Glenda Caldwell is the ESL Specialist at the St. James ESL Program. She came to the Program in October, 2000, having worked in education since 1980.  A new arrival to Seattle in 2000, Glenda had just returned to the U.S. following 15 years of living and working in the Middle East (Yemen and Jordan) as an ESL teacher, Academic Coordinator, Teacher trainer, and Program Director. Upon completing her studies for an MA Degree in Language Studies, a dual concentration in TESOL and Writing at San Francisco State University, Glenda entered the Peace Corps and was sent to Sana a University in Yemen to teach ESL.

Glenda traveled extensively throughout the Middle East, in Africa, in Asia. Having long been drawn to exploring foreign cultures, Glenda had earlier lived and worked in Europe: in London, England for 1 year and Salzburg, Austria for 3 years. She has traveled throughout most of Europe at varying times. Glenda has been involved in volunteer work most of her adult life, having volunteered with the Missionaries of Charity in Yemen, Calcutta, and Frankfurt, with adult Latino students in San Francisco, with the Reading and Writing Center and ESL classes at San Francisco State University, and with a Women s Crisis Center in San Francisco.

Traveling, foreign cultures and peoples of other cultures are more than an interest for Glenda; they are a passion. Coming to St. James as the ESL Specialist, with the opportunity to work with refugees and immigrants, Glenda felt that she and the St. James ESL Program were a perfect fit. She is committed to helping refugees and immigrants gain English language skills, one s knowledge of English being so fundamental to having opportunity.