 The Idaho Association for Teachers of Language and Culture (IATLC) Name Rebecca Sibrian, Boise State University German Instructor, as World Language Teacher of the Year.
On Oct. 5th, the Idaho Association of Teachers of Language and Culture (IATLC), the professional organization for World Language teachers across the state, honored Rebecca Sibrian with the 2019 Teacher of the Year Award at its annual conference on the College of Idaho campus in Caldwell. Rebecca has taught German at Boise State University for the past 19 years. She has served as the German chapter (IATG) president and on the board of IATLC as vice president and president. She is a leader both on campus and in the community. About Rebecca, nominators wrote: Recca is an energetic, caring, creative teacher who is always willing to share her ideas with her colleagues across languages. Her classes are highly interactive and creative. Over the years many students have commented that they continued their German studies because of her. She has also created a new University Foundations 100 class for the department, Dynamics of Diverse Cultures in Film. Besides her regular teaching duties, Becca has been instrumental in organizing Do Deutsch Day which provides over 500 high school German students annually the opportunity to visit the BSU campus, meet faculty and fellow students, and participate in a variety of German language based educational and cultural activities. German students from across the state look forward to this experience each year. She is a fundamental contributor to all things German in the region. Please join the Idaho Association of Teachers of Language and Culture (IATLC) in congratulating Rebecca Sibrian on her well deserved award. May she continue to inspire us all.  The 2018-19 Idaho World Languages Teacher of the Year is Cyndi Cook, German teacher at Mountain Home High School. The Idaho Association of Teachers of Language and Culture (IATLC) recognized Mrs. Cook’s outstanding contributions to World Language teaching. As the association’s Teacher of the Year, she will serve as an advocate for World Language education in Idaho. She joined IATLC in the first year of teaching back in the late 80's, and has gained valuable insight and support from all the teachers she has gotten to know in the many years she has taught in Idaho and been active in IATLC. Cook states that "IATLC played a very important role in my development as a teacher early on, and it is a very valuable organization for FL teachers in Idaho."
According to fellow German educator Cassie Shelton, “Cyndi is innovative in her teaching style and she is always thinking outside the box. Nothing is too messy, elaborate or time-consuming if it helps her students learn language.” Mrs. Cook has taught for both Mountain Home High (1987-1998 and 2009-Present) and Boise State University offering Concurrent Credit courses to high school students. Additionally, Cook has coordinated the GAPP program (German American Partnership Program) for Mountain Home High School since 2013. In her “spare” time, Mrs. Cook has transcribed the memoirs of a World War II pilot whose missions took him over a good portion of Germany, and works on an additional transcription and translation project for a woman born in Prague who can only recall her experiences in German. During the fall she volunteers her time with the high school swim team. She's been married to her very supportive husband David for over 30 years and has three grown daughters who also speak German! John was the Idaho Association of Teachers of Languages and Cultures Teacher of the Year for 1994-1995. This Genesee native stretched the world view for many students and colleagues alike with his integration of language and history. His 75 years were pebbled with numerous examples of calm sharing of knowledge and new adventures. Many Idaho students had their first foreign experience thanks to his willingness to help them travel. He was at the core of German teachers in Idaho while at Nampa, but the state's weak response to the linguistic needs of its students never detoured him from doing his best to compensate for the short-comings of the legislature and school districts.
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