UWG
News Item
Contact: University Communications & Marketing
Phone (678) 839-6464, FAX (678) 839-6645
ucm@westga.edu
Former student wins Georgia FLAG Award
March 18, 2004
CARROLLTON, GA - Ana Johnson of Peachtree City, a former student of the University of West Georgia, has been selected as the Foreign Language Association of Georgia’s (FLAG) Teacher of Promise for grades K-12.
Johnson
is a member of FLAG, which is a professional organization for foreign
languages in Georgia that is open to all foreign language educators, from
the elementary through University levels.
Johnson spent two years at West Georgia becoming certified to teach foreign languages. Spanish is her native language, and she learned English as her second language while studying in Puerto Rico. She received her Master of Business Administration degree at the University of Puerto Rico near her hometown of San Juan.
“Actions speak louder than words,” Johnson says. “My teaching approach is based on my own experiences as an English language learner.”
Johnson finished her certification in July and is currently teaching at Rising Starr Middle School in Fayette County. She was nominated for the Teacher of Promise award by her advisor and professor at West Georgia, Dr. Denise Overfield, associate professor in foreign languages and literatures.
“I nominated Ana because I saw a level of creativity and energy that I don’t often see in a novice teacher,” Overfield says. “Her lessons are always creative and encourage students of many talents and levels to participate.”
According
to Johnson, her mom was a huge inspiration to her, being a retired English
teacher.
“I am committed to my students and my Hispanic heritage,”
Johnson says. “The opportunity to combine the two and create a lasting
change in the future of my students is extremely exciting.”
-30-