Secondary School Recipient: Mary El -Beheri

Douglas Mac Arthur High School, San Antonio, Texas

Mary has been a German teacher at Douglas Mac Arthur High School in San Antonio for over 30 years, promoting and sustaining interest in the German language and culture. Her recommenders characterize her as a legend, a dynamic individual, a Texas phenomenon and the "grande dame" of Texas German teachers. Mary is credited with being the catalyst for providing the vision and leadership to ensure the vitality of German programs in the state of Texas.

Mary has been recognized both locally and nationally as an outstanding teacher. In 1982 she received the AATG/Goethe ­Institute Certificate of Merit and was also selected as the Texas Language Teacher and the German Teacher of the Year. She has published on her students' efforts to research German history, and she has been editor for various publications in Texas and has served on the editorial board of Die Unterrichtspraxis. She was president of the Texas AATG in 1982-83 and again the president of the South Texas chapter of the AATG from 1995-2001. She has been a member of the AATG since 1964. She has also been a regular and dynamic presenter at AATG, ACTFL and local conferences.

One of her most important and unique contributions was the establishment of the Texas State German Contest in 1976, in which about 1000 students participate annually. Mary also spearheaded the establishment of the German-Texan Heritage Society. Even today Mary continues to serve her peers by writing the "Techie Tips" column for the Texas Foreign Language Association.

Mary's recommenders, which include professors, doctors, former students and the current president of the Texas Foreign Language Association, are understandably effusive in their praise. They note that Mary is able to motivate students and develop in them a love for the German language and culture that stays with them into adulthood. One colleague writes that she is a superb candidate for this award and describes her as "the idea generator, the point person of organization, the kick-starter of languishing good intentions and the inspiration of students and teachers alike."