The 2011 Sigma Delta Pi South Carolina Spanish Teacher of the Year is Rock Hill’s Lynn Fulton-Archer of Richmond Drive Elementary School. The announcement was made on November 10, 2011 at the College of Charleston, the national headquarters of Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Spanish Honor Society. Jamie Egan-Lessard (Lakewood High School, Sumter) and Carla Hogue (Goose Creek High School, Goose Creek) were named runners-up.

Since 2003, Sra. Fulton, as she is warmly called, has taught at Richmond Drive Elementary where she is widely recognized for her enthusiasm, innovation, creativity and effectiveness in the classroom while she often manages a 10-class-a-day schedule. Sra. Fulton’s role in the “Discover Languages” contest where students create podcasts about the importance of learning Spanish has resulted in national finalists from Richmond Elementary for the past three years. She is also active with promoting the Hispanic language and culture beyond the classroom, such as her volunteerism as a Spanish-language interpreter. Sra. Fulton-Archer earned her B.A. in Spanish from Wofford College and her M.A. from Middlebury College.

“This year’s three finalists were exceptional, yet Lynn Fulton-Archer clearly distinguished herself in our Board’s eyes for her strong impact as a teacher of Hispanic language and culture both in the class and in the broader community,” says Mark P. Del Mastro, Chair of the Hispanic studies department at the College of Charleston and founding director of the contest. “Sra. Fulton also has the special distinction of being the first elementary teacher selected in the contest’s history—all six past awardees were high school educators.  Richmond Drive Elementary and its students are very fortunate to have such an outstanding teacher of Spanish.”

Nominees for the South Carolina Spanish Teacher of the Year award are judged on their motivation in teaching, their role in Spanish curriculum development, extra-curricular activities related to the Hispanic culture and evidence of esteem of colleagues, parents and students. Nominees must have taught K-12 Spanish in South Carolina for at least four years to be eligible.

The South Carolina Spanish Teacher of the Year program has been in place for seven years. The 2010 awardee was Darlene Whitaker of Great Falls High School and the 2009 awardee was Elizabeth Sanderson of Lakewood High School.

More information about the award.

Sigma Delta Pi is the largest foreign language honor society in the United States with 582 chapters nationwide and is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, the only certifying agency for college and university honor societies. The College’s chapter has inducted 17 new student members this fall, maintains a membership of 20-30 active members each year, and this past summer was named a national Honor Chapter for its outstanding activities realized during the 2010-11 academic year

For more information, contact Mark P. Del Mastro at delmastromp@cofc.edu.