teachers to work with Multilingual Learners. Her primary research focus is on the design of instructional language to meet the needs of MLs at lower proficiency levels, with an emphasis on analysis and refinement of teacher talk in content classrooms. She also looks at issues of alignment and consistency of languaging across instructional talk and materials.