Millennium Magazine_4th Ed

79 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine EDUCATION L ouise Fay Despres was taught to speak French from an early age and soon thereafter, developed a passion for educating students on the French language. Attending Connecticut College as a young adult, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in French in 1966, followed by a Master of Arts in teaching French fromBrown University in 1968. From there, she traveled to Paris, where she earned an additional Master of Arts in French through Middlebury College in 1973. Commencing her career just after receiving a bachelor’s degree, Ms. Despres was a French teacher at North Haven High School in Connecticut from 1967 to 1969 before beginning her tenure at New Canaan High School, where she was a French teacher from 1970 to 2011. During her tenure there, she also taught AP French for over 30 years and served as an advisor to the international club, mentor, chair of independent study, chair of the Department of World Languages, independent study committee member, independent study advisor and advanced placement review committee member. After her retirement in 2011, she continued to act as a substitute teacher. A certified French and Spanish teacher for grades seven through 12, Ms. Despres has been the co-president of the reciprocity chapter of PEO International in Williamsburg, Virginia, since 2019. She has also volunteered on the fellowship committee of the Hyde Park Union Church since 2017 and the housing and hunger committee of the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church since 2015. A volunteer of the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, she has also maintained membership with the University of Chicago Service League and the American Association of Teachers of French for several years. In light of her exceptional undertakings, Ms. Despres received several grants in her field and was the recipient of the Advanced Placement Teacher Recognition Award from the New England College Board in 1994. Likewise, she also received the Pegasus Pride Award from the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers in 2001 and was honored in multiple Who’s Who publications since 1986. Looking toward the future, she intends to become a senior citizen volunteer in Williamsburg. LOUISE FAY DESPRES SECONDARY SCHOOL EDUCATOR New Canaan High School Williamsburg, VA