Gwinnett Teacher Honored By Georgia As Exemplary ESOL Instructor

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — An ESOL teacher at a Grayson elementary school has been honored by the Georgia Department of Education for working to help English-language learners and their families.

Alicia Teague, an ESOL teacher at Starling Elementary School, is one of 31 Georgia instructors to be named a 2021 Exemplary ESOL Teacher.

“Mrs. Teague is a lifelong learner who applies what she has learned in her own classroom and willingly shares that learning with her colleagues,” said Jacinta Henry, Teague’s principal at Starling Elementary, in a statement on the Gwinnett County Public Schools website. “She fosters a growth mindset and expects her students to succeed.”

The Department of Education also honored Andres Garcia Covarrubias, a senior at Discovery High School, as a 2021 Exemplary English Learner. He is one of 31 students from around the state honored by the state. All the honorees have a GPA higher than 3.5, are on track to graduate this year and have taken Advanced Placement and Honors courses.

“Andres came to the U.S. with a mission, and he is achieving it all,” said Joan Evans, the ESOL department chair at Discovery High School. “If exemplary had a picture, Andres’ face would be right beside it.”

Read the statement from Gwinnett County Public Schools.