Teacher Wins ICTFL Distinguished Service Award

Recently, one of Parker’s master teachers earned recognition for her “significant contributions in the field of language learning”: Lower School Spanish teacher Valentina Correa received the Distinguished Service Award by the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages!

 

This award for exemplary teaching is for educators whose teaching has provided inspiration to large numbers of foreign language students or teachers. A French teacher and a Spanish teacher at her previous teaching post, the Catherine Cook School, nominated and recommended Correa, or Profe Valentina as she is known to her students, for her presentations at various conferences, her willingness and ability to coach her fellow teachers and her dedication to learning and improving her methods through professional development.

 

“I feel honored to win this award because I care about other teachers and students,” Profe Valentina shared. “I am always looking for ways to improve my teaching experience, and I love to share my ideas with other language teachers empowering them to be better citizens of the world. I also feel an honor since I am an immigrant and a person of color winning this award.”

 

At Parker, we believe the best kind of faculty are those who are enthusiastic, passionate about their work and committed to growth and excellence. We are grateful to have a teacher like Profe Valentina who perfectly embodies this belief, and we are proud to see her gain recognition beyond just our own walls.