Longwood University’s Reading, Literacy, and Learning (RLL) Graduate Program is welcoming a new faculty member whose passion for teaching, research, and community is matched only by her love for nature, animals, and an exciting local furniture find.
Dr. Sarah Esberger is joining the Longwood RLL team after earning her doctorate in Reading, Literacy, and Language Education from Indiana University at Bloomington in 2024. Her path to a doctoral degree was shaped by her 17 years as a high school English teacher where she witnessed firsthand how a heavy emphasis on testing in literacy education could overshadow the deeper, richer literacy practices that shape students’ personal and professional lives.
“I saw strategies being employed in the public schools where I worked that I felt were harmful to both teachers and students,” Sarah said. “I wanted the credentials to be heard when I spoke up for approaches that could enrich students’ lives.”
Throughout her career, Sarah has been deeply involved in professional literacy communities. She served as a teacher leader in the Middle Tennessee Writing Project, helping educators across the state strengthen their writing instruction. She also participated in the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Making the Good Reader Institute, which led to a presentation at the National Council of Teachers of English and an upcoming English Journal article on how the history of English education can inform modern practice. The institute’s recent grant renewal means she’ll return in summer 2026 as a program leader.
Before coming to Longwood, Sarah taught at Eagleville School in Tennessee, a unique K–12 community school where she taught English and ran the yearbook. Earlier, she founded and led a student-run writing center serving grades 6–12 at an academic magnet school, an experience she calls one of the best of her career.
When she visited Farmville for her interview, Sarah knew she had found a place where she could thrive.
“Every single person I met was genuine, kind, and intelligent. Longwood is so student-focused — it’s such a relief to have the space and direction to put students at the heart of what I do.”
Sarah is especially excited to contribute to the program’s online offerings, knowing from her own experience that virtual learning can still foster a close-knit, supportive community.
Her hope for her students is clear: “I want them to see themselves as intellectuals capable of transforming their work sites and improving the lives of their students.”
Outside of the classroom, Sarah and her family are settling into their new Virginia life. She enjoys hiking with her three dogs, gardening (thanks to the vegetable beds that came with her new home), and listening to audiobooks on the Libby app. They’ve already found a few favorite local spots — Macado’s for a bite to eat, Greenfront for home finds — and she’s looking forward to exploring High Bridge State Park as the weather cools.
Farmville even played an unexpected role in growing Sarah’s family. While house hunting in June, she and her family rescued an injured kitten from the road. After a trip to the vet and some much-needed care, the kitten — now named Lucky — recovered and made the move back to Virginia with them.
With her blend of professional expertise, collaborative spirit, and genuine love for community, Sarah is ready to help Longwood’s RLL graduate students grow into confident, impactful educators.