Smithfield High's Dempsey Named Northeast Foreign Language Teacher of the Year

Smithfield High School's Margarita Dempsey, who added a laurel to her resume March 8 when the Northeast Conference on Teaching Foreign Languages named her Teacher of the Year, is an ardent believer in the power of foreign language study.

"There have been so many studies showing that not only do test scores improve in language arts and higher order thinking skills improve, but foreign language study helps open up new worlds for students," Dempsey said.

"Margarita is an exceptional teacher," said Smithfield High School Principal Dan Kelly. That's a common sentiment among Dempsey's peers.

Dempsey, already a 2012 RI Foreign Teacher of the Year,  was nominated for the new award by her colleague, Lora Burgess. Then she had to submit a letter and resume to the board of RIFLA, which choose her from the other nominees. 

From there, she had to mail the regional conference her application, including a personal statement, two letters of recommendation from a colleague and a supervisor, plus a letter of support from a parent. She also needed to include samples of student work and her reflections of that work. She was one of three out of fourteen state winners asked to interview in Baltimore during the conference.

Dempsey and her fellow contenders were interviewed for 30 minutes, a final stage she apparently aced, as she was announced the winner at the Awards Ceremony on March 8. 

Dempsey said her teaching method involves practical practice. "I focus on communication skills and I have students using what they are learning in class in real life situations from day one. The most important thing is to have the students communicating in the target language," Dempsey said.

"In a one hour lesson she ensures that every student speaks, writes, reads, and listens in the target language," Kelly said, but her success is also due to her interest in her charges. "She creates personal connections with students which allows her to push them to higher levels of achievement," he said. 

 "I love what I do, and I can't imagine a better job," Dempsey said. 

"She is a great colleague, always available to listen and offer advice, Kelley said, "She challenges me and my thinking. Her feedback has helped me grow as a professional. She is a rock star." 

The Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages serves educators in all languages at all levels from kindergarten through university, in both public and private settings. It represents educators from Maine to Virginia.