SUMMARY
The number of English language learners in Texas public school classrooms has risen significantly during the past four years. This steady increase calls for an awakening among education stakeholders to the diverse academic and social needs among students who are linguistically diverse. Teachers who work with English language learners often face numerous challenges and often feel underprepared to meet the needs of the these students despite their preparation and professional development experiences. This article features the perspective of an experienced educator who shares his insights regarding the challenges of benefits of teaching English language learners at the secondary level.