51ĀŅĀ×

Education

M.A. TESOL (West Chester University)
B.S. Special Education (Millersville University)
Ph.D. in Higher Education (in progress; 51ĀŅĀ×)

Areas of Professional Interest

Given my educational background and experience in Special Education and ESL, I have done a fair amount of work and study in that cross-section. I am also very interested in ESL materials development, culturally sensitive pedagogy, inter-cultural communication and teacher training.

Et Cetera

I was born and raised in central Pennsylvania. After my undergraduate studies, I moved to an area outside of Philadelphia where I spent 11 years. During that time, I worked for an Intermediate Unit (which is a ā€œhubā€ for all school districts in each county in Pennsylvania), working with teachers and staff of a very diverse, urban, low-income pre-school program. My work with teachers focused mainly on the special education process, but when I began my graduate studies in TESOL, I was able to work on professional development for teachers working with ESL students as well as helping them to discern the difference between ESL and special education support. In addition, I have had the opportunity to teach a class of adult ELLā€™s who were mostly migrant workers from Mexico.

I have been so fortunate to have also had the opportunity to both teach and study internationally. I have studied Spanish in Guatemala and taught English at a University in China.

I love to travel! Some of the places I have visited are France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Holland, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala and China.

I am very excited to teach and learn at OPIE!

Presentations

December 3, 2021 ā€“ ā€œBobcat-Crow Cultural Exchange Lab (51ĀŅĀ× ā€“ HSE University-Perm); Presenters ā€“ Tatiana Permyakova, Marina Sheveleva, Gerard A. Krzic, Rebecca Challenger; HSE LED Conference - Russia

May 11, 2021 ā€“ ā€œThe Bobcat-Crow Cultural Exchange Labā€; Presenters ā€“ Dr. Gerry Krzic and Rebecca Challenger; Virtual Neighbors in Research Conference hosted by the Higher School of Economics (HSE) ā€“ Perm, Russia

April 8, 2021 ā€“ ā€œStrategies for Leading an Engaging Synchronous Classā€; Panelists ā€“ Kyle Butler (51ĀŅĀ×), Aaron Schwartz (51ĀŅĀ×), and Becky Challenger (51ĀŅĀ×); Spotlight on Learning Conference, 51ĀŅĀ×

October 5, 2020 ā€“ ā€œWorld Teacherā€™s Day Webinar ā€“ Teachers: Leading in Crisis, Reimagining the Futureā€; Panelists ā€“ Gerry Krzic (51ĀŅĀ×) and Becky Challenger (51ĀŅĀ×); Virtual Conference held by the General Directorate of Education in Asir Region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

April 9, 2020 ā€“ ā€œMoving ESL Instruction Online: Considerations, Experiences, and Adviceā€; Panelists ā€“ Kayla Landers (Lehigh University), Alison Camacho (Savannah College of Art and Design) and Becky Challenger (51ĀŅĀ×); IELTS USA Webinar

January 23, 2020 ā€“ ā€œEstablishing and Maintaining an Interdisciplinary Short-term Study Abroad Program for Japanese Studentsā€; Presenters ā€“ Dr. Gerry Krzic and Rebecca Challenger; English USA Professional Development Conference ā€“ San Francisco, CA

January 31, 2019 ā€“ ā€œObservations in OPIEā€; Presenter ā€“ Rebecca Challenger; 51ĀŅĀ× TEFL Certificate Candidates (this presentation is provided every Fall and Spring Semester. The most recent presentation date is listed above)

March 28, 2018 ā€“ ā€œ Sustaining Effective Instruction in Combined Level IEP Classesā€; Presenters/Panellists ā€“ Caroline Ideus, Mary Barratt, Colin Anderson, Daria Kadrova, Raymond Smith, and Rebecca Challenger; International TESOL - Chicago

Professional Memberships

TESOL Inc.

NAFSA

English USA (Board member 2019-2022)