2023

Valeriya Kozlovskaya, Star Academy, MA (K-8)

Valeriya teaches Russian at the Star Academy, a private school in the greater Boston area. A dedicated, talented, and innovative educator, she is passionate about her students' success and actively involved in local and national Russian education initiatives. As head of the Russian Language Program, Valeriya instructs bilingual children at all levels in language and literature, coordinates instruction, and develops content-based courses for heritage speakers. The academy enrolls a diverse group of learners, many from bilingual backgrounds, and she masterfully navigates the challenges posed by varying heritage speaker needs. She integrates the latest research on heritage bilingualism and learner development into engaging tasks and teaching materials while building supportive relationships with students and parents.

Valeriya has successfully implemented project-based and content-based language learning, enabling students to connect various disciplines with their heritage and the Russian language, enriched by the use of émigré cultural and literary texts. An active member of ACTR and AATSEEL programs, she exemplifies lifelong learning and inspires her students to explore Russian language and culture.

Eric Hood, Sparta High School, NJ (9-12)

Eric has taught Russian levels one through five at Sparta High School since 1990. His passion for Russia has inspired hundreds of students, many of whom continue their studies at the college level. Eric’s mastery of Russian and his professional experience encourage students to use their language skills beyond the classroom as career professionals. His proficiency-based instruction aligns with current standards while fostering cultural understanding.

A polyglot fluent in Hungarian and German, Eric helps students explore the intricate world of language and culture. He creates an inclusive, caring, and challenging learning environment reflective of real-life situations, emphasizing critical and creative thinking and diverse cultural perspectives. All students, regardless of background or ability, have equal opportunities to excel. Eric’s students regularly participate in the ACTR National Russian Essay Contest and the Olympiada of Spoken Russian, with some competing internationally in Moscow. From 1990 to 1997, he managed a US-Soviet high school exchange, overseeing Soviet students in Sparta and leading American students in Moscow. He has also organized 10-day tours to Moscow and St. Petersburg between 1999 and 2018. Constantly improving his own Russian, Eric has actively participated in the US-Soviet Teachers Exchange Program and developed curricula while mentoring new Russian teachers.

2022

Suzanne Jouravlev, Sparta Middle School, NJ (K-8)

As an essential educator in Sparta's long-standing Russian program, Suzanne has committed herself to teaching the Russian Language for the past 33 years. Suzanne began teaching Russian at Sparta High School and moved to Sparta Middle School several years ago. As a "dynamic" and "motivating" educator, she has always encouraged the students in her district to start learning Russian and instilled a passion for the subject matter. When asked why students in Sparta began to learn Russian, they responded: "I was going to take another language, but Mrs. J got me into Russian. She showed us how fun and interesting Russian can be."

Additionally, Suzanne has written innovative materials and curricula that enhance her excellent teaching and promote her students' learning. Over the years, Suzanne has fulfilled numerous administrative tasks in her school and on travel abroad trips to Russia so that students in Sparta can experience the language and culture firsthand. She has worked tirelessly to organize and arrange for such unique travel experiences for her students, which benefit their learning and provide them with an opportunity to apply their skills in the target culture.

William Brennan, Sparta High School, NJ (9-12)

Our awards committee was particularly impressed by Bill’s commitment to Sparta’s Russian program, where he has taught the Russian Language for the past 18 years.  As a thoughtful and reflective teacher constantly seeking to improve their craft, Bill has continuously sought to improve his knowledge of the content and methodology of teaching Russian as a second language.  As an exemplary teacher of Russian, our committee also learned that many of Bill’s colleagues have learned from his teaching and technique, incorporating innovative strategies and activities in Russian and other World Language classrooms at Sparta High School. 

Over the years, Sparta High School students have benefited from Bill’s educational leadership and instruction, not just in the classroom but also in extracurricular settings.  Outside the classroom, he has taken students abroad to Russia on numerous occasions to experience the language and culture firsthand, as well as coaching his students to participate in the Olympiada of Spoken Russian and further demonstrate their proven skills in Russian.