As an ESOL teacher, Mr. Francisco Ghere works with students whose first language is something other than English. He said his goal is to not only teach them English but also to make them feel welcome and comfortable.

“When students come from other countries, everything is new for them,” he said. “I try and teach them some of the rules and the way that they should be behaving.”

He understands what his students are going through because he was once in their position, having come to the U.S. from Mexico as a child. His family moved to Charlotte when he was 13 and he stayed in the U.S. for high school.

“I came here not knowing English and had to learn the language,” he said. “And even though that was a long time ago I feel like the same obstacles that they are going through.”

His efforts earned him the title of 2023-24 Teacher of the Year. He said he was honored to receive the award after being here for four years. 

“It meant a lot to me because I haven’t been living here in the U.S. for that long,” he said, “so it was a real surprise.”

After returning to Mexico for college, Mr. Ghere came back to the U.S. at age 33 when he married an American who took a job and had family in Myrtle Beach.

“I think it’s a good place to work and I love the community and Myrtle Beach,” Mr. Ghere said.

He earned his citizenship in October. 

“It meant a lot to me because I’m now a part of a wonderful nation and I’m proud to be an American,” he said.

When Mr. Ghere lived in Mexico, he was an ESOL teacher there, too. He said there is a huge difference between working in Mexico compared to the United States. 

“There aren’t enough resources,” he said. “Students are very fortunate in the United States because they have technology in their classrooms; they have laptops, internet, access to computers, and when you’re learning a new language, the use of technology facilitates the whole learning process.” 

When students from Mexico come to the United States, he said, they are surprised because they get a laptop, and they get to use the internet.

“I want my students who come here at a young age to realize that the U.S. provides lots of opportunities for them to grow and become whatever they dream of,” he said.

In Mexico, Mr. Ghere would have classes with 40 or 50 students. 

“It was hard to keep behavior under control,”  he said.

Here, he said he has an energetic teaching style.

“I’m always ready to have my students move up and do activities in which they have to move, walk around, share their experiences, and practice English,” he said. “It’s more of doing activities in which my students socialize and learn from others.”

Mr. Ghere said winning Teacher of the Year meant as much to his students as it did to him.

“I could see in their faces that they were really happy to see that their teacher had won and were surprised,” he said. “My students felt like they had won as well, so that was the amazing part.”