A German teacher who lends her expertise to WKU’s international student teaching program is honored for her commitment. Amy Bingham explains how WKU benefits from this unique partnership in this week’s View from the Hill.
On Feb. 28, WKU President Gary Ransdell presented Heike Armbrust with a Kentucky Colonel recognition certificate and a resolution to declare her an Honorary Alumna of WKU. The ceremony took place in the Dean’s Conference room at the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Gary Ransdell Hall.
WKU President Gary Ransdell presented Heike Armbrust with a resolution declaring her an honorary alumna on Feb. 28. (WKU photo by Clinton Lewis)
Armbrust is an English teacher and the facilitator of international student teaching at the Anne Frank Gymnasium in Werne, Germany. She travels to WKU each semester to meet with students who plan to complete their international student teaching experience at her school.
After becoming acquainted with the student teachers, she arranges housing with the families of children who attend her school. The families accept the WKU students into their homes free of charge.
Armbrust not only makes sure the student teachers have meaningful experiences at her school, she also arranges for the students to immerse themselves in German culture. From coordinating trips to Berlin with school faculty who serve as guides to visiting government buildings and historical sites, Armbrust ensures each student teacher receives a well-rounded German experience.
Brian Campbell, a WKU student who completed his student teaching in the fall of 2013, said: “Heike went above and beyond to make our international student teaching experience one of the best experiences of our lives.”
Through her work as a teacher and as an international student teaching facilitator, Armbrust embodies the mission of the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences of “empowering individuals to lead and serve our dynamic world” and supports the vision that WKU is a “leading university with international reach.”
For information on the International Student Teaching program at WKU, contact Dr. Fred Carter at (270) 745-4662.
More: Link to German newspaper coverage; pdf of newspaper story on award
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