The New York Times recently honored Caryn T. Davis, CUNY Language Immersion Program (CLIP) instructor at the College of Staten Island (CSI), for her outstanding work as an ESOL professional.

Davis was recognized at the 2010 ESOL Teacher of the Year award ceremony for her many years of creative and innovative curriculums in NYC classrooms. However, it wasn’t until she met her CLIP students that she realized she wanted to devote the rest of her professional life to assisting the amazing, multilingual college-bound immigrants she met in her classroom to gain the confidence and skills they needed to succeed in U.S. academia.

“I am delighted to extend my congratulations to Caryn Davis,” commented Dr. Tomás Morales, President of CSI, “Her exceptional teaching skills, energy, and creativeness ensure our students’ successful assimilation into higher education, and empower the many diverse communities we serve.”

Davis will graduate from the New School’s Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages this May. She found a unique way to help her students develop conversational and writing skills by transforming old library books into works of art using their written texts to create personal accounts of their native countries and their transition to their new lives in the U.S.

Davis has also created a vehicle for students to develop public speaking and leadership skills by using We are New York (WANY), a series of movies created by CUNY and The Mayor’s Office of Adult Education to help immigrants learn English and about essential services.

“My students have become community leaders by facilitating WANY workshops for Mexican day laborers and their families at El Centro del immigrante on Castleton Avenue. Thanks to all my CLIP students and particularly to those students who come back to my classroom each semester to encourage my new students to not give up,” said Davis. “Those students have also helped launch the altered book and WANY projects. They continue to support my efforts and attended the wonderful celebration party at The New York Times. Davis has been a full-time instructor for the CLIP program at CSI since the winter of 2007.

Now in its fourth year, The New York Times ESOL award program recognizes educators who have consistently excelled in helping adult students learn English and develop the skills they need to create successful new lives in the U.S.