As a multilingual teacher whose career has taken her across the globe, Rachel Sharma has consistently focused on making learning languages accessible and available for everyone. A distinguished professional in her field, Sharma is a teacher and a community builder, as well as an advocate for fairness in education.
A World of Experience
Before beginning her professional career, Sharma earned a bachelor’s degree in health care administration from the University of Phoenix in 2004 and a Master of Education in secondary education curriculum from the University of South Florida in 2014. From there, her teaching journey began with her experiences in Japan, Turkey, and India, where her son was born. Her global start gave her a good understanding of what different students needed to succeed.
She began teaching in Japan. Her need to understand different cultures pushed her to teach in Japan, India, and she was part of the first group of English language teachers at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University.
After deepening her understanding, Sharma worked with the Department of Defense at the Defense Language Institute English Language Center. During her time at the DoD, she spent her time teaching English to soldiers, officers, and government officials. While employed with the government, she traveled to help open schools in both Saudi Arabia and Qatar, building a reputation as a leader in international language education.
Making Learning More Accessible
Today, as a multilingual teacher, Sharma brings her wealth of experience back to the classroom in a new community. She works with many students each week, focusing on team-teaching so her English learners can access the same curriculum as their classmates. For younger students and lower-level learners, she offers one-on-one help so they can achieve a specific score on the WIDA test (a suite of English language proficiency tests for grades K-12), in order for students to finish schooling with confidence.
Committed to her students, Sharma differentiates lessons, manages a packed schedule of instruction and small groups, and adjusts her teaching depending on the specific challenges her students are facing. She understands that many students come from difficult backgrounds, and she translates for families in many languages to keep building rapport and keep them engaged, along with their students.
Perseverance Even Beyond the Classroom Walls
Sharma doesn’t limit her time to just the classroom. In 2024, she began after-school and evening tutoring classes for adults, and she has contributed her time and efforts to local celebrations to create a stronger sense of community. Her dream is to become a curriculum developer and trainer for multilingual learners, with a focus on curriculum writing, a passion she’s developed over the course of her career.
Sharma credits her success to the consistent motivation her son offers her. Her drive to create a better future for him, especially after experiencing a challenging childhood of her own, has taught her the power of perseverance. Their bond and shared experiences continue to strengthen her resolve. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, attending concerts, and traveling to places like New York and Las Vegas.
Sharma has spent her career working to overcome language barriers, promoting inclusion, and advocating for fairness in education. Her advice to others is simple: “Don’t be afraid to fight for equity.”
