Doris Clay
Awarded, 2006
Doris ClayAwarded, 2006 |
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Presenter: Janice Elliot Clay
My nominee for a distinguished educator award is Doris Clay. Madame Clay was my French teacher in 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and part of 9th grades, traveling up the school system as I grew and attended junior high and high school. I remember taking French from her in elementary school, learning basic phrases, singing children’s songs, and learning the names of common objects around the house. I still recall the names for items used in table settings, although I have little cause to use the French version of them today.
At Eastview Junior High School I was thrilled to learn that Madame Clay would be my French teacher. I looked forward to each class session because she made it fun to learn. Many times we students would laugh at one another’s rendition of the ALM dialog, as we were encouraged to act it out, ham it up, and perform as though we were native speakers of the language. In 9th grade, I was disappointed to learn that a schedule change did not allow me to be in her French class. However I continued with the language until high school, where I studied Latin under Virginia Ocasek.
When Mrs. Clay came to teach at Revere High School, I was sorry that I was not currently studying French, however, I still had close contact with her my junior and senior years. As my classmates who continued their French studies with her came to know of Madame Clay’s love for art, music and theater during cultural lessons, I, too, became familiar with her love for the arts since she advised the drama productions along with Kate Frazier.
Because she was so influential to me, I minored in French in college and went on post graduate to earn a teaching credential in French Language. Her excitement for teaching and advising and love of learning became even more apparent to me when I joined her family as daughter-in-law. What a role model to have as I pursued a teaching certificate and started a family! We have enjoyed many discussions about education, raising children, loving languages, art, travel and learning. In short, I cannot imagine having anyone better as a teacher, mentor, and mother-in-law.
