By Mark Ambrogi
Andrea Yocum is passionate about teaching French, and her peers have noticed.
Yocum, who has taught at Carmel High Schools for 10 years, was named 2016-17 French Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of French.
“I was extremely honored,” Yocum said. “The coolest part about it for me is when I accepted the award you are in the room with all of your peers from throughout the state that teach French. There were teachers that I network with, go to field trips with and go to state competition with them. There were teachers nearing retirement age, but when I first started teaching 18 years ago they were the ones giving me help and inspiring me. It’s cool because you get a chance to reflect on your career and really think about how far you have come.”
Yocum received the honor at the Indiana Foreign Language Teachers Association conference in November. She was recently honored by the Carmel Clay Schools Board for the accomplishment.
Yocum was nominated by University High School French teacher Shannon Swann. After being nominated, Yocum was asked to put together a portfolio, including her philosophy of education, letters of recommendation from a parent of a student and two French teacher colleagues. There also were samples of students’ work and class projects.
Yocum serves as World Language Department chair and French Club sponsor. Prior to teaching at CHS, she taught at Shelbyville High School for three years and at Pendleton Heights High School for five years.
Yocum enjoys seeing the development of students. She takes her class on field trips at least once a semester. Destination examples include French restaurants, the Indianapolis Museum of Art and a French Opera at Indiana University.
“We try to get out to show how French is used,” she said.
