Maria Pestalardo arrived at ETSU from Argentina in January 2004 in order to complete a master’s degree in communication, and to work as the Spanish editor of El Nuevo, ETSU’s bilingual newspaper.
During her studies, her strategic vision and creativity led her to design communication plans and programs that put her at the top of her class. Her peers and professors realized that she was not going go be just another student.
After four months, she was selected to work in the federal Migrant Education Program (MEP of No Child Left Behind), and in a matter of weeks she was coordinating the program in three counties of East Tennessee. After three years of working in MEP, Maria Pestalardo was selected as MEP state director, but opted to stay in Johnson City for personal reasons.
Spanish professor Dr. Ardis Nelson is happy Pestalardo decided to stay. “Every year, Ms. Pestalardo reaches the migrant families who come to the area to work on the farms in May or June, and who leave in August or September,” Nelson said. “She evaluates the needs of each family, as well as those needs related to the education of the migrant children. She then works along with educational specialists to coordinate services for each student.”
“Being both bilingual and Hispanic, Ms. Pestalardo has been very successful at reaching migrant students and their families,” Nelson said.
MEP funds support education programs for migratory children and help ensure that migratory children who move among the states are not penalized in any manner by disparities among states in curriculum or graduation requirements.
Federal and state funds are offered to eligible migratory children, between the ages of 3 and 21, residing within the state.
Currently, ETSU’s MEP is ranked as one of the best in the eastern United States, and was presented as an example of organization and development in the National Congress of Migrant Education.
The ETSU MEP works with migrant students from Washington, Greene and Unicoi counties.
Throughout the regular school year, students are offered different opportunities such as a soccer clinic with the ETSU men’s tennis team, a photography project, family activities, and one-on-one tutorials provided by ETSU students who assist with homework and education.
ETSU’s MEP also organizes a six-week long summer school program which provides services to more than 100 migrant students in the area.
The school features five certified teachers who instruct five classes with two grades per class, a certified ESL and Art teacher, and a physical education instructor.
Additionally, there are approximately 12 ETSU students who work as teaching assistants. The school offers transportation, food and recreation services.
Anyone interested in visiting the ETSU MEP summer school can visit the Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church (225 Princeton Road, Johnson City) during the last two weeks of June and July (Monday thought Thursday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.) or call the Migrant Education Program office at 439-8342.

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