Stay Connected with NYS TESOL
Membership runs January 1st – January 1st and keeps you part of a statewide professional network supporting educators and multilingual learners.
As a member, you can Connect. Learn. Lead. Advocate.
Members have access to:
Statewide networking opportunities
Conferences, workshops, and webinars (CTLE credit)
Advocacy for multilingual learners
Leadership and committee opportunities
A collective professional voice advancing equity for students and families
- monthly memos with updates, events and issues relevant to the profession
Open to ENL/ESOL teachers, general education teachers, administrators, students, paraprofessionals, and community advocates, your membership strengthens our shared impact.
Questions? Email ask@nystesol.org.
August Member of the Month
NYS TESOL is pleased to announce that
Elaine Ferrara has been selected as Member of the Month for July 2026!
CLICK HERE to read more about Elaine.
Shape Your Profession: Choose Your SIG Today!
We invite you to take an active role in shaping the work of NYS TESOL through both Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Regional networks.
Special Interest Groups
We are currently seeking members interested in participating in and helping to shape NYS TESOL SIGs. If you are passionate about a specific area of TESOL or would like to contribute to a SIG, we would love to hear from you!
Contact the director of special interest groups, Lesley Painter Farrell, at sigs@nystesol.org for more information or to express interest.
NYS TESOL Regions: Think Global, Act Local
Your NYS TESOL Region is a vibrant microcosm of our statewide community. Connect with colleagues, collaborate across contexts, and help shape the future of TESOL across New York State.
If you are interested in joining or helping to shape a Region, please contact Jaileen Vargas at regions@nystesol.org
In this powerful and timely session, Jamie Birchenough, formerly Jamie Cook, shares firsthand insights from the recent events in Sackets Harbor, New York, where a local family’s detention brought national immigration debates into sharp focus for educators and community members. Drawing from lived experience and community engagement, Jamie will explore the intersection of immigration policy, educational access, and the role of educators as advocates.
Before we are teachers or principals, we are neighbors. This keynote is not about one family’s hardship, but about the collective voice of a town that refused to let children stand alone. It asks what becomes possible when schools act as centers of solidarity and belonging — and challenges educators to see themselves not only as professionals, but as civic leaders who safeguard multilingual learners and all students.
For inquiry or further information, please contact ask@nystesol.org
