Can you speak in two or more languages?

Matthew Fitzgerald
SJHS Staff Writer

How often do you see a teacher working with bilingual or multicultural children? Not too often, which is why Mrs. Mary Rice, a teacher at Springville Junior High School won the Bilingual Educator of the Year award. Awarded on September 27, 2008 and announced by her own student, Delon Lier at a dinner in Salt Lake City is something worthy to be proud of.

The Bilingual Educator of the Year award is given by the Utah Association of Bilingual Educators for teachers who demonstrate exceptional acumen for working with bilingual and multicultural children, Mrs. Rice explained. The word bilingual means that they speak at least two languages. So in simpler terms, Mrs. Rice teaches bilingual or multilingual children that speak English as well as Samoan, Spanish, French, etc.

“The act of helping young people from all backgrounds negotiate their identities is a fascinating and rewarding odyssey,” Mrs. Rice explained. She runs programs for raising money to give books to kids that they like. She is also involved in advocacy for bilingual students in government and with organizing the bilingual community to self advocate. “I guess this impressed the UABE members.” Mrs. Rice added.