Wheelock, Kathryn

Kathryn Wheelock teaches French (in 2020-21 French 2, French 4, French 5, and AP French Language and Culture) and serves as World Languages Chair, at Wakefield High School. Katy’s career has focused on high school teaching as well as cultural training in Africa, following two years of study and work in Dakar, Senegal through a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship in 1997. Mme Wheelock was recently knighted Chevalier des Palmes Académiques by the Government of France for her service promoting the French language and culture through various initiatives.  She established the Wakefield chapter of Société Honoraire de Français (SHF), and will induct its seventh group of members in the fall of 2020. Special activities at Wakefield have led to increased vibrancy of the French program through participation in the Grand Concours (National French Contest), National French Week, Mois de la Francophonie, Fête de la Gastronomie, and a unique Wakefield initiative called “Passport to French” where middle school students from Gunston, Jefferson and Kenmore are invited for a Saturday morning of cultural workshops led by SHF members.  Every other year, she leads the World Languages’  Declamation Contest, where students in French, Spanish, ASL, Japanese, Chinese, German and Arabic recite memorized poetry before an audience and judges from local embassies, universities and former teachers.  Katy regularly attends and presents at professional conferences such as: The Greater Washington Association of Teacher of Foreign Languages, Foreign Language Association of Virginia, the American Association of Teachers of French, and ACTFL.  Mme Wheelock has visited over 30 countries around the world, and hopes to visit many more when traveling is safe again.

Here are some of her recent professional experiences:

• AATF Region III Representative (January 2017-January 2023) to serve on the Executive Council and to oversee AATF chapters in Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
• AATF Northern Virginia / Washington DC Chapter Vice-President
• AATF National Commission member for Teacher Recruitment and Retention
• Virginia Department of Education Scholarship:  Traveled to France to meet Partner Schools in the Académie de Reims, France
• Sister Cities International – organizes and leads student exchange programs from Arlington County to Reims, France
• Stage Pédagogique de Courte Durée at the CAVILAM language institute in Vichy, France
• AATF Future Leader Program in Saguenay, Québec, Canada