ACS’ Brent Byars recognized with Friend of ESOL Award
Published 4:59 pm Monday, January 27, 2025
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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor
ALABASTER – Alabaster City Schools’ Brent Byars was recently recognized as the inaugural recipient of the Alabama-Mississippi Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Friend of ESOL Award.
Byars serves as the federal programs supervisor and district test coordinator for Alabaster City Schools and received the award during a special ceremony on Jan. 17 in Montgomery.
“Receiving the inaugural AMTESOL Friend of ESOL Award is an incredible honor,” Byars said. “I am truly humbled by this recognition because I was nominated for it by my colleagues. This award reflects the collective effort of our EL team in Alabaster City Schools and our school system’s commitment to supporting multilingual learners. It’s a privilege to be part of this work, and the award affirms the importance of fostering equitable opportunities for all students.”
According to AMTESOL, the Friend of ESOL Award honors one person from Alabama and one Mississippi who has taken a special interest in and action toward meeting the needs of multilingual students and their families and supporting the goals of the local English for speakers of other languages program. Byars said ESOL programs are critical for creating pathways to success for multilingual students.
“These programs go beyond teaching English; they build bridges for students to access the full spectrum of educational opportunities while maintaining pride in their cultural identities,” Byars said. “ESOL programs are foundational in education, ensuring that language is not a barrier but a resource for growth. They also play a significant role in fostering empathy and awareness among all students by celebrating linguistic and cultural diversity.”
According to Byars, Alabaster City Schools takes a holistic approach in supporting the system’s multilingual students and families.
“We provide targeted instructional support to meet students’ language acquisition needs while integrating them into the broader curriculum,” Byars said.
That instructional support system is vital for the Alabaster City Schools school system which has seen its English language learner population more than double since it was formed in 2013.
ACS hosts EL teacher PLC meetings quarterly in order to ensure its English language teachers have a chance to team with each other in an effort to grow and learn together. Byars said ACS also offers professional development opportunities for teachers to ensure they have the necessary tools to create inclusive and effective learning environments.
Outside of the classroom, the school system also aims to prioritize family engagement through its EMPOWER EL Summer Camp which offers translation services and spaces for parents in the hopes that they feel connected and informed about their child’s education.
“Our goal is to foster a sense of belonging and partnership with every family and make sure they have the tools necessary to help their child be successful,” Byars said.
Byars emphasized that the success of the school system’s ESL programs is a collaborative effort and one that involves not only the work of educators and administrators but also the support of families and community organizations.
“I am so thankful to work with a superintendent like Dr. (Wayne) Vickers and educators who embrace the diversity and cultures in our community,” Byars said. “In ACS we say that, ‘We teach all students well’ and in doing this we all grow stronger together. I also want to say, Thank you’ to AMTESOL for this recognition and for championing the work of empowering multilingual learners.”
Those interested in learning more about programs and offerings at Alabaster City Schools may visit Acsboe.org or its official Facebook page at Facebook.com/AlabasterCitySchools.