Kean University Associate Provost Laura Baecher, Ed.D., Advances English Language Teaching in Ecuador through U.S. State Department Program

Laura Baecher, Ed.D., associate provost for faculty development at Kean University, recently completed a prestigious assignment with the U.S. Department of State’s English Language Specialist Program. Through the initiative, she collaborated with the U.S. Embassy in Quito and the Regional English Language Office (RELO) on Ecuador Habla Inglés, a multi-year effort to strengthen the instructional skills of thousands of Ecuadorian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. 

Baecher’s work focused on classroom observation and reflective teaching practices. Facilitators engaged in lesson study and video analysis of their own instruction, a dual model that empowered teachers to take ownership of their pedagogy while cultivating a culture of professional reflection and growth.  

The project recently culminated in a virtual national conference, co-organized by the Ecuadorian Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (EcuaTESOL) and three major Ecuadorian universities. Baecher served as the keynote speaker at the event, which brought together more than 600 educators to explore ways to strengthen EFL teaching methodologies across Ecuador. 

“It was a true privilege to connect Kean University with such passionate educators in Ecuador,” Baecher said. “The experience illuminated our shared values of educational equity, professional collaboration and global engagement.” 

Several Kean and Wenzhou-Kean University (WKU) faculty members joined Baecher in delivering opening presentations at the conference, highlighting Kean’s mission to foster global research and public impact. The Kean delegation included Gail Verdi, Ph.D., Madji Fall, Ph.D., Mark Smith, Ph.D., Elizabeth Reddington, Ed.D., and Alfredo Oquendo, a 2012 Kean graduate and Ecuadorian native currently teaching at WKU. Oquendo participated from China in the middle of the night, reflecting the global reach and shared dedication of the initiative. 

Their collective contributions contributed to an impactful professional development experience. The collaboration also sparked interest among Ecuadorian institutions in exploring future academic partnerships with Kean University. 

“This experience also built an unexpected bridge to the large Ecuadorian community right here in New Jersey,” said Baecher. “It reminded me that language education, at its best, is a force of empowerment and connection between communities, cultures and continents.” 

The English Language Specialist Program, administered by the Center for Intercultural Education and Development at Georgetown University, connects TESOL professionals in the United States with communities around the world to support English instruction, share expertise and strengthen educational practices through collaboration. Since its launch in 1991, the program has supported hundreds of virtual and hybrid projects in more than 80 countries. The Ecuador Habla Inglés project supported the U.S. Department of State’s goals by promoting mutual understanding and offering insights into American approaches to teacher development, such as video-based reflection and peer-led inquiry.  

"Dr. Baecher’s selection for this program is a strong testament to her standing in the field and the deep respect that she commands from her colleagues around the world," said Kean Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs David Birdsell, Ph.D. "Along with many other members of the faculty in locations across the globe, her work showcases Kean’s growing international footprint, which very much involves thoughtful partnerships with scholars and practitioners across different sectors of the economy and with educational institutions at every level." 

Baecher’s participation places her among a highly selective cohort of TESOL experts contributing to sustainable educational change through U.S. State Department-sponsored efforts.