I first met Michele in Chicago at a NTPRS conference in 2015, though I doubt she remembers it. She was a star that I admired from afar. So, when I found out that she wanted to come to our workshop, I was delighted. She brought along her husband, and he enjoyed hanging out in Agen so much, that they’ve been back almost every year since.
Michele has taught Russian to learners of all ages for more than 30 years. She enjoys sharing her passion for effective language acquisition with teachers throughout the United States, Europe, and China. Her work has been recognized with World Language Teacher of the Year honors in Alaska and the US Pacific Northwest.
Although retired from teaching Russian in public middle schools, high schools, and at the university level, Michele continues to teach Russian to adult learners and Spanish to Pre-K through third-grade students at a private school. She believes the best part of teaching is building communities of learners in which all participants grow in their ability to communicate more effectively.
The curiosity and dedication to their field of the teachers who gather in Agen are inspiring. For Michele, the Agen Conference reflects the spirit of shared purpose: a community of teachers working toward a common goal in a relaxed and supportive setting.