Franklin Regional French teacher earns ‘Global Educator’ designation
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When Kerrie Tonet-Berlin had a chance to spend roughly a year living in France, after her husband’s job took them overseas, it gave her a chance to step back and look at how truly global the world was becoming.
“Westinghouse, Siemens, Heinz, all of these local companies have this global connection,” said Tonet-Berlin.
In addition to teaching French at Franklin Regional Senior High School, Tonet-Berlin was also recently certified by the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association as a PSMLA Global Educator, one of 17 in Pennsylvania to receive the designation this past March. She serves as the advisor for the association’s Global Scholars program at Franklin Regional.
“I thought it was really something unique that gave more of an international focus for the kids, and gave them the chance to see things outside their own community and look at the world more globally,” she said.
Students in the program must take four years of the same world language, maintain a 3.75 grade-point average, actively participate in extracurricular activities that explore global issues, complete at least 20 hours of globally focused community service and complete standards-based literature and media reviews.
Those who complete the program receive a certificate and honors cords at graduation. Tonet-Berlin helped bring the program to Franklin Regional five years ago, with about 10 students per year earning the distinction.
“It’s a really neat program, and especially for kids who are interested in international business, or maybe someone is interested in medicine and something like Doctors Without Borders,” Tonet-Berlin said. “It gives them an opportunity to see the world through different eyes.”
She said Pittsburgh has a great many startup companies with global affiliations, and that the Global Scholars program “gives the kids an advantage to use our resources and maybe get that job because of it. “And major universities have these Global Scholar programs as well, so if you have high school kids graduating with some of that experience, they can really get a leg up,” she said.
Districts interested in participating in the program must submit an application to the Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association. The program does not require any new courses but adapts the current school curriculum and does not require additional costs to the district.
“I think now more than ever, kids have a lot of real opportunities to do global studies,” Tonet-Berlin said.