Education All-Stars: Miriam Soto Pressley keeps giving through ESOL
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ESOL learning has evolved through the years, making for more effective teaching methods for students who are learning English as a second language. Miriam Soto Pressley is giving back to ESOL students the same way the program taught her when she was a child. (Shutterstock)
In many ways, its never been a better time to be an ELL student in America–with student-friendly immersion programs and comprehensive curriculum becoming more prevalent. This was not the case for most ELL students growing up in the 60s; however, in discussing her experience as an 8-year-old Spanish-speaking girl, Miriam Soto Pressley said she ended up in the perfect and caring environment of Lincoln Elementary School, where she received instruction to learn English and advance as a student.
My parents are from Puerto Rico, said Pressley, a teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, the very same school she attended as a young ELL student. They first moved to New York, then to East Chicago and finally Hammond, Ind. My parents were the kind of people that really encouraged me. They were all about diversity.
My neighborhood was all Polish when we moved here. So, I learned Polish. The Polish community embraced me and the teachers here, none of them spoke Spanish but they were so loving and nurturing and culturally aware that I learned something from each one of them.
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Facing prejudice in the U.S.
Pressley said she wasnt immune to prejudice, something she experienced daily as a high school Latina. Looking back at the juxtaposition of her educational experiences, Pressley said the difference in her mind is her high school teachers didnt have the same amount of nurturing and awareness as her elementary teachers.
Thats why today Pressley is back at Lincoln Elementary School, continuing the tradition of providing the same loving care and instruction she experienced decades ago. Working as a sheltered teacher, Pressley teaches 21 students covering five grades 1st through 5th in the same contained setting all day long. The idea is to develop English language proficiency while allowing access to grade-level content.
As I walk down the halls of the school of where I teach today, I can remember different things that all my teachers taught me when I was a little girl here, Pressley said. I see the portraits of my old principals. The children I teach today, they all know who my principals are.
Ensuring those children and all of her students over the decades didnt fall through the cracks is why Pressley said she became involved in the school district.
Miriam Soto Pressley is a product of the ESOL system. She’s now a star educator teaching English to children. (Photo: Lincoln Elementary School)
I make sure that teachers know everybodys face at junior and high school, Pressley said. Im a diversity committee member for our school district. That was one of the big reasons I took on the role of becoming an ELL cadre member for the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), because I wanted to make sure nationally I could help as many children across the country in whatever little way I could.
Work on Common Core for ELL students
Pressley is also helping future ELL students. A few years ago she was asked by AFT and the National Governors Association to help edit and review Common Core Standards.
I think the Common Core Standards are very good, Pressley said. There were 12 teachers from across the country on the committee that helped edit and revise Common Core Standards. We were all very cognizant ELL teachers that had input in this. We all tried to address needs of all ELL students and special education students and gifted-talented as well.
In a nutshell, Pressley said, despite the pushback against the Common Core Standards, she still believes in the reform simply because it provides continuity to all students throughout the country.
As far as her ELL students back in Hammond, Pressleys story alone empowers them to reach for their dreams.
They feel inspired because I was a student here, Pressley said. They think its cool they can walk down the street and look at my flower garden. They think its neat I went to the same high school theyll go to and that we attend the same church.
She added, Id like to think Im a very good role model.
