Jody Reif Ziemann
Spanish Educator
N8569 Seward Drive Berlin,WI
Summary
Passionate and creative language teacher with extensive language and travel experience. Highly skilled at developing and and implementing modern foreign language pedagogical methods with students. Successful in encouraging and assisting students to develop strong Spanish literacy skills. Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
Overview
45
45
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Teacher
Berlin High School
09.1980 - Current
- Taught Spanish levels I - V
- Mentor to 5 beginning foreign language teachers, 2010, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1998
- National Honor Society Advisor from 1998 to present
- Cooperating Teacher for Student Teachers, 1998 - present
- Worked with Interact Travel, teachers from throughout the U.S. and their students, June 1995, 1996, 1997
- Organized and chaperoned a student trip to Concordia Language camp, Bemidji, Minnesota, 1997
- Interpreter/Translator/Liaison between LEP students/parents and Berlin School System, 1981- present
- Bilingual classroom aide and bilingual secretary/office assistant, Berlin Summer Migrant Project, summer 1981 - 2007
- Interpreter / School - Parent liaison, Berlin Summer Migrant Program, 1981 - 2007
- Head advisor for Spanish Club, 1980 - 2018
- 43 years of Milwaukee Folk Fair trips and other evening/weekend activities
- Worked with upper level students teaching elementary school Spanish units, 1990 - 2018
- Integrated cultural awareness into lessons by incorporating diverse perspectives and materials into curriculum.
- Mentored new teachers, sharing best practices and providing guidance to help them adapt to their new roles successfully.
- Collaborated with other teachers to plan interdisciplinary units that connected subjects and promoted deeper understanding among students.
- Enhanced classroom engagement through use of interactive teaching methods, such as group projects and hands-on activities.
- Developed strong relationships with students, parents, and colleagues by maintaining open lines of communication and fostering supportive learning environment.
- Continuously pursued professional development opportunities such as workshops or conferences to stay current in educational trends.
- Assessed student performance regularly using both formative and summative assessments to inform future lesson planning and maintained accurate records of student progress, attendance, and behavior to facilitate ongoing communication with parents about their child's educational journey.
- Served on school leadership committees focused on initiatives to contribute positively to overall school climate.
- Managed classroom behavior effectively by establishing clear expectations, modeling appropriate conduct, and consistently enforcing established rules and consequences.
- Incorporated multiple types of teaching strategies into classroom with lessons integrated to meet national standards.
- Incorporated exciting and engaging activities to achieve student participation and hands-on learning.
- Supported student teachers by mentoring on classroom management, lesson planning, and activity organization.
- Developed and implemented classroom routines to address varying student needs.
- Department chair since 1993.
Teacher
Butte Des Morts And Maplewood Junior High Schools
09.1979 - 06.1980
- Taught one 8th grade Exploratory Spanish and one 9th grade Spanish 1 class.
- Co-organized International Club activities.
- Led 3-week trip to Chihuahua, Mexico in an exchange program with a school there. Set up activities in Menasha for students when they arrived from Mexico to stay with families.
Education
Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Leadership
Marian University
Fond Du Lac, WI 09.2007 - 05.2016
No Degree - Post Baccalaureate Spanish Language Pedagogy
Augusta State University / University of Salamanca
Salamanca, Spain 05.2001 -
No Degree - Comparative Study of Foreign Language Pedagogy
St. Thomas University
Minnesota, Study Abroad In Bath England 05.2001 -
Master of Arts - Education / Teacher Development
Marian College of Fond Du Lac
Fond Du Lac, WI 09.1993 - 11.1996
No Degree - Foreign Language Education And Spanish
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Madison, WI 05.2001 - 05.1985
Bachelor of Science - Foreign Languages Education (Spanish & German)
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
Oshkosh, WI 09.1975 - 05.1979
Skills
Student Engagement
Presentations Made
- 2023 Wisconsin Association for Language Teachers Annual Fall Conference (WAFLT), Surviving the First Few Years: Tips and Tricks for beginning language teachers
- 2022 Co-Keynote Speaker for WAFLT Annual Fall Conference
- 2021 American Council on the Teaching of Language Annual Fall Conference (virtual), Co-Presenter, Adding NOVELty to FVR
- 2019 WAFLT Annual Fall Conference, Adding NOVELty to FVR
- 2018 WAFLT Annual Fall Conference, Co-Presenter, Got Game 2?
- 2017 WAFLT Annual Fall Conference, Co-Presenter, Got Game?
- 2014 WAFLT Annual Fall Conference, Technology Institute Follow-up
- Guest lecturer for University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh Foreign Language Methods classes for Mr. Ron Swanson, 2009-2012
- 2011 WAFLT Annual Fall Conference, Co-Presenter, Let's Get VERBal!
- 2010 WAFLT Annual Fall Conference, A Variety of Vocabulary Activities and Games
- Central States Conference for the Teaching of Foreign Languages, Columbus Ohio, March 10-12, 2005, Co-Presenter, Best of Wisconsin: ¿Qué Hay de Nuevo?
- 2004 WAFLT Annual Fall Conference, Co-Presenter, Practiquemos las Palabras
- 2003 WAFLT Annual Fall Conference, Co-Presenter, ¿Qué Hay de Nuevo?
- 2000 WAFLT Annual Fall Conference, Co-Presenter, ¡Celebremos la Navidad!
Awards Honors Received
- 2021 Wisconsin Association for Language Teachers (WAFLT) Distinguished Language Educator
- 2004 WAFLT Certificate of Merit, November, 2004
- 2003 WAFLT session, ¿Qué Hay de Nuevo?, chosen “Best of Wisconsin,” November, 2003
- Berlin High School Teacher of the Trimester - Second Trimester, 2001-02 (awarded by student council)
- WAFLT Bravo Gram – December, 1996
- Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers – 1990, 2004 and 2005 (nominated by former students)
- Outstanding Young Woman of America - 1986
- Honoree of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society - 1978-79
- Outstanding Senior Woman at UW-Oshkosh - 1979
- Outstanding Student in German - 1979
- Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges - 1978-79
- Outstanding Student in Spanish - 1976 and 1977
School Address
222 Memorial Drive, Berlin, WI, 54923
lajirafa@hotmail.com, jziemann@berlin.k12.wi.us
Additional classes, conferences & related travel
- 1980-2024, Organized and led 20 trips abroad with high school students (Mexico, Spain, Peru, Guatemala)
- July 2012, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Alicante, Málaga and Vigo
- December 2011, 12 days Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile
- June 2009, Madrid and Barcelona
- June 2005, 2 weeks, Spain
- University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, CARLA Institute, 2, July 26-30, 2004
- Concordia College, Bemidji, Minnesota, Concordia Language Villages Teacher Seminar, 3, August, 2003
- Wisconsin DPI/CESA6, Peer Review and Mentoring Orientation, July, 2003
- Augusta State University, Augusta, Georgia, Special Topics: K-12 Methods of Teaching Spanish, 3, Summer, 2002
- June/July 2002, Spain, 3-credit course and travel
- August 2001, Bolivia and Perú
- November 2001, Puebla, México – Day of the Dead
- Wisconsin Court Interpreters’ Training Workshop, Appleton, Wisconsin, October, 2002
- University of St. Thomas, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Global Links, Summer, 2000, Comparative study of teaching methodology: England / US
- University of Green Bay, Green Bay, Wisconsin, Active Learning Strategies, Winter, 1999-2000
- Beginning Educator Support and Training, 1999
- Bureau of Educational Research workshops, Brookfield, Madison, and Appleton, Wisconsin, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008
- November 1999, Puebla, México – Day of the Dead
- December 1998, 2 weeks, Brazil, Argentina and Perú
- November 1998, Oaxaca, México – Day of the Dead
Community Service
- Co-chaired and ran Scholarship Spaghetti Dinner - March 2024
- Member of Grace Lutheran Church Handbell/Handchime Choir, 1994 - present
- Interpreter/Translator for the Berlin Memorial Hospital, Ripon Hospital, Berlin Police Department, Ripon Police Department, Green Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Green Lake County Court System, Department of Corrections, Green Lake County Department of Health and Human Services and Wisconsin DEA, 1990 – present
- Member of Grace Lutheran Church Praise Team, 2008 present
- Member of Grace Lutheran Church Choir, 1986 – present
- Presentations to AAUW, Kiwanis, Grace Lutheran Church and other community organizations
Timeline
Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Leadership
Marian University
09.2007 - 05.2016
No Degree - Post Baccalaureate Spanish Language Pedagogy
Augusta State University / University of Salamanca
05.2001 -
No Degree - Comparative Study of Foreign Language Pedagogy
St. Thomas University
05.2001 -
No Degree - Foreign Language Education And Spanish
University of Wisconsin - Madison
05.2001 - 05.1985
Master of Arts - Education / Teacher Development
Marian College of Fond Du Lac
09.1993 - 11.1996
Teacher
Berlin High School
09.1980 - Current
Teacher
Butte Des Morts And Maplewood Junior High Schools
09.1979 - 06.1980
Bachelor of Science - Foreign Languages Education (Spanish & German)
University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh
09.1975 - 05.1979
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