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SPARK community

The SPARK team is actively engaged in growing the SPARK community  by connecting current labs with the new ones, collaborating with regional language conferences and national language advocacy organizaations, and by integrating SPARK into other Goethe-Institut and AATG initiatives.

The SPARK team supports collaboration between teachers and students and invites active participation to strengthen German programs in the USA and to train the next generation of German teachers. Through workshops, seminars and participation in conferences, we encourage dialogue within our SPARK community and build bridges to connect with anyone interested in language teaching and learning. Through our work we aim to respond to challenges and celebrate together the successes we achieve.

We believe in exchange and collaboration between instructors and students locally and across the United States. SPARK champions language learning and teaching and highlights the benefits of teaching and learning German to support the transatlantic dialogue between Germany and the United States and improve educational opportunities for U.S. students.

Das Goethe-Institut arbeitet mit Schulen und Hochschulen in vier Netzwerken: Transatlantik Outreach Program (TOP), German American Partnership Program (GAPP), Schulen: Partner der Zukunft (PASCH) und SPARK for German. Bitte klicken Sie auf den Tab SPARK Partner und Schulen um zu sehen, wo SPARK tätig ist und vielleicht ein SPARK Lab in der Nähe finden!

School portraits

Meet some of our schools here!


SPARK Karrierenetzwerk Deutsch: German teachers share their stories

German educators share their stories to provide insights into the teaching profession and to encourage others to consider a career in teaching.

Deb Backman

Deb Backman

Cony High School
Augusta, ME

William Layher

William Layher

Ladue Horton Watkins High School
St. Louis, MO

Rebecca Lindemulder

Rebecca Lindemulder

Stuyvesant High School
New York, NY

Peg Meyers

Peg Meyers

Mt. Lebanon High School
Pittsburgh, PA

Doug Philipp

Doug Philipp

Cheyenne Mt. High School
Colorado Spring, CO

Nathan Prichard

Nathan Prichard

Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School
Sudbury, MA


SPARK team

Our SPARK Team is ready to support you every step of the way!
 

Susanne Rinner © Susanne Rinner

Co-Director
Susanne Rinner

Susanne is the Co-Director for SPARK for German and the Program Director for Network of Excellence, both joint projects of the Goethe-Institut and AATG. As an advocate for public education, she supports the implementation of language education as part of the core curriculum in the U.S. More...

Michael Thompson SPARK

Co-Director
Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson is the Co-Director for the SPARK program at the Goethe Institute in Washington, DC. His experience has fueled his desire to advocate for access to German language programs and resources for learners from all different backgrounds. More...

Denise Larsson

Regional Coordinator for Texas and Midwest
Denise Larsson

Denise is passionate about teaching and tutoring public and private school language students of all levels and ages supporting them to discover their potential and achieve their learning goals. More...

Nella Spurlin

Regional Coordinator for Texas and Southwest
Nella Spurlin

Having retired from full-time German teaching, Nella has been involved in professional development training for world language teachers and in language and community arts programs for children. More...

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