Samantha Godden-Chmielowicz (IL '07)
Teacher, Department Chair
Schurz High SchoolChicago, IL
At the time of the Award, Samantha Godden-Chmielowicz was:
Teacher, Department ChairSchurz High School
Chicago, IL
Subject(s) taught: French
Grade(s): 9, 10, 11, 12
Biographical Information
French teacher Samantha Godden-Chmielowicz has expanded the global language skills of students at Carl Schurz High School in Chicago. Her innovative, hands-on strategies have included collaborating with colleagues to create an annual "International Day," during which students perform dances and songs and share food and customs from other countries with schoolmates, parents and the community. Godden-Chmielowicz created the school's foreign exchange program, which has hosted foreign exchange students for an entire school year. She was also instrumental in creating the school's Global Studies Academic Program, earning the school Academy status, which allows students from throughout Chicago to study French, Italian and Spanish at Schurz. Godden-Chmielowicz's contributions to the world language program have improved reading, language and vocabulary schoolwide, not only in foreign languages, but in other subjects as well. A National Board Certified teacher, Godden-Chmielowicz has mentored several National Board Certification candidates as well as new teachers. She has been chair of the world language department at Schurz since 2005, and served on the executive council of the Chicago/Northern Illinois chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF).
