ACTR Teaching Excellence Award for K-12 Instructors
Previous Awardees
2023
Suzanne Jouravlev, Sparta Middle School NJ (K-8)
As an essential educator in Sparta's long-standing Russian program, Suzanne has committed herself to teaching the Russian Language for the past 33 years. Suzanne began teaching Russian at Sparta High School and moved to Sparta Middle School several years ago. As a "dynamic" and "motivating" educator, she has always encouraged the students in her district to start learning Russian and instilled a passion for the subject matter. When asked why students in Sparta began to learn Russian, they responded: "I was going to take another language, but Mrs. J got me into Russian. She showed us how fun and interesting Russian can be."
Additionally, Suzanne has written innovative materials and curricula that enhance her excellent teaching and promote her students' learning. Over the years, Suzanne has fulfilled numerous administrative tasks in her school and on travel abroad trips to Russia so that students in Sparta can experience the language and culture firsthand. She has worked tirelessly to organize and arrange for such unique travel experiences for her students, which benefit their learning and provide them with an opportunity to apply their skills in the target culture.
As an essential educator in Sparta's long-standing Russian program, Suzanne has committed herself to teaching the Russian Language for the past 33 years. Suzanne began teaching Russian at Sparta High School and moved to Sparta Middle School several years ago. As a "dynamic" and "motivating" educator, she has always encouraged the students in her district to start learning Russian and instilled a passion for the subject matter. When asked why students in Sparta began to learn Russian, they responded: "I was going to take another language, but Mrs. J got me into Russian. She showed us how fun and interesting Russian can be."
Additionally, Suzanne has written innovative materials and curricula that enhance her excellent teaching and promote her students' learning. Over the years, Suzanne has fulfilled numerous administrative tasks in her school and on travel abroad trips to Russia so that students in Sparta can experience the language and culture firsthand. She has worked tirelessly to organize and arrange for such unique travel experiences for her students, which benefit their learning and provide them with an opportunity to apply their skills in the target culture.
William Brennan, Sparta High School NJ (9-12)
Our awards committee was particularly impressed by Bill’s commitment to Sparta’s Russian program, where he has taught the Russian Language for the past 18 years. As a thoughtful and reflective teacher constantly seeking to improve their craft, Bill has continuously sought to improve his knowledge of the content and methodology of teaching Russian as a second language. As an exemplary teacher of Russian, our committee also learned that many of Bill’s colleagues have learned from his teaching and technique, incorporating innovative strategies and activities in Russian and other World Language classrooms at Sparta High School. Over the years, Sparta High School students have benefited from Bill’s educational leadership and instruction, not just in the classroom but also in extracurricular settings. Outside the classroom, he has taken students abroad to Russia on numerous occasions to experience the language and culture firsthand, as well as coaching his students to participate in the Olympiada of Spoken Russian and further demonstrate their proven skills in Russian.
Our awards committee was particularly impressed by Bill’s commitment to Sparta’s Russian program, where he has taught the Russian Language for the past 18 years. As a thoughtful and reflective teacher constantly seeking to improve their craft, Bill has continuously sought to improve his knowledge of the content and methodology of teaching Russian as a second language. As an exemplary teacher of Russian, our committee also learned that many of Bill’s colleagues have learned from his teaching and technique, incorporating innovative strategies and activities in Russian and other World Language classrooms at Sparta High School. Over the years, Sparta High School students have benefited from Bill’s educational leadership and instruction, not just in the classroom but also in extracurricular settings. Outside the classroom, he has taken students abroad to Russia on numerous occasions to experience the language and culture firsthand, as well as coaching his students to participate in the Olympiada of Spoken Russian and further demonstrate their proven skills in Russian.
