BOCA RATON — Yinjie Qian, a Chinese language teacher at Olympic Heights Community High School in Boca Raton, has been named the 2012 “Teacher of the Year” by the Florida Foreign Language Association—Florida Chinese Teachers Association.
The award
was bestowed on Qian last month at the 2012 Annual Conference of the Florida Foreign Language Association (FFLA) in Saint Augustine.
“It is a great honor to have been chosen as ‘Teacher of the Year,’” said Qian. “I appreciate the recognition and honor and will continue to do my best.”
Qian joined Olympic Heights in 2001 as a teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages. In 2006, she earned National Board Certification and then took on a leadership role to design and develop the school’s Chinese Language program. Since then, the program has grown from one level to multiple levels and now includes an Advanced Placement class in Chinese as well. Qian also founded the Chinese Club at Olympic Heights.
“We are thrilled that Yinjie has received this statewide honor,” said David Clark, principal at Olympic Heights. “She is dedicated to her students and the teaching profession, and this recognition is well-deserved.”
The “Teacher of the Year” award is bestowed every year by the Florida Chinese Teachers Association, a member organization of the FFLA. FFLA is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the study and teaching of languages and cultures.
“Many teachers at our school are dedicated and hard-working,” said Qian. “To me, they are the unsung heroes and role models I often draw inspiration from. My students are also the source of my driving force. Their energy and enthusiasm for learning have always inspired me to better prepare them for their future.”