Kyoko French (K-12 category)
Magara Maeda (Post-secondary category)
Please join us in congratulating the 2020 AATJ Outstanding Teacher Award recipients:
Kyoko French from Southwest High School in Minneapolis, MN, and Magara Maeda from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls, WI. The AATJ Teacher Award recognizes outstanding teachers who have demonstrated excellence in teaching, advocacy, and leadership, both locally and nationally. The awards would have been presented in-person at the AATJ Awards luncheon at ACTFL in San Antonio. However, due to COVID-19, we recognized Maeda sensei and French sensei virtually, during the October 24th webinar.
Kyoko French, Southwest High School, Minneapolis, MN
Since starting the Japanese program at Southwest High School in 1991, French sensei has been a tireless advocate for Japanese language learners and teachers. Her efforts over the past three decades in facilitating cultural exchange, ongoing professional development, student opportunities have strengthened and elevated Japanese language programs not just at her school, but across Minnesota. Fellow MCTJ colleague Laura Moy says, “With over 40 years of teaching experience in Japan and the United States, Kyoko-sensei’s experience and accomplishments are second to none. She is one of those teachers who does it all.” Congratulations, French sensei!
Magara Maeda, University of Wisconsin-River Falls
Maeda sensei has been an advocate, leader, and mentor for Japanese language education for many, many years as well as an early adopter of blended learning. Her extensive expertise in teaching online and building hybrid courses for Japanese was truly a lifesaver for Japanese teachers across the United States when we were all thrust into a brand new and intimidating teaching environment this past spring. In March, she presented “Flying by the Seat of your Pants-Crisis Teaching Without Sacrificing Proficiency” for the first in a series of webinars AATJ presented this year. It was attended by 400 teachers and has impacted even more as the video of the presentation has been viewed and shared over and over since then. Maeda sensei, described by co-presenter Lauren Rosen, Director of University of Wisconsin’s System Collaborative Language Program, as a “stellar educator”, suddenly gained hundreds of new students-an entire community of Japanese teachers, whom she continues to guide and support through the ongoing challenges.
