TESL Licensure

Is TESL for you?

Did you know that there are approximately 23 languages spoken in the Marshall school district?

Did you know that Teaching English as a Second Language is one of the fastest growing areas of education?

TESL might be a great choice for you as:

...a teacher seeking quality professional development and/or best practices for teaching English learners.
...a teacher candidate seeking to become highly employable and to meet the needs of all students in today's diverse classrooms.
...a learner as well as a teacher, welcoming the many languages and cultures that your students share with you.

About the program:

• The TESL Licensure Program will prepare you to teach the English learners in your classroom.
• The K-12 TESL Licensure is available in three options:
  • As a bachelor's degree
  • As an additional license to any existing teaching license, at either the undergraduate or graduate level
  • As an emphasis area on a master's degree in education
• The TESL licensure program consists of 8 courses and a practicum experience. They are offered in an online and hybrid format. The total credits needed for the program is 27.
• As a part of the MN Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB) requirements, students will need to take and pass the MTLE for the English as a second language teacher (K-12). Students will also create and present a LiveText portfolio based on the WIDA standards.

Meet the Professors:

Dr. Sarah Huseby
Dr. Huseby is a SMSU Assistant Professor of Education and has MN licensures in K-12 Spanish, K-12 ESL, and K-12 Reading. Dr. Huseby also completed her Teaching English as a Foreign Language Certificate and Teaching English as a Foreign Language Business Certificate through TEFL International.

Dr. Sonya Vierstraete
Dr. Vierstraete is the SMSU School of Education Chairperson and a Professor of Education. Dr. Vierstraete holds MN licensures in K-12 ESL, K-12 Reading Specialist, K-12 Ed Administration – Principal & Superintendent, K-6 ELED, and 7-12 Coaching. Dr. V. completed her TeachingWorks Practice-Based Teacher Education fellowship through the University of Michigan and LETRS – Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling training through the Minnesota Department of Education.

Molly Scheidt
Graduated from SDSU in 2010 with a BS in Food and Nutritional Science and 2012 with a BS in Family and Consumer Sciences Education. She graduated from SMSU in 2016 with a Master of Science in Education with an emphasis in Teaching English as a Second Language. Molly currently holds Minnesota Licensure in 5-12 FACS, K-12 ESL, and K-12 Principal. She is currently working on her Doctor of Education from MSU - Moorhead.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Sonya Vierstraete
507-537-7254
Sonya.Vierstraete@smsu.edu