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* Mn Chapter AATF *
French Teacher of the Year Awardees
Congratulations ! - Félicitations !
2005
MINNESOTA FRENCH TEACHER OF THE YEAR AWARD NOT YET ESTABLISHED
Bravo to chapter members receiving other awards:
October, 2005 - MCTLC Emma Birkmaier Award 2005 Winner
Mary Kuettner, Eastview High School
photo and details
July, 2005 - Minnesota Chapter member, Betsy Kerr, is named National AATF
Dorothy Ludwig Excellence in Teaching, Post-Secondary (College/University) Level Winner for 2005
Prof. Betsy Kerr [our Mn-AATF French Teacher of the Year - 2003] at
the National AATF
Conference, July, 2005, Québec, PQ, Canada
- See AATF National Bulletin, Vol. 30, No. 4 (April 2005) page 44 -
Extracts below: from the REFLETS de l'étoile du nord, printed bulletins - Winter issues
2004
PATRICIA DECKAS-BECERRA
-Robbinsdale Area Schools-
The EIGHTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year!
Patricia Deckas-Becerra ( c ) at l'Hôtel Sofitel on Oct. 29, 2004 at the Mn-AATF Annual Fall Dinner
- with her nominators Kari Christensen ( l ) & Kathleen Lahouze ( r ) of Robbinsdale Area Schools -
Patricia Deckas Becerra's energy, dedication and enthusiasm for teaching French have inspired many students and colleagues alike so it is understandable why she received the award for MINNESOTA FRENCH TEACHER OF THE YEAR for 2004.
Her first exposure to a francophone country was at 19 when she studied at McGill University in Montréal where she says she was incurably addicted to French. She worked as an Au Pair in Paris for four months. She has been teaching French in the Robbinsdale Area Schools for 34 years after graduating from the University of Minnesota. She has studied in France at various cities from Paris to Nice during her 20 trips to Europe.
She has taken Robbinsdale Area students to France on six of these trips. She worked as a bi-lingual guide at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. She has also traveled to French speaking areas in the Caribbean like Martinique and even to French Guyana, South America. Even though this is her last year teaching in Robbinsdale, she says studying and traveling feed her soul so last summer she spent a month in Belgium as the only American studying art, music and literature with French teachers from 19 European countries at the Université de Liège.
Her love for the French language and culture has continually driven her to learn many different methods and incorporate technology as much as possible in her classrooms. She enthusiastically shares any new ideas with her colleagues - she has presented various workshops at state and regional conferences. At one recent workshop she taught others how to create CD-ROMS using their own trip photos with French captions/questions. The prominent textbook company of McDougal Littell published an activities/method book she wrote for their current textbook series. She has also published materials on Internet sites for the French classroom. Her great hope is for her students to always keep their hearts and minds open to other languages and cultures so a deeper appreciation and acceptance of differences in our world can grow ; she deeply believes students learn more about themselves and their communities by becoming globally-minded citizens of the world.
2003
BETSY J. KERR
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities -
The SEVENTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !
[l to r] Betsy Kerr, LaRae Ellingson, and nominator Lydia Belatèche
at the annual
AATF-MN buffet dinner 24 October, 2003
Féicitations à Betsy Kerr, notre, notre nouveau professeur de l'année! Betsy is an Associate Professor of French at the University of Minnesota where she also serves as the Faculty Coordinator of the College in the Schools French program. A graduate of Wooster College in Ohio, Betsy did her graduate studies through Middlebury College in Paris and Middlebury, Vermont and received her doctorate from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Betsy was nominated for this award by Lydia Belatèche, her colleague at the University and assistant for the CIS French program. Lydia lauds Betsy's connecting the University with the greater community of French teachers in the state through her work with the CIS program as well as the major role she plays in the "A Vous la Parole" contest each year. She also notes that Betsy is the co-author of the popular college text, DEUX MONDES and is also a consultant for two other texts.
Lydia called upon Betsy's former students and a CIS teachers, Linda Albertson [1998 MN French teacher of the year-see below] of Eagan HS, to support her nomination. Some key comments drawn from letters by Betsy's former students include:
--"Professor Kerr played a HUGE role in my decision to change my minor into a major in French."
--"She exemplifies the ideal by which all other French professors should hold themselves."
--"Her French is elegant.. (she) starts where we are and inches us forward through ever more complexity
to a sense of confidence and a degree of mastery."
--"I decided to stay on at the University of Minnesota in part because of Betsy Kerr's courses."
excerpted from - REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 2003-4 (Vol.24,n.2) page 9
[ See U of MN TC campus Dept. of French and Italian website for: Prof. Kerr's academic listing ]
2002
MOLLY WIELAND
- Hopkins High School -
The SIXTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !
Molly Wieland(center) and two of her many nominators
at the
Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 25, 2002
Radisson Hotel, So.
Bloomington, MN
Molly Wieland enseigne à Hopkins H.S. C'étaient ses collègues au lycée, Ann Walsh, Amy Miller et Mary Slinde, Associate Principale qui ont posé sa candidature pour cet honneur.
Molly a commencé sa carrière comme professeur d'espagnol en 1979 à Morris Community HS dans l'Illinois. En 1983, elle a commencé à enseigner le
français, son premier amour, à l'Université de Michigan. Elle a aussi
enseigné le français à Indiana University, l'Université de Strasbourg et l'Université de Minnesota. Elle a commencé son travail à Hopkins HS en 1995 où elle est professeur et District WL Curriculum Coordinator.
Molly a fait ses études à Illinois State University à Normal, Illinois,
Middlebury College et à Indiana University où elle a fait son doctorat.
Sa dissertation au sujet de la politesse s'intitule: "Politeness based
misunderstandings between Native speakers of French and American
advanced learners of French."
Voici des extraits des lettres que nous avons reçues en faveur de Molly:
Ann Walsh décrit Molly comme "gifted, dedicated, brilliant, inspiring ,
creative and fun." Elle ajoute "she is sheer magic in the classroom.
Her lesson plans are each works of art, with one stimulating activity
flowing seamlessly to the next. She brings music, movement, popular
French culture, history, literature, current events and humor to her
classes, all while maintaining extremely high academic rigor. "
"Molly has a special gift for reaching out to students that society
overlooks, and she does it in a professional, caring and courageous way.
She is a genius at setting a positive, respectful, and fun-filled tone
in the classroom. Through the years, she has had students facing
various difficulties (autism, hearing impairment, emotional
trauma, unstable family life, issues of sexual orientation) to whom
she has offered hours of special help while still holding them to the
same standards as all of her students. "
Amy Miller goes on to add "I admire Molly's ability to develop
relationships with her students. She is truly interested in their
lives outside of French class. She often attends their plays, concerts
and sporting events. I have seen how much her students appreciate her
interest. I believe that the relationship that Molly creates with her
students inspires them to achieve in French class."
Mary Slinde dit " I have worked with Molly for the past four years and I
would consider her one of the top five educators with whom I have ever
worked. You could not choose a better candidate for French Teacher of the
Year. I have said many times that Molly Wieland combines all the
characteristics that we define as necessary in an outstanding teacher.
WhenI visit her classroom, I know that our students are receiving superb
French education. It simply doesn't get any better!"
text based on an "MnAATFNet" message of 31 October, 2002
& Winter, 2002-3 REFLETS de l' étoile du nord (v.23, n.2), page 9
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : FLASH : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
National French Teacher of the Year - 2003
Molly Wieland received the National AATF Dorothy Ludwig
Excellence in Teaching Award - Secondary Level
at the AATF Convention in Martinique, July 2003
- See AATF National Bulletin, Vol. 29, No. 1 Sept. 2003, page 48 -
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : :
2001
MAUREEN ELWELL PELTIER
- Saint Thomas Academy -
The FIFTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !
LaRae Ellingson(L.), Chair of the MN-AATF Teacher of the Year Committee and Maureen Peltier(R.)
at the
Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 26, 2001
Radisson Hotel, So.
Bloomington, MN
Maureen Elwell Peltier of St Thomas Academy ( St Paul) was nominated by her
colleagues who describe her as "a vivacious, dynamic and innovative teacher
as well as a kind, gentle and compassionate human being" who "loves all
things French."
She studied French at the University of Minnesota, the
University of Wisconsin and l'Universite Laval. She has led numerous trips
to France with her students and has inspired her students to travel and
continue their language study of to a degree "rarely seen in other language
students" according to her departmental colleague, Mitch Taraschi. This
year, her five-year old son just started his French studies at the French
immersion school in St Paul. Maureen started her teaching career in
Owatonna in 1984 and has been at St Thomas since 1992.
REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 2001-2 (Vol.22,n.2) page 7 - Photo
CAROLYN CRANE-FISK - 2000
The FOURTH Minnesota French Teacher of the Year ! - Lake Country School
Traci Nelson (L.), President MN-AATF Chapter with Carolyn Crane-Fisk (R.)
at the
Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 27, 2000
Radisson Hotel, So.
Bloomington, MN
Carolyn was nominated by her colleague, Paulette Zoë, who describes her as "graceful and strong...warm and giving...a good listener and a wonderful friend." Her principal, Kathy Coskran, goes on to add that Carolyn is "a consummate professional with an unflagging enthusiasm for the French language and a true gift for communicating her passion to her students."
Carolyn graduated summa cum laude from the University of Minnesota and has been teaching at Lake Country School, in western Minneapolis, for the past twenty-one years. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, AATF, the Minneapolis-based Alliance Française chapter and the MCTLC. Upon receiving this award at the Fall AATF dinner, Carolyn gave a gracious, inspiring speech based on her personal experiences teaching and learning French. She gave special recognition to her own high school teacher, Carolynn Johnson, who was in attendance.
REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 2001 (Vol.21,n.2) page 9 - Extract
VIRGIL BENOIT - 1999
The THIRD Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !
- University of North Dakota, AFAM and AFRAN -
Traci Nelson (L.), President MN-AATF Chapter with Dr. Virgil Benoit (R.)
at the
Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 29, 1999,
Radisson Hotel, So.
Bloomington, MN
Dr. Virgil Benoit of Red Lake Falls, Minnesota was named our third Minnesota AATF Teacher of the Year at our annual Banquet at the Fall MCTLC Conference.
Widely recognized as an expert on the French-Canadians of Minnesosta, Virgil teaches French at the University of North Dakota and is a founding member of l'Association des Français du Nord - which sponsors an annual French Festival each August celebrating the French heritage of the area. In addition, he organizes French immersion weekends in Saint Boniface, Manitoba at the Antenne universitaire de l'Université du Manitoba, for teachers of French. ... Several Minnesota French teachers have participated in such sessions and have reported enthusiastically on the merits of the programs Virgil has organized.
Educated at schools in Minnesota, Louisana, Arkansas, Québec and France, Prof. Benoit earned his Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota and the University of Vermont. Besides teaching at UND, he writes, speaks and participates in community, cultural and educational groups. [He is the Project Director of the well-known "Calendrier Bi-lingue - Les Français d'Amerique" published since 1985 by l'AFAM (l'Alliance Franco-Américaine du Midwest) aved l'AFRAN (l'Association des Français du Nord)... .
REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 2000 (Vol.20, n.2) page 7 - Extract
LINDA ALBERTSON - 1998
The SECOND Minnesota French Teacher of the Year ! - Eagan High School
Molly Wieland( R.), President MN-AATF Chapter with Linda Rae Albertson( L.)
at the
Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, October 30, 1998,
Radisson Hotel, So.
Bloomington, MN
....the MN-AATF's second "French Teacher of the Year" awardee, Linda Albertson, who was
presented that honor at the MN-AATF Fall Dinner meeting held on Friday, Oct. 30, 1998, teaches French at Eagan High School, where she is the coordinator of its modern languages program. As a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, she began her career in Iowa. She has a Masters degree in the Teaching of Second Languages and Cultures from the University of Minnesota. ...Linda's principal writes: "If Linda Albertsson has any peers, they are few in number." He calls her "a student's dream teacher" and adds that she is "sometimes self-deprecating, sometimes stern, often humorous, and always demanding." He attributes Eagan High School's "thriving language department" to be the direct result of Linda Albertson's leadership.
REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 1999 (Vol.19,n.2) page 5 - Extract
The FIRST Minnesota French Teacher of the Year !
STACY BERGLUND - 1997
- Anthony Community Middle School, Minneapolis -
LaRae Ellingson ( L. ), MN-AATF Chapter Secretary-Treasurer
and Chair of the "French Teacher of the Year Award Committee",
Stacy Berglund ( C. ) 1st awardee,
and Molly Wieland ( R.), President MN-AATF Chapter
at the Annual MN-AATF Buffet Dinner Meeting, November 14, 1997,
Radisson Hotel, So.
Bloomington, MN
In her fifteen years of experience with 7th and 8th grade French students, Ms Bergland has consistently and creatively inspired, motivated and enlightened her students as well as her colleagues both in and out of the classroom. Her students say "She has made learning the French language stimulating, exciting, adventurous and challenging." Her colleagues say "She exhibits excellence in all she does" and "...manages to negotiate with great skill that fine line between challenging her students to achieve academic success while always showing them that she is concerned with the development of their whole selves as students and people."
REFLETS de l'étoile du nord Winter 1998 (Vol.18, n.2) page 7 - Extract
Click here to go to the back to MN-AATF site
Click here to go to the University
of St. Thomas website home page.
Send comments to
the AATF-MN Web Site Coordinator.
- - Created in June 20, 2000 - - last updated: 24 October, 2005- -
URL:http://courseweb.stthomas.edu/mlwolsey/MnAATF/4.htm
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