Zadeh receives state award

Warren County School ESOL testing and equity director Dianna Zadeh, right, is presented the TN TESOL President?s Award for 2006 by organization president Dr. Beverly Hearn of UT-Martin.

The TN TESOL President?s Award was established by the Board of Directors in January, 1999 to be given to someone deserving, but not necessarily to be given every year, and that person be selected at the discretion of the president with the approval of the board.

TN TESOL is the professional organization for teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages across every educational spectrum, including public education, private schools, universities and technological schools, and adult education.

The 2005-06 president, Dr. Beverly Hearn of UT-Martin, described the many contributions Zadeh has made to TN TESOL over the past almost 20 years. Besides serving as president, vice president and a member of the executive board of TN TESOL several times, she has chaired a state and 10-state conference called Southeast TESOL.

In addition, she has been a frequent presenter at state and regional conferences and has helped many rural systems start their ESL Programs as she did for the one in Jackson by providing advice and sharing materials and experiences. She was an integral part of this year?s pre-conference institute, working with Dr. Julie McCargar, director of Tennessee?s Federal Programs, and was a presenter of her own session on how to have an effective ESOL Program.

?Besides serving on several State ESL Committees and Testing Reviews, Dianna has managed to miss only one TN TESOL Conference in 18 years,? Hearn said. ?She is truly deserving of our highest professional award.?