Middle school foreign language teacher Elisabeth Kahn has been named Vermont’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

I enjoy sharing stories about teachers who have earned applause for their hard work in the classroom. One of these is Elisabeth Kahn, a middle school foreign language teacher from Montpelier, Vermont, who has been named her state’s 2020 Teacher of the Year.

“This is an incredible honor,” expressed Elisabeth. “But no teacher works in isolation. We always look to our students and our colleagues for inspiration, fresh perspectives, and to challenge our thinking, and I’m so lucky to work with some of the best around,” she continued.

Elisabeth was born in Berlin, Washington County, Vermont. She was raised in Montpelier and attended elementary and middle schools in the city before graduating from The Taft School in Waterford, Connecticut. The honored educator earned her Bachelor’s degree in French and Spanish and her Master’s degree in French, both from Middlebury College. She is also a 2020 candidate for National Board certification in French. Her career as an educator has spanned 12 years.

Currently Elisabeth teaches fifth, seventh, and eighth grade French and Spanish at Main Street Middle School (MSMS) in Montpelier. She has taught there five years. The chalkboard champion has also taught at the Hamlin School in San Francisco, California, and at St. Paul’s School for Boys in Brooklandville, Maryland. In addition, for five years she worked at Putney Student Travel developing and leading student travel programs in Europe and Africa.

Elisabeth credits her success as an educator to her hard work towards getting to know her students. She says she is aware of the power of relationships in reaching all learners. In recognition of these efforts, students at her school recognized her with the Adult Citizenship Award in 2017. In addition to her classroom responsibilities, Elisabeth is a member of the MSMS Leadership Team and the Technology Committee, where she leads professional development and implements district-wide priorities. When she worked at Hamlin, she served as the chair of the Eco-Council that sought to promote sustainable practices and curriculum.

In her classroom, Elisabeth promotes the value of traveling abroad to promote cultural competence in her students. Every year she takes her eighth graders on a trip to Quebec, Canada, so they can use their skills in a real-world setting.

For her work in the classroom, Elisabeth has earned many accolades. In 2011 she was recognized with the Irene C. Abbe Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2018 she earned the UVM Outstanding Teacher Award.

To read more about this amazing educator, see the article about her at CCSSO.