Building Digital Bridges: Empower Adult Learners with Essential Tech Skills

Johanna Gleason has 30 years' English language teaching experience and currently teaches English to immigrants, refuguees and asylum seekers in San Diego and has presented regularly over the past 3 years at CATESOL, TESOL, OTAN TDLS, and other conferences. Johanna is also the ESL Technology Coordinator in her deparment and is determined to do what she can to help close the digital divide.

Amanda Simons is an English language teacher and an active volunteer and conference presenter with CATESOL and her local San Diego chapter of CATESOL. She was the 2024 San Diego CATESOL Chapter Conference Chair, and she serves as Co-Chair of her departments' Teachers Using Technology Committee. Amanda is passionate about teaching digital literacy skills and doing what she can to build community and support networks for her students, who are newcomers to the United States.

Ryane Willis is an English language teacher at San Diego College of Continuing Education and a multi-media specialist. Ryane believes in creating digital tools that help her students succeed with their English language goals and their adjustment to living in the United States. In addition, Ryane is active on the California English language teaching conference circuit and as a volunteer for CATESOL and for the local San Diego chapter of CATESOL.

Jessica Maguire is an English language teacher with over 19 years' experience. She specializes in teaching beginners, in curriculum development,and in content creation for EL Civics. She teaches in-person, hybrid, HyFlex, and online classes and, throughout her career, has frequently served as a faculty mentor (especially for faculty who would like help developing their technology skills.)