English as a Second Language (5-12)

Meg is a faculty member in the graduate TESOL and Bilingual Education programs at Lesley. Her teaching and research focus on equipping teachers to create equitable learning environments for multilingual students, particularly in early childhood and elementary settings. Her research examines various aspects of Dual Language schools, including the roles of race and culture in Dual Language programs, the use of multilingual texts, and specific strategies to support Spanish-English biliteracy development.

In her teaching, Meg emphasizes the importance of multilingual, interactive approaches to literacy teaching in both English-medium classrooms and bilingual classrooms. Meg teaches courses in first and second language acquisition, early language and literacy development, sheltered English instruction, culturally responsive pedagogy, family and community engagement, and qualitative research methods.

Meg is a past president and board member of the Multistate Association for Bilingual Education, Northeast (MABE) and serves on the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's English Learner and Bilingual Advisory Council.

Susan joined the Lesley faculty in 2010. Having been described as an "unapologetic evangelical for the cause of technology in schools," her focus remains on working with classroom teachers on appropriate technology integration.

Susan started her professional career as a middle and high school teacher of history and economics. She lived and worked abroad for 10 years in Israel, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic. 

Susan weighs in on ways to prevent bullying in schools.

Laura Schall-Leckrone teaches in and leads the graduate Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Bilingual Education (TESOL/BE) programs at Lesley. Prior to completing her doctorate, she worked for seventeen years as a bilingual teacher, Spanish teacher, and K-12 curriculum director in city and suburban public schools. Her scholarship and collaborative work in teacher education and educational linguistics seek to bridge knowledge production in K-12 schools and higher education to improve learning opportunities for multilingual learners.

Her research includes a focus on equipping history teachers to teach critical literacies; practitioner research in TESOL and bilingual teacher preparation; and a linguistic ethnography of a K-6 multilingual school in a gateway community.

Along with recent graduates of the masters’ in TESOL and Bilingual Education program, Laura recently received a President’s Innovation Challenge grant to support the creation of a Bilingual Educator Leadership Network (BELN). Read more about the BELN collaborative

Laura also was one of the speakers at the annual 2021 June Fox Lecture focused on Inquiry in Educational Equity with colleagues Grace Enriquez and Nettrice Gaskins. Read more about this event.

Tara Tuck teaches in the language and literacy programs at Lesley.

I have a rather varied background in education, beginning with earning a B.S. in Education from Lesley College (long before it was a university). After teaching first and fifth grade, I earned a M.S. in Speech and Language Pathology from Boston University. As an SLP I started one of the first self-contained special education classrooms for students with severe language disorders. Wanting to help teachers work with these special students in general education classrooms led me to continue as an SLP specializing in inclusion, working in the public schools, presenting workshops for teachers, and teaching at Lesley (on campus and around the country).

I also earned a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Administration, Planning and Social Policy at Harvard, and shortly thereafter moved to Florida to thaw out and continue as a District Inclusion Specialist. I now devote my time to teaching for Lesley and getting the word out about my book, The Joy of Language: The Guide to Language and Learning for Parents and Caregivers. It is my passion to inspire parents and teachers to empower children with the communication skills necessary to become lifelong learners and to make a real difference in the world. We (parents, teachers and children) are all teachers and all learners.

Tara's Joy of Language Facebook page.

As Associate Director for Academic Advising and Student Services in the Coordinated Student Success department, Maude provides academic advisement to Graduate School of Education elementary, ESL and bilingual, and reading specialist students. She serves as liaison between students and university support offices, including the Registrar, Financial Aid, and Student Accounts. In collaboration with the department chair, program directors, and faculty, Maude supports student retention through tracking of academic enrollment, academic progress, and timely completion of program requirements.

Prior to joining Lesley University, Maude worked at Northeastern University in Boston, MA, in the areas of academic advising and administrative services for over 20 years within different schools/departments including the President’s Office, the School of Law, and the Graduate School of Business Administration. Maude’s passion for seeing others succeed extends to her volunteer work with high school students in youth ministry at her local church, encouraging social, spiritual, and academic development through coordination and delivery of presentations and workshops during the school year, and at annual retreat and conferences during summer vacation. She serves on her church Scholarship committee responsible for reviewing high school graduates application for financial award and annual recognition for academic success and pursuit of higher education.

Maude is a member of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).

Education:  Northeastern University, Boston MA; BA, Sociology/Anthropology; M.Ed., Higher Education Administration with concentration in College Student Development and Counseling  

Honors and Awards:

• Northeastern University: Sigma Epsilon Rho Honor Society
• Northeastern University:  Phi Beta Delta, Honor Society for International Students
• Tabernacle Congregation: Mother of the Year Award (2015)

Presentations

• March 2016: “An Advising Team Greater than the Sum of Its Parts”  A presentation by Lesley University Academic Advising Team at NACADA East Region Conference. March 2016, Maine MA.
• 2000-2018: “Preparing for College” Annual presentation to high school students and parents on the importance of maintaining academic progress through senior year, understanding the admissions process, financial aid award, and the different ways to save for college. Tabernacle Congregation, Youth Ministry.  September 2000-present, Boston, MA.
• 2013-2018: “Strategies for Surviving First Year of College” Annual presentation to first year college students on tips for maintaining academic success, physical, social and spiritual health on college campuses. Tabernacle Congregation, Young Adult Ministry. January 2013-2017, Boston, MA.
• 2011: “Teamwork in Rebuilding the Wall” A presentation encouraging teamwork among women while facing challenges for building, restoring, and fulfilling family, fellowship, ministerial and professional responsibilities. Tabernacle Congregation, Women Ministry conference. September 2011, Boston, MA.