OBT Teacher Receives New York Times ESOL Teacher of the Year Award

On March 16th, The New York Times announced that Meg Frost is the winner of the 2010 ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Teacher of the Year Award. Ms. Frost is a lead ESOL teacher at Opportunities for a Better Tomorrow (OBT), a Brooklyn-based provider of education, job training, and employment services for disadvantaged youth and adults. During the selection process, the committee noted her collaborative efforts with civic and volunteer organizations to engage her students, as well as her commitment to furthering their professional development.

Now in its fourth year, the ESOL award program recognizes educators who have consistently excelled in helping adult students learn English and develop the skills they need to create successful new lives in the United States. An awards ceremony and reception was held recently at The New York Times building in Manhattan.

"It's really an honor and very humbling to receive such a distinguished award. But for me, the real reward is working with my wonderful students every day at OBT. They are my inspiration,” said Ms. Frost.
According to OBT’s executive director, Randolph Peers, “In addition to being proud of Meg, who is an exceptional educator, we are proud for our adult literacy programs in general. Since we launched the program in 2007, we have enrolled more than 1,000 students in need of ESOL, GED, and basic literacy classes, primarily in the Bushwick area of Brooklyn.”

Michelle Lopolito, OBT’s director of adult education, submitted Meg’s nomination to The New York Times. “As ESOL Lead Teacher, Ms. Frost has taken leadership in creating innovative curriculum, empowering students, and improving the lives of new Americans”, she said.