Passionate about teaching language to young people in urban settings, Jennifer Meier Geistfeld has left her mark in high school classrooms in Columbus, Ohio, and at her alma mater, which recently awarded her its Outstanding Young Alumna Award for professional achievement during Homecoming 2007..

"Because of Wittenberg, I have had the chance to do things I love to do - teach and share myself with others," she said.

Currently teaching Spanish to ninth-12th-grade students at Beechcroft High School, Geistfeld regularly incorporates technology into her classes as well as opportunities to improve writing. In addition to requiring weekly journals for juniors and seniors, she also ensures that students understand the culture and community, make connections and comparisons, and communicate effectively as outlined by the Foreign Language Proficiency Assessment framework.

Chair of the foreign language department for four years, Geistfeld was selected twice by the principal to serve on the building advisory committee. At the same time, Geistfeld, who earned her master's in education from Ashland University in 2005, served as a mentor teacher for graduate student teachers in education through The Ohio State University. She has also served as an adviser to numerous school organizations, including Future Educators of America, the International Club and the Student Council, where she coordinated an annual blood drive, helped to generate school spirit and met regularly with students to address their concerns.

Prior to Beechcroft, Geistfeld taught the ninth-12th graders at Walnut Ridge High School from 1998-2003, where she regularly showcased students' efforts, progress and achievements through portfolios, which were used for production, assessment, revision and reassessment. During her tenure, the school selected her as Teacher of the Year.

"Wittenberg's motto, "Having Light We Pass It On To Others," is so true. Wittenberg taught me that, and I was very fortunate to come here and be influenced by some amazing people," she said. "I found out who I was, and I went on to education."

- Karen Gerboth '93