Shara Finley is a new teacher at Briar Woods this year, who teaches EL to all grade levels during 3rd and 4th block. EL stands for English Learners, an English program designed for those who can’t communicate effectively in a typical English classroom, usually due to language or mental barriers. Finley is new to Briar Woods, but that doesn’t mean she’s new to teaching. 

Finley is an itinerant teacher, meaning she goes to whichever schools she’s needed at. This year, she’s teaching at three different schools, including Briar, Northstar, and Loudoun County High School. Finley didn’t always know she wanted to go into teaching; she initially got her bachelor’s degree in social work, “but in graduate school, I sort of fell into teaching.” Finley said. She continued schooling and got her master’s in education in 2008 at George Mason University. 

Finley started her teaching career in social work with at-risk students, who struggled with behavioral issues. Her job would bring her into people’s houses to work with families or take the students into the community to work on life skills. Finley also taught special education for eleven years and adored helping and progressing with these students, but she “needed a change, and that’s when I got certified to teach English Learners.” Finley said. In total, Finley has been participating in social work and teaching English Learners combined for seventeen years, and in her words, her favorite part about the job was “seeing them grow over the years as students and seeing their progress.”