PSMLA Taps French Teacher for Mentor Role

For the third consecutive year, Brooke Starr, a French teacher at Cheltenham High School, has been selected to serve as a mentor in the esteemed Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association (PSMLA) Peer Mentoring program.

“Each year I’ve participated has allowed me to apply my insights that I have gained in my 25 years in world language education, most of which have been here at Cheltenham High School,” said Starr, a West Chester University graduate. “It is truly an honor to be a part of this program not only for the benefits that it can offer in my own teaching, but what the program seeks to do for teacher retention and for our students.”

The PSMLA Peer Mentoring program is designed to support novice world language teachers in the development of successful communicative language teaching practices, while simultaneously recognizing and further developing teacher leadership among experienced Pennsylvania world language educators. The program also supports teacher retention efforts, recognizes and elevates the presence of world language teacher leaders, and encourages a continued relationship with PSMLA, its leadership, and professional learning community.

The mentor-mentee duos are expected to work collaboratively to develop strategic, observable, and measurable goals that support mentees in establishing effective and sustainable communicative teaching practices. Mentees benefit from the program by receiving support, advice, coaching, and motivation from an experienced world language educator; collaborating with a community of educators committed to enhancing world language instruction in the state of Pennsylvania; and working with and networking closely among world language leaders from Pennsylvania.

Selection to serve in this program reflects a commitment to research-based best practices in the teaching of languages and cultures. The PSMLA Peer Mentors have accumulated a wealth of experience and expertise in the classroom and, through a competitive application process, have demonstrated a strong capacity to support the next generation of communicative language teachers.

PSMLA is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to the teaching and learning of languages and cultures from kindergarten through university levels. Founded in 1919, the organization continues to be a leading resource and advocate for world language educators throughout the state. For more information about PSMLA, please visit www.psmla.org. Information about the PSMLA Peer Mentoring program can be found at www.psmla.org/psmla-peer-mentoring-program.