Foreign Language Teachers Nominated for International Excellence in Teaching Award

Middle School teachers Marianne Moran, French, and Marcia Hernandez, Spanish, have been nominated for the Freidel and Otto Eberspacher Award for Excellence in Teaching of a Modern European Language. Created by Dr. Liesolotte E. Kurth in honor of Freidel and Otto Eberspacher, and administered by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth, the goal of the award is to promote teaching of modern languages and to recognize the dedication of educators who instill in young people the desire to better understand different peoples and cultures of the world.

The Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is an organization dedicated to serving youth of high academic achievement in both the U.S. and abroad. This past summer approximately 10,000 students participated in CTY’s summer programs. Those students enrolled in CTY humanities courses for Summer Residential Programs were invited to nominate an outstanding teacher with whom they had studied a foreign language at their home schools. Mrs. Moran was nominated by Ranney 9th grader, Alex Lin. Mrs. Moran was Alex’s French teacher from 6th through 8th grade. Mrs. Hernandez was nominated by Amy Sollitti, an 8th grade student.

Teachers nominated for the Freidel and Otto Eberspacher Award are invited to submit a short essay describing their personal learning experiences with the language(s) they teach, including pivotal moments and why a particular language was chosen by the teacher as their field of study.

One recipient will be chosen in January 2009 to receive the Freidel and Otto Eberspacher Award from all essays submitted.

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.