*ELL Teacher*
By: BHS Staff Profiles
February 23, 2024
Chosen for this week’s Staff Spotlight is Miss Emily McQuiston. This is currently her third year in the Brooklyn City School District. Before working here, Miss McQuiston taught for 10 years at the Ohio Migrant Education Center; she also taught in Costa Rica for two-and-a-half years. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, baking, hiking in the woods, and staying physically active. A fun fact about her is that she lived in three countries and went to South Africa last Summer.
Q: What inspired you to become an ELL instructor?
A: “I love working with English Language Learners. There are very unique challenges. They are very gifted, and they come to us with incredible gifts. They can share it with us. They come to us bilingual. It’s really powerful to see them having this amazing multi-lingual capacity. They just enrich my world. The more I learn about them and their families, their languages, and their culture, the more I love learning about the differences, so we know the ways that we are different and the ways that we are alike. I am always fascinated by how many different languages work.”
Q: How do you build relationships with your students?
A: “I learn as much as I can about them, connect with them as much as I can, and try to be friendly with their families as they are comfortable with me. It helps that I speak Spanish since we have a lot of kids who speak Spanish. Even with the kids when I don’t speak their home language, I just make sure that my space is as welcoming for them and wherever they are. I try to make sure that they are represented in everything by just talking to them and by eating lunch with them when I can.”
Q: How many different languages do you serve?
A: “It’s different every year. I think about 11 in total. Last year, we had Hindi, but we don’t have that this year.”
Q: Describe a good day at school.
A: “A good day is every day here. I am privileged to have a position here to work with such amazing students and staff. Testing: I test a lot. The days when I can be teaching the kids is great.”
Q: Is there a quote or saying that you live by?
A: “Trust in the Lord, every day.”
Q: Describe yourself using three words.
A: “Dedicated, Peaceful, and Caring.”
Q: Have you ever traveled outside of The United States?
A: “Yes, I have. I travel quite a bit. I have lived in Spain and Costa Rica. My first experience out of the U.S. was in France. I also studied in Mexico and Columbia, and went to Uruguay. I traveled to Nicaragua, and I have been to Italy, England, Switzerland, South Africa, Morocco, and Amsterdam. I have been able to travel quite a bit. When I lived in Spain, everything was a train right away or a lot cheaper to get around there.”
Q: What is your favorite cultural tradition?
A: “I like baking and going to see Christmas lights.”
Thank you for taking some time to let us interview you, Miss McQuiston. You have a gift to reach all English Language Learners, and we know that they are grateful for you. Have a great rest of the year, and keep traveling.
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 