Michelle Duval (Program Director) Michelle has been working with adult ESOL learners since 1998, and has worked with schools in both Italy and the United States. She taught the Advanced level at GPA for four years until becoming the program’s Director in 2008. She feels privileged to work with such dedicated and enthusiastic students.

Deborah Goldberg McCarthy (Teacher Coach) Deb has been with the Gardner Adult Ed program since she first became a certified ESOL Instructor in 2005 and she loves this program and its students. Deb has taught many of the levels at GPA and has also been the Academic Coach and a substitute teacher here. She has taught ESL in both private and public schools and also works as a licensed social worker. She enjoys hiking, nature, and spending time with her husband and their six pets.

Susan Alport (Substitute Teacher, High Intermediate) This is Susan’s first year teaching ESOL at GPA, but not her first year of teaching. Before joining the GPA staff, Susan worked as both a middle school ESL teacher, a public-school Writing Center director, and as a private English and ESL tutor to children – adults. She welcomes this new opportunity to work with students from many different backgrounds and experiences and hopes her teaching will help each move closer to achieving their goals. Seeing students of any age grow in confidence, independence, and pride as they gain English language mastery motivates and inspires what she does. Besides language, Susan loves art, poetry, being outdoors in all seasons, and spending Sundays visiting family and friends.

Taylor Coggeshall (Teacher, Survival Literacy) Hi my name is Taylor. I was born and raised in Sacramento, California. I have lived in four other states since I was eighteen. I went to Oregon for college, after college I moved to Idaho for a short period of time, and before moving to Boston I lived in Georgia for three years. I have a dog named Shadow who has moved cross country with me. He is a German Shepherd and keeps me very busy. I love food, so I enjoy cooking new types of food and trying new restaurants all over Boston. I also enjoy hiking, reading, and finding fun events in Boston to attend. I became a teacher because I love helping people reach their potential. I love working with people and one of the greatest joys of being a teacher is seeing my students learn and retain that knowledge to become better English users. I also love seeing the community they build within the classroom and how they help each other along the way. One of my favorite parts of my job is getting to know my students and their amazing lives here and back home. I love the sharing of culture and languages within the classroom.

Nick Herbert (Substitute Teacher) I grew up in a small town not far from Boston. I began teaching ESOL in Thailand in 2013 and quickly found the joy of connecting and inspiring students to overcome challenges. My journey has brought me back to Boston where I continue to learn from and be inspired by my students while helping them build their language skills. ‘My goal is to empower students with tools for self-directed learning and build resilience when facing challenges while having a bit of fun. I enjoy travel, photography, cycling, as well as playing and designing board games. 

Sarah Lynn (Professional Development Facilitator) I started teaching in 1985 as a literacy volunteer in an ESOL program for refugees in New York City. Immediately I knew I had found my calling and enrolled in Master’s program in TESOL. Since then I have taught ESOL and literacy in Spain and the Boston area. Along with teaching I’ve written ESOL textbooks and trained teachers in the U.S. and Latin America. In recent years I’ve been collaborating with the Gardener Pilot Academy team on their “Learning and the Brain” initiative. Now, I am delighted to say, I am also teaching their Basic Beginning ESOL class.

Tyler O’Keefe (Substitute Teacher ) I decided to become a teacher after being inspired by the fantastic teachers I’ve had throughout my life. I started my own teaching career in 2017 at a language school in Boston. After gaining some experience there, I moved to Busan, South Korea, where I taught (and learned from) middle schoolers for four years. These days, I’m lucky to be teaching (and still learning) right here at GPA! At the same time, I’m also working as a substitute teacher at a middle school in Cambridge. In my spare time, I love playing video games, exercising, and studying Korean.

Erica Peterson (Teacher, Advanced) Erica has been working with the Gardner Pilot Academy since 2011, where she started as a volunteer. She has worked in the ESOL field with adult immigrants and refugees for the past decade, after graduating university with a degree in cultural anthropology and Spanish. In addition to working with adult immigrants in the Boston area, she also works with newly arrived refugees to the North Shore area, helping to facilitate the management of their new lives in the US as well as progressing their English skills towards greater independence and work acquisition. Her passion is serving communities and providing pathways and access to greater opportunities, whether that be language instruction, skill development or translation services. At the Gardner, she currently teaches the advanced level.

Dorrie Pizzella (Teacher, Low Intermediate) Dorrie Pizzella began working at GPA in September 2018 as a volunteer tutor through Boston Cares. “GPA is such a special place. I really enjoyed working with all the amazing students, teachers and staff. Tutoring also gave me an opportunity to honor my own Italian immigrant grandparents by helping a new generation of Bostonians learn English.” This year Dorrie joined the GPA as a full-time teacher. She currently teaches the Low Intermediate English Level. Dorrie enjoys cooking, running and gardening. She has a Masters degree from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and received her ESL certification in 2017.

Mauricio Rosas (Teacher, Beginner) Mauricio taught for ten years at the YMCA in Boston and this is his second year teaching at GPA! Mauricio grew up in Allston and wanted to give back to the community, he truly enjoys working with the students and staff! Mauricio works full time for the Boston Red Sox, and enjoys watching sports, and spending time with family.

Ericka Scott (Teacher, Basic Beginner) Hi! My name is Ericka. I am from California, but I have lived in Boston since 2012. I have a bachelor’s degree in social work. I realized early on that being a social worker was not a good fit, but I knew that I loved working and talking with people. I realized that I loved learning about different cultures and meeting people from different countries, and I wanted to incorporate these things into work. I decided then that I wanted to teach English and work with people from around the globe. I love being active: biking, swimming, and traveling. I enjoy reading and sewing as well.

Marie Manna (Substitute Teacher) In my work as a labor union organizer, my goal is to give people the tools and confidence to accomplish their goals. In 2011, I decided I wanted to explore other ways to do this and happily, I got my ESL certification and began teaching.  I really enjoy working with students of all ages and backgrounds who have the motivation to take on the challenge of learning English.  I taught students through the Local 26 Unite hotel workers union training programs for several years.  I’m happy to have to the opportunity to be part of the GPA Program and continue working with students who want to grow and learn so they can accomplish their goals for themselves and their families.

Deborah Picard (Substitute Teacher and BEST Plus Administrator) Deborah is now in her second year of teaching ESOL at GPA. She has taught conversational English in the Boston area since 2008 and is currently teaching the Basic Beginner class at Gardner.

Ben Bott (Teacher, Basic Beginner) Benjamin Bott is working as a long-term sub who started in 2024, and he loves Gardner Pilot Academy. Benjamin has been teaching ESL for 20 years, and loves meeting people from all over the world and learning about different cultures and trying new food too! In his spare time, Benjamin is a musician and a nonfiction writer.

Jill Orenstein (Teacher, High Intermediate) Jill has been working with the Gardner Pilot Academy since January 2024 where she started as a teacher. In 2002, she became ESOL certified before pursuing graduate studies abroad that led to a rewarding 20-year career. Jill returned to ESOL teaching through a volunteer opportunity. Witnessing the resilience and determination of the students was a reminder of the rewards of working with adult English immigrants rebuilding their lives in the US. As a life-long language learner, it gives her immense joy to guide others on their journey by sharing language skills with them.