ESL Program Coordinator
Texas Education Agency
Carlene Thomas serves as the state English as a Second Language (ESL) program coordinator for the Texas Education Agency. She has advocated for English learners throughout her career beginning as a Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages professor in Beijing, China.
In Texas, Thomas has served in various roles in both elementary and secondary school settings as ESL teacher, ESL curriculum writer, English learner compliance coordinator, ESL district director, and regional Education Service Center ESL/migrant consultant in the greater Dallas area. She is dedicated to serving English learners and their families by supporting local education agencies in expanding effective bilingual and ESL programs and by advocating for additive bilingualism, particularly within ESL programming.