American Association of Teachers of German - Wisconsin

President

Melanie Lasee Ashwaubenon High School mlasee@ashwaubenonk12.org

Vice President

Derek Schaefer Slinger High School derek.schaefer@slingerschools.org

Past President

Jeffery Dyer Oregon High School jmd3@oregonsd.net

Secretary

Sarah Seidler-Halwas Ripon High School seidlers@ripon.k12.wi.us

Treasurer

David Coury UW-Green Bay couryd@uwgb.edu

Slowly, but surely, we are emerging from what has definitely been the two most interesting, yet challenging years of teaching for most of us. Hopefully we are all getting bac k to some sense of normalcy. When I reflect on the past two years, I have to admit that it hasn’t been all that bad. M aybe I could equate it to childbirth. It was really painful while we were liv ing it, but now that it is somewhat behind me, I find myself focusing on the good rather than the bad. I can’t help but sing the song by Kelly Clarkson, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…” (You’re welcome for the Ohrwurm!! :) I can definitely think of more positives as the fog lifts. In a very short amount of time, we all became “Virtual Teaching Wizards.” My tool box has changed quite a bit, has increased quite a lot, and has the latest IOS update (insert laughing/crying emoji). In all seriousness, I have learned more about being a virtual teacher than I ever thought I would. I c an honestly say it’s not really my favorite. I much prefer face-to-face teaching, but there are quite a few things that have made my job go a little s moother. I can’t even imagine what the past 2 years would have been like, if this would have happened 20 years ago. I hope everyone had a great New Year and a great fall semester. WI-AATG started the year off with a few new officers. I would like to welcome to the executive board Derek Schaeffer from Slinger High School as our new vice president and David Coury from UW-Green Bay as our new treasurer. I would like to thank Jeanne Schueller for serving on the executive board for the past six years and I look forward to working with our new executive board. Thank you to Sarah for serving a second term and to Jeff for continuing as our past president and serving his final two years on the executive board. I have some big shoes to fill and I won’t be able to do it without y ou!

We also have other exciting news to share. Our membership has so many amazing examples of what excellence in education means. I am so proud of the work all of you do every day. I would like to celebrate our colleagues around the state who were awarded for their accomplishments this past year.

Each year the Wisconsin Chapter of AATG bestows upon one of its members the Distinguished German Educator Award. Recipients of this award have demonstrated over their careers excellence in the teaching of the language and c ulture of the German-speaking world, advocacy for teaching, learning and profes sional development, professional contribution to the profession, fostering positive relationships, and service to the organization.

This year's recipient has been an enthusiastic and passionate German language teacher with more than 31 years of experience teaching high school and middle school German. Her advocacy for the teaching of German has been critical in maintaining German programs and her participation in and contribution to the organiz ation, in particular, her significant involvement in the and legacy of the WI-AATG German Speaking Contest. Among her accolades are the WAFLT Recognition of Merit and twice a Duden Award recipient. This year's recipient of the Wisconsin-AATG Distinguished German Educator Award is Sabine Beirold.

As you may have already read, Dr. John Pustojovsky was awarded the WAFLT Professional Service Award. This award may be presented annually to recent retirees who have served both the profession and their students in providing quality world language education. Thank you for your service to our profession and congratulations on your retirement!

Mark Wagner was awarded with the Goethe Institut/AATG Certificate of Merit. This award honors achievement in furthering German teaching in the US. German teachers may be recognized for outstanding teaching, creative and successful activities promoting German, innovative curriculum and successful course design, successful interdisciplinary cooperation, and/or significant contributions to the profession. Dr. Jonathan Wipplinger was named as this year’s recipient of the Checkpoint Charlie Foundation Teacher Award. This award recognizes outstanding teachers of German in the US who strengthen intercultural understanding.

Jeffrey Dyer was awarded this year by AATG and the Goethe Institut for the Outstanding GAPP Coordinator Award. This award recognizes outstanding German educators for going above and beyond to provide opportunities for students at their schools to study abroad on short-term exchanges to Germany through the German American Partnership Program (GAPP).

If you have any great news to share with us, please email Jeff or I and we will feature it in our Infoschorle Newsletter. If you aren’t familiar with it, click this link and check it out.

Email updates are sent through our AATG membership database. If you are not a member, please join! It is so important to support our professional organizations. It’s the best way to stay current and get active. You can also join us on Facebook. (facebook.com/groups/wiaatg/)

There has been a lot going on around the state. In February, we participated in the 25th annual German Immersion Weekend. The topic was “Was wollen wir lesen?” – Kinder- und Jugendliteratur in allen Stufen. We learned a ton from one another and had a lot of fun too! Look for information on the 26th Immersion Weekend at our business meeting during the WAFLT Fall Conference. I guarantee it will be well worth your investment! There were also FLES Fest, speaking contests taking place around the state in March and April, German Day on the UW-Madison campus on April 7th, National German Exam and the DSSV essay contest. For information on all of these and more, visit the Infoschorle.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for believing in me and electing me to be your president. I wouldn’t be where I am in this organization, had I not ventured out to the German Immersion Weekend back in 2005. I cherish every one of the friendships I have made since. I would also like to wish you all a great end of the 2021-22 school year and a summer of relaxation and rejuvenation!

mit freundlichen Grüßen!

Melanie Lasee