Finding her voice, lifting others: Karle Wells’s path to ESL teacher

When Karle Wells first contacted the University of Richmond’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies (SPCS), she was an instructional assistant wondering if the dream of becoming a teacher was still within reach. That conversation, she recalls, shifted her trajectory.

“One day after work I stepped out on faith and decided to take a chance and call the office of SPCS,” she wrote. The staff member who answered, Dr. Julia Burke, offered a challenge: “Hey Karle, why don’t you just apply to SPCS and see what happens?”

Wells enrolled in the Teacher Licensure Preparation program in Summer 2018, completed her Graduate Certificate in Teacher Licensure in December 2021, and returned in Spring 2022 to pursue the Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction, graduating in Spring 2023.

Today she teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) at Cardinal Elementary School in Richmond City Public Schools. She also serves as the SPCS school-based partner for the ESL tutoring program, hosting University of Richmond undergraduates who support multilingual learners and explore pathways into ESL teaching.

She chose the University for its reputation among local educators. As an instructional assistant, she observed University of Richmond-trained educators in action: “These were amazing teachers who inspired their students, parents and colleagues.”

SPCS provided structure, mentorship and a community committed to her success. “When you experience the web of educators that are dedicated to making sure that you are successful as a student at SPCS, the choice is easy,” she noted, citing outreach from Dr. Tricia Stor-Hunt and the steady guidance of her advisor, Dr. Allison Brenning. She remarked that Brenning “held me accountable academically, didn’t allow me to hide, but also encouraged me on a personal level.”

Coursework in the M.Ed. program connected theory with practice and pushed Wells to see learning from her students’ perspectives. In Dr. Laura Kuti’s Diverse Learners course, she accepted an assignment that placed her as a novice in a new setting. “Because of that one assignment, I went salsa dancing and danced the night away!” Wells joyfully recalled. “I didn’t even recognize myself. That’s transformative!” That experience now informs how she crafts inclusive, engaging experiences for multilingual learners.

The journey was not without hardship. During her program, Wells lost her father. “A huge part of me wanted to give up,” she shared. The compassion of SPCS faculty — she remembers Dr. Tammy Milby and Dr. Christina Saunders sending a slideshow of artwork from a student she tutored — helped her persevere alongside the support of her family.

Since graduating, Wells brings to her classroom the theories that SPCS helped her practice: Communication, reflection and collaboration. “What I have learned about myself since graduating is that sometimes your superpower is asking for help and opening up a little bit.” She also carries forward a belief shaped by her professors: Giving students a second chance and a voice.

Looking ahead, Wells aims to deepen her impact with multilingual learners, continue mentoring University of Richmond tutors and “ultimately… author children’s books.” For her, the University of Richmond’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies provided not only licensure and a master’s degree, but also a professional identity anchored in empathy, high expectations and community.