English as a Second Language teacher for 1st and 4th grade Baltimore County Public Schools in Halethorpe, MD
Keyword: Art Everywhere, Marvels in Nature
My name is Bridget Jordan, and I am currently an ESOL teacher for Baltimore County Public Schools in Halethorpe, Maryland. Since earning my Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2017, I’ve been working with 1st and 4th graders, many of whom are newcomers from Central America and Mexico. Every day, I’m reminded of how much my students bring to the classroom, and I’m constantly inspired by their resilience, curiosity, and cultural richness.
Read more about Bridget
Learning has always been a passion of mine, driving both my personal and professional journey. Whether it’s taking courses like Spanish for Educators or learning Sign Language, I’m always looking for tools to equip my language learners to succeed. In 2023, earning National Board Certification was a significant milestone in my career. Outside the classroom, I work as a curriculum writer, mentor teacher, and New Educator Orientation facilitator as I strive to make an impact on the students and families I serve. My continuous pursuit of growth led me to apply for the 2024 Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad.
My background experiences equipped me to take part in the Fulbright-Hays Program. I spent a summer in Cochabamba, Bolivia where I taught elementary and high school English classes. I also led a seminar for Bolivian English instructors about American teaching practices as well as writing workshops for bilingual college students. I stayed with a wonderful host family, who I still stay in contact with today. After my time in Bolivia, I taught English at a summer camp and stayed with a host family of amateur beekeepers in Bergamo, Italy. I ended up learning how to harvest honey while immersing myself in the local culture and picking up Italian through transferring my Spanish skills.
While in Peru, I gathered resources and knowledge that have helped my ESOL students understand another part of the world where their language is spoken but where the living experiences are vastly different. The immersive experience significantly improved my Spanish language proficiency, allowing me to connect more effectively with my students’ Spanish-speaking families. I now feel so much more at ease using Spanish in informal settings with parents and code-switch all the time while teaching!
When I’m not teaching ESOL, I love to figure skate and dance, especially salsa and bachata. As I look ahead, my goal is to continue supporting my students, their families, and my colleagues. I want to continue growing in my ability to help others, whether that’s through creating more bilingual resources, teaching ESOL strategies to other educators, or just building meaningful connections with the families I serve. One of my deepest commitments is to build strong bridges between school and home. Watching our multilingual families feel empowered in supporting their children is one of the most rewarding parts of my work, and I hope to nurture that empowerment in years to come.