Simsbury High School Chinese Teacher Invited to Attend Seminar

Submitted by Simsbury Public Schools

Simsbury High School Chinese teacher Shiffon Theodorou has been selected to attend the third annual Asia Society Confucius Classrooms Teachers Institute, an exclusive three-day seminar in Los Angeles, California. The Asia Society Confucius Classroom Teachers Institute accepted only 50 teachers in the nation based on extensive applications. Theodorou submitted samples of innovative lessons as well as strategies she uses to engage her students and differentiate lessons. The Institute will be led by master Chinese language teacher Dr Wei-ling Wu, a 25-year veteran teacher from the West Windsor-Plainsboro School District in New Jersey. He has published several textbooks and is a pioneer of Chinese language instruction. The seminar will include strategies submitted by the participants and new lessons that this group of talented teachers will create.

In 2010 Simsbury Public Schools was accepted as a member of the first cohort of 20 “pioneer” schools in the national Confucius Classrooms Network, in recognition of its potential as a model Chinese language program for the United States, with strong local leadership, demonstrated commitment to international exchange and collaboration, and global vision for the future.