
Maureen Elwell Peltier
President
Maureen has been the president of the American Association of Teachers of French - Minnesota Chapter since 2020.

Maureen's story
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I retired from teaching in June 2023. What began with a curiosity and passion for language, travel, and cultures ended in a most rewarding 39 years in education. During this time, I was fortunate to teach in a variety of settings, including all levels of K-12 education, in public and private settings, in rural and urban communities, domestically and internationally. All of these settings brought their own challenges but also their own rewards.
The last 17 years of my career were spent at Saint Paul Central High School, where I was given the task to develop a high school dual language / immersion articulation program. This was a long process that kept me engaged and focused on learning everything I could about language teaching. Although it took all 17 years to feel confident that I had completed the job, it could not have been more gratifying.
In 2020, I was invited to attend an AATF Minnesota board meeting. Three meetings later, I was on the ballot for president! I accepted this challenge because advocacy felt like the natural next step in my professional journey. And now I look forward to more involvement in our national mission: to attract teachers to the profession and students to the classroom.
I would be remiss not to mention the influence and guidance that the University of Minnesota played in my education. With a B.A.’s in French and in International Relations, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, a K-12 Administrative Licensure, and a Certificate in Staff Development, I felt ready to tackle the projects that came my way.
Although my current titled is “Retired French Teacher”, I feel far from that. I hope to continue to play a role in the support and development of programs and to expand the influence and impact of the AATF Minnesota. Retired French Teacher? Sure, but still going strong!
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