VHHS teacher receives national teaching award

Vestavia Hills High School German teacher Laura Buder was recently selected for a national teaching award from the German Embassy in Washington.

Buder is in her fifth year of teaching at VHHS and was nominated for the German Embassy Teacher of the Year Award by the Alabama Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of German. Her nomination stemmed from her work to develop instructional strategies that focus on growing student’s individual proficiency of German language and culture.

The German Embassy in Washington, in partnership with the Goethe-Institut and AATG, selected Buder as one of three teachers nationwide to receive the German Embassy Teacher of Excellence Award. The Goethe-Institut is a German language and cultural education organization.

“I’m thrilled and honored to be one of the few chosen, especially considering that this award is open to teachers throughout the U.S.,” Buder said.

As an award recipient, Buder will travel to Boston in November for the AATG awards ceremony. She will also take part in professional development with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Next summer, Buder will also travel to Germany for a two-week professional learning trip that is hosted by the Goethe-Institut.

Teaching students German opens up a range of opportunities for students, Buder said.

“There are nearly 70 German companies in Alabama and hundreds more in cities like Atlanta, Chattanooga and Greenville,” she said. “By studying German language and culture, students have the opportunity to use it in a career, travel or even to live and work abroad.”

Buder said the award validated the commitment VHHS’ world language faculty has toward creating student-centered, proficiency-focused learning environments.

“This is something we’ve all been working on together, and I hope this professional development will give me an opportunity to bring back some knowledge and encouragement that we can all benefit from,” she said.