Eileen Walvoord has been a strong advocate for the teaching and study of French throughout her teaching career and beyond, presenting frequently at state, regional, and national conferences on the promotion of French in our schools and universities, and on addressing the teacher shortage.
Her studies included a year in Fribourg, Switzerland, a B.A. in French and Secondary Education from the Saint Elizabeth University (NJ), and an M.A. in French literature from Montclair State University (NJ).
Over a 30-year span, Eileen taught middle, high school, and community college students as well as adult learners and young French campers. Returning to teaching in 1996 after an absence from the classroom, she deeply appreciated the professional support that the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF) provided and quickly became involved, holding positions at the local, regional, and national level, currently serving as national president.
A 20-year commitment to supporting the teaching of French has included contributions to the AATF French Advocacy Resource Bank and the publication “Strategic Advocacy for the French Language in the U.S.” As chair of the AATF Commission on the Recruiting and Retention of French Teachers, Eileen coordinated the AATF State-by-State Directory of French Majors and Education Programs. She is currently leading an effort to create an AATF support network for the French government’s Multi-State Pathways to Teaching French program to recruit native French speakers to teach in American K-12 schools.
Eileen served as Alliance Française du North Shore president from 2017-2022. Her association with the AF du North Shore also led to advocacy presentations and webinars, which focused on collaboration at AATF and Federation of Alliances Françaises USA conferences.
She received the 2011 AATF Chicago/Northern Illinois Chapter’s Prix d’Excellence and the 2020 Award for Distinguished Service to Foreign Language Learning from the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. In January 2023, Eileen was promoted to Commandeur dans l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques.
Kommentare