Dorothy Goff Goulet Named 2009 DoDEA Teacher of the Year

Dorothy Goff Goulet

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - Dorothy Goff Goulet is the Department of Defense Education Activity's (DoDEA's) 2009 Teacher of the Year.

Mrs. Goulet, a 13-year teaching veteran, is a French and U.S. History teacher at Kaiserslautern Middle School in Kaiserslautern, Germany. She has been serving in DoDEA schools for the past eight years, and in addition to her present assignment, she was an Assistant Curriculum Liaison for Social Studies in the Kaiserslautern District Superintendent's Office and prior to that a French and U.S. History Teacher at DoDEA's Guam High School in Asan, Guam.

Prior to entering the DoDEA School System, Mrs. Goulet held a variety of teaching positions in Louisiana, including:

A French and English/Language Arts teacher at Istrouma Senior High School and Technology Magnet in Baton Rouge;
A French and Elementary Art teacher at Edward J. Gay Middle School in Plaquemine, La.;
A French and Journalism/Yearbook teacher at North Iberville Elementary and High School in Plaquemine, La.; and
A French teacher at Wossman High School in Monroe, La.

In addition to the teaching positions she held in Louisiana, Mrs. Goulet taught English as a Foreign Language and Business English at the American Academy of English in Wroclaw, Poland.

Mrs. Goulet majored in Political Science and French at Louisiana State University (LSU), earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree from LSU in French. She also attended LSU's Teacher Education Program and Alternative Teacher Certification Program. She earned credit for advanced studies in Curriculum and Instruction from Chapman University Graduate School and is currently enrolled in Northcentral University's Doctoral Program in Curriculum and Teaching.

]The DoDEA Teacher of the Year Program recognizes and promotes excellence in education. Teachers may be nominated by a peer, administrator, parent, student, or community member. Nominees complete an application packet and submit it to a selection panel at a DoDEA District Office where one applicant is chosen as the District Teacher of the Year. A second panel assembled at DoDEA Headquarters then selects the DoDEA Teacher of the Year from the candidates submitted from each district. The DoDEA Teacher of the Year competes for the title of National Teacher of the Year.

The Teacher of the Year Program encourages teachers to take an active part in educational leadership. As outstanding educators, those selected perform a variety of roles. They promote the teaching profession and work with school officials to enhance the quality of teaching and the education of DoDEA students.

Dr. Shirley A. Miles, DoDEA Director, praised Mrs. Goulet for her accomplishments and her commitment to the organization's mission and vision.

"Mrs. Goulet exemplifies the commitment of all of our teachers to highest student achievement and continuous improvement in all aspects of education," she said.

The DoDEA Teacher of the Year selection panel cited Mrs. Goulet's leadership as the chair of the Kaiserslautern Middle School's School Improvement and Continuous School Progress Programs. The panel also referred to the professional development series she leads for teachers throughout the Kaiserslautern District on more than 14 different professional learning topics.

Tracy Knick, an Instructional Systems Specialist in Foreign Languages at the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS)-Europe's Education Division, said, "Mrs. Goulet's leadership is highly valued on her campus. As the School Improvement Chair, she led Kaiserslautern Middle School through a successful accreditation visit and her formation of teacher-led Professional Learning Communities was key to this success. She has developed varied professional development opportunities that infuse student-centered learning and teaching strategies throughout all content areas."

Dr. Margaret Hoffman-Schmidt, of the Kaiserslautern District Superintendent's staff echoed praise for Mrs. Goulet's leadership and commitment to professional development and research.

"Mrs. Goulet's willingness to be a teacher leader and to work effectively with her team at Kaiserslautern Middle School has translated into the teachers becoming a community of learners. Teachers respect and appreciate a colleague who has 'walked in the boots,' and made significant changes in the lives of students, by implementing research-based, 'cutting-edge' ideas."

Goulet bases her approach to teaching on her core belief of being thorough in her instruction, her explanation, and her determination that all students will achieve at their highest potential.

"I truly believe that there are always new and exciting ways to get one more student to gain just a little more from one lesson and there is always one more way to explain something so three more students understand a concept more clearly."

"I also believe that fresh ideas keep me energized, and an energized teacher is what every student deserves. Sometimes there is even that magical moment when I find the key to a very 'tightly-locked door.' Those students will remember that moment for the rest of their lives and so will I."

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates, and manages the education programs for Department of Defense (DoD) dependents who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. DoDEA consists of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) located overseas, and the Department of Defense Domestic Dependent Elementary and Secondary Schools (DDESS) located in the United States and its territories and possessions. DoDEA provides education to eligible DoD military and civilian dependents from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

printer friendly page printer icon

page top^