Honor & Support: Cathy & ESOL

An Invitation to Honor a Dedicated Teacher & Support ESOL Education 

~Shining light on the gifts of the late Cathy (Moon) Waddington~

~7 billion people in the world
~0.4 billion native English speakers
~1.5 billion non-native English speakers
…some of the lucky ones
were students of Cathy Waddington,
teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).

Cathy was a beloved mother of three, wife, daughter, sister, friend, and a dedicated & award winning teacher to adults learning English. News of her passing inspired the title of my painting, “Many Moons” (blog post: The Bright Light of Many Moons) and your many touching responses to that inspired me to make this pledge:

Throughout 2013 a portion of the proceeds from sales of limited edition prints of ”Many Moons“ will go to the
“Cathy Waddington Memorial Fund – ESOL Program, North Suburban YMCA”. 
I will donate 100% of proceeds from purchases made Jan. 29-31, 2013
& 30% of proceeds during the rest of 2013!
Print prices range from $40 to $520.

For how to order a print click ManyMoonsPrintOrderInfo (or keep reading below), but first learn more about this dedicated, inspirational teacher who passed away all too soon in December 2012. Get a glimpse of Cathy and how she lived her life here:
***Catherine Elisabeth (Moon) Waddington, 1963-2012***
and learn about her award winning teaching at the International Learning Center – Woburn ESOL Program here:
***EOSL instructor wins Outstanding Teacher Award***

Many Moons from the Light Laughter Series by Alison Shull is now available in small to large size limited edition prints at http://www.alisonshull.com or email info@alisonshull.com

These articles, like the painting Many Moons, offer just a glimpse into Cathy’s vibrant energy and love. Read them and I hope you’ll feel as honored as I do to have known Cathy and/or now know of her meaningful work.

I invite you to purchase art for yourself or as a gift, and in doing so know you are honoring the memory of a special teacher and supporting a worthy program that really does help people help themselves in some of the most basic, yet vital,ways.

Quoting from Cathy’s acceptance speech upon receiving the 2010 Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award:

“I just want to end with a phrase I teach my students: 
Thank you.”

Print choices and ordering details are here:  ManyMoonsPrintOrderInfo and given with a few tips & more images below:

You have two print styles to choose from:

View larger images at my on-line gallery: Many Moons and Many Moons with Collaged Black Border . Look at the high resolution of detail in this close-up image of a gallery wrapped canvas print. Yes it very closely resembles the original painting!

Print types, sizes and prices are:

The gallery wrapped canvas with white wrap edges has the image printed only on the face of the canvas and the 1.5″ thick wrap edges are white.
The collaged black border wraps around the 1.5″ thick edge of a gallery wrapped canvas print like this:

Tips: If you want a print that most closely resembles the original painting and comes ready to hang (no glass or frame required), choose a gallery wrapped canvas print. Prefer the look of a traditional flat paper print and already have a frame, or prefer matting and framing yourself? Then you should consider a small print on luster paper or a larger print on fine art paper. The smallest (and lowest priced) print (on luster paper) will fit into an off-the-shelf 8×10 or larger frame commonly available in retail stores.

Note: Standard delivery usually takes ~3 weeks or less once full payment is received. Prices include shipping in USA. Payment must be received in full prior to shipping.

Orders can be placed on-line at http://www.alisonshull.com or by email to customerservice@alisonshull.com Click here for a printable one page summary sheet on how to place an order:

ManyMoonsPrintOrderInfo

Have questions? Check out these FAQs or email info@alisonshull.com

Make a direct donation: Whether or not you purchase a print, I encourage you to make a direct donation to the program. Donate on-line here or mail in this form: CathyWaddingtonMemorialFund_DonationForm (remember to specify “Cathy Waddington Memorial Fund” on your check) to:

The Cathy Waddington Memorial Fund for the International Learning Center
℅ Jodi Crowley, Member Relations Director
YMCA of Greater Boston – North Suburban Branch
137 Lexington Street
Woburn, MA 01801
Contact Jodi with any questions regarding direct donations: tel. 781-305-2908; jcrowley@ymcaboston.org

Thanks for reading this far! I’ll wrap up with this article about Cathy and the ESOL Program (just in case you missed clicking & reading it earlier):

*EOSL instructor wins Outstanding Teacher Award – Woburn, MA – Woburn Advocate

From GateHouse News Service Nov. 26, 210

When people from other countries settle in the United States – often having faced extraordinary hardship in their native lands – they arrive in need of learning English language skills but also so much more.

They need to learn U.S. customs and courtesies, the basics of how to get around in their adopted country, how to advocate for themselves to find jobs and how to make friends.

Cathy Waddington, curriculum coordinator for the YMCA International Learning Center in Woburn, has been one of the people who have helped them in those pursuits.

For her work as a teacher of beginner English for Speakers of Other Languages (EOSL) for more than 20 years, she has been named this year’s recipient of the Massachusetts Coalition for Adult Education’s (MCAE) Outstanding Teacher Award.

“I consider it a great privilege to recognize Cathy for her outstanding contributions to adult basic education and for going above and beyond what is asked of her,” said Kenneth Tamarkin, MCAE’s executive director. “Adult basic education creates a pathway to success, leading people to better jobs, higher education and civic participation.”

Elaine Dougherty, director of the International Learning Center, said Waddington “gives her students the necessary tools to become lifelong learners.”

“Her students learn study skills, organizational skills, and self-advocacy,” Dougherty added.  “She facilitates real-life experiences that encourage students to participate in community life. Her students gain confidence while increasing their English language skills.  Even after leaving the class, students often come back for advice or support.”

Waddington has been challenged over the last few years both professionally and personally.  She has led curriculum development while at the same time battling cancer, undergoing several surgeries and receiving chemotherapy every other week for nearly a year.

“Throughout adversity she tirelessly teaches, works with curriculum and supports other staff members, in particular a new staff member to whom Cathy is a mentor,” said Dougherty.  ”She is an inspiration for all of us.”

But Waddington said it her students who inspire.

“They also often face overwhelming obstacles in their lives,” she said.  “Many work more than one job, are far from family, and yet they manage to come to English classes cheerful and ready to learn.”

MCAE officials said Waddington has led the collaborative effort to develop an authentic curriculum at the International Learning Center and that her enthusiasm and expertise have been essential to the project.  Waddington is adept at recognizing the strengths of individual teachers, soliciting their input, and incorporating their perspectives, the said.  As a result, the YMCA Learning Center curriculum has evolved into a model for the field.

MCAE is the statewide organization for practitioners, adult students, individuals and organizations supporting equal educational opportunities for all adults. The group annually honors outstanding students, businesses and practitioners in adult education at the Network conference in the fall.

Alison Shull is a visual artist who once upon a time faced adventurous challenges as a non-native speaker in a foreign land. She thinks Cathy’s students would agree that: “A picture is worth a thousand words…and a thoughtful language teacher is worth a thousand words, plus a whole lot more beyond words.” For more pictures browse Shull’s on-line art gallery: http://alisonshull.com. For more pictures with words sign-up for email notification of new blog posts here (click that “Follow” button up top) or “Like” her Facebook Page: AlisonShull-Art. 

Tags: abstract painting, Art, Cathy Waddington Memorial Fund, ESL teacher, inspiration from others, paintings