Contact: Tom McCarthy, DPI Communications Director, (608) 266-3559
MADISON — Claudine Clark, a world language teacher at Madison East High School, has found innovative ways to bring the world into her classroom, earning her the third annual Global Educator of the Year Award. Nomination letters cited the thousands of dollars in scholarship support Clark has secured so her students can see the world. She is noted for bringing international teachers to her school, promoting lifelong language learning, and sharing what she has learned with colleagues.
“Wisconsin graduates need to be able to communicate, collaborate, and compete with others across intersections of language and culture,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers in presenting the award today. “Ms. Clark prepares global scholars with these skills, ensuring that they are world-ready.”
A Wisconsin native, Clark earned a bachelor of science degree in secondary education, French, and English as a second language from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She has taught in Hortonville, Green Lake, Janesville, and for the past ten years, the Madison Metropolitan School District. Her international education travel experiences include time in Benin, Japan, France, Canada, and Egypt.
To qualify as the Wisconsin Global Educator of the Year, a teacher must cultivate students’ global awareness, promote growth of global competencies, model and engage colleagues in best practices for global learning, employ innovative approaches to building global knowledge and skills, and implement the Global Education Achievement Certificate program. There are currently 84 high schools that have implemented the Global Education Achievement Certificate program. The certificate is awarded to graduating high school students who have demonstrated a strong interest in global citizenship by successfully completing a global education curriculum and engaging in co-curricular activities and experiences that foster the development of global competencies. In 2017, 75 students were recognized as global scholars.
The Global Educator of the Year is selected by the State Superintendent’s International Education Council, chaired by Gilles Bousquet, University of Wisconsin-Madison French professor and department chair. The recognition includes a $1,000 cash honorarium from the Madison area Rotary Clubs. Evers and DPI World Languages and International Education Consultant Pam Delfosse presented the award to Clark on behalf of the DPI International Education Council at Friday’s General Session of the Wisconsin State Education Convention in Milwaukee.
NOTE: More information about global learning is available on the department’s International Education website.