Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) will be joined by retired French Language Educator Pam Kooiker to hear His Excellency Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic at a Joint Meeting of Congress in Washington D.C. on April 25. Kooiker taught French and other subjects at different schools in the Second Congressional District for a combined total of nearly 40 years.

Ms. Kooiker entered the University of Iowa with the intention of studying journalism, but switched to French and Education after taking a required French language course. Her love for the French language and the Republic of France was sealed when she had the opportunity to study at the Université de Caen in northern France during the summer of 1972. After earning her BA in French and Education, she taught French, Journalism and English at Martin Luther King 9th Grade Center from 1976-1979. She then went on to teach French at Brownell Talbot in Omaha until 1984, and from1985-2017 she taught French for the Elkhorn Public Schools.

It was important to Kookier for her students to experience the history and culture of France with the language, so she took students to France eight times. She also encouraged her students to study in France and had several students who ranked nationally on the National French Test sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF).

“Ms. Kooiker’s dedication as an educator to not only teach through a textbook, but through her passion and encouragement for excellence accurately reflects our Nebraska teachers,” said Rep. Bacon. “I am thrilled she is able to join me and represent educators in Nebraska.”

Ms. Kooiker is a member of the American Association of Teachers of French and the Nebraska Association of Teachers of French.

Pictures and information from the visit will be shared via the Congressman’s social media accounts Twitter and Facebook: @RepDonBacon.

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