Cultural Educator of the Year
Corina Badea - Va. Outstanding Cultural Educator
“In order for me to make my culture known, I created a Romanian corner with postcards, flags, books and traditional objects that can be seen by the students every day.”

Corina Badea • Romania Romania
Virginia Outstanding Cultural Educator

ESOL teacher
Victory Elementary ▪ Prince William County Schools, Virginia

To help her English as a second language students learn about Romanian culture, Corina Badea, a second-term VIF teacher, dedicated a corner of her classroom to her homeland, displaying postcards, flags, books and artifacts. Badea asked her students to create similar projects of their own to share their personal heritage. Her students shared pictures and money, taught their classmates words in their native languages, and presented their countries of origin with pride.

Badea shares stories and traditions from her Romanian heritage with her students. On March 1, Badea’s class celebrates the Romanian holiday of Mărţişor, which announces spring’s arrival. Her students read the legend of Mărţişor and make their own martisoare and posters about spring. They also make postcards for the school’s administrators, tied with red and white ribbon, wishing them a happy spring full of pleasant surprises.

When, for a school-wide Cultural Day program last year, each grade chose a continent and country to study, Badea encouraged the second grade to choose Romania. Badea played a recording of Cleopatra Stratan, a famous three-year-old Romanian singer, and taught the students Romanian vocabulary.

Julie Shipp, Second Grade Team Leader, Victory Elementary:

“Ms. Badea has provided the students with opportunities to learn about her culture while encouraging the students to share their own culture. She has been a vital member of our grade level team as well as an asset to our school community.”