In Matthew Tosiello’s third-grade classroom at Randolph Elementary School in South Arlington, Va., only four out of his 19 students are native English speakers.
Most of the other students speak Spanish but some speak Bengali, Amharic, Arabic and Khmer.
Mr. Tosiello, M.Ed. ’08, relishes the opportunity to help these students learn English. A lover of languages, Mr. Tosiello speaks four languages including Spanish, Japanese and French.
“Languages have always captured me,” said Mr. Tosiello. “My favorite part about teaching is getting to work with new students who don’t know English yet. I really enjoy being able to give them the English language instruction they need to be able to thrive in the classroom.”
His passion for teaching and his love for languages earned him the honor of being named Arlington Public Schools 2011 Teacher of the Year.
“Especially now, when criticism of teachers and teacher education seems to have become a national pastime, Matt’s accomplishments are powerful evidence of the promise and prospects for this profession,” said Michael Feuer, dean of GW’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development.
Mr. Tosiello began studying Italian in middle school. In high school, he switched to French and also took Japanese through a community program offered on Saturdays. He received a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and Japanese from Georgetown University. After college, he worked in marketing and public relations. But after seven years, Mr. Tosiello decided to change careers.
Although he had said he would never be a teacher because both of his parents were, he was drawn to the classroom. In 2008, he received a Master of Secondary Education with a concentration in English as a Second Language (ESL) from GSEHD.
“Matt Tosiello was one of the most outstanding students specializing in ESL that we have had in the Secondary Education Program since I began at GW in 1996. Because of his deep commitment to immigrant students learning English, he made good use of the insights, theoretical underpinnings and classroom applications of the courses he took,” said Anna Uhl Chamot, a professor of curriculum and pedagogy in GSEHD. “The end result? An outstanding teacher who well deserves the honor of being named the Teacher of the Year for Arlington Public Schools. We are so proud of Matt!”
To his students at Randolph Elementary, Mr. Tosiello is simply known as “Mr. T.” Inside his classroom, sombreros hang from the ceiling next to American flags, and a SMART Board stands front and center.
“I like to think of myself as unconventional. I’m a dork, and I really like technology,” said Mr. Tosiello.
He tries to incorporate technology into his lessons as much as possible. In addition to the SMART Board, he uses iPads, clickers and laptops to enhance learning.
“It improves student understanding and engagement and is just pure fun for all involved,” he said.
The GSEHD alumnus often uses his extensive knowledge of languages as a teaching tool, or rather an “attention-getting device.”
“Third graders can be a little wiggly and chatty. Sometimes I’ll ring a bell and get their attention, but other times I’ll stop speaking English and start speaking another language they don’t know, usually Japanese.”
Mr. Tosiello said he wants to continue learning languages and plans to study Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese next.
“I’m very motivated to learn,” he said. “If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would spend six months learning new things and spend the other six months talking to people.”
About 75 percent of his students receive specialized ESL services directly from him. When it comes time for parent-teacher conferences, he’s able to communicate to the Spanish speaking parents and gets an interpreter to assist him with the parents who speak other languages.
“The parents know that language is not really a barrier to me no matter what they speak,” he said.
Mary Perez, another Randolph teacher, said Mr. Tosiello is one of the most committed teachers she’s ever worked alongside.
“He is an unwavering advocate for students who are learning English and for their families who must navigate their way through that complicated maze of parent-teacher conferences, meetings, report cards, permission slips and back-to-school nights,” she said.
Earlier this week, Mr. Tosiello had a surprise visit from U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who visited Randolph Elementary on Tuesday in honor of Teacher Appreciation Day. Mr. Tosiello will serve as Arlington’s nominee for the 2011 Virginia Teacher of the Year. Every state competes in the national competition in the spring.
“Matthew is an exceptional, gifted young teacher who has a bright future as an educator,” said Pat Murphy, superintendent of Arlington Public Schools.
In addition to his passion inside the classroom, Mr. Tosiello spends some of his time outside of school helping his students. He asks friends and colleagues to donate any used desktops or laptops and repairs them before giving them to families. He’s also raised money to purchase an indoor and outdoor greenhouse, a worm composter and an experimental garden for the school.
“In his short career, he has demonstrated enthusiasm for teaching and has high expectations for his students. I congratulate Matthew on this well-deserved honor,” said Dr. Murphy.