My name is Joseph Sarpong. I am employed by Decatur County Schools, here in Bainbridge, Georgia as the middle grades (6-8) English for Speaker of Other Languages (ESOL) Teacher. It is my ninth-year teaching in ESOL. I have 11 years of teaching experience and two years as a paraprofessional at the elementary level. I have also served as Bainbridge High School Boys and Girls Junior Varsity Soccer Coach and Girls Varsity Assistant Coach. I have an M. Ed.in ESL and Bilingual Education from the American College of Education in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Albany State University. In addition, I hold an ESOL Endorsement and an Associate of Arts in Early Childhood Education, and an Associate of Applied Science in Automotive Technology Degrees from ABAC in Bainbridge, Georgia. Before becoming an educator, I worked for American Fibers & Yarns (Amoco Fabrics) Bainbridge plant for ten years as yarn operator/instructor till its closure in 2008.
Student diversity impacts teaching and learning at Bainbridge Middle School in many ways. Thus, every student is different and unique in their way. I believe every student can learn but learn differently because of diversity; therefore, I trust my multilingual and international (ex. Ghana, The Gambia, Senegal, Belize, Canada, Amsterdam, France) backgrounds, it allows me to welcome the wealth of information and the distinctive academic, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds that my scholars bring to my classroom this year. I think I am truly blessed to have students from different countries and cultures in my classroom.