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Linton teacher garners national award
Residence: Murrysville
Age: 50
Occupation: German teacher for 19 years at Linton Middle School in the Penn Hills School District
Education: A 1973 graduate of Penn Hills High School, he received his bachelor's degree in German education in 1977 from Clarion University
Noteworthy: He is one of only seven teachers nationwide to receive this year's American Association of Teachers of German Certificate of Merit for outstanding achievement in furthering the teaching of German in schools across the United States
Hobbies: Traveling, reading, drawing and painting
"He makes learning fun. We do songs to memorize the subject," said Cory, 14, of Verona. "His method of teaching proves he's better than most teachers. That's why he's getting the award."
Chaney is one of seven teachers nationwide to receive this year's Certificate of Merit for outstanding achievement in furthering the teaching of German in schools across the United States. The association and the Goethe-Institut New York will present the awards at a ceremony Nov. 19 in Baltimore.
Although their teacher is receiving national recognition, it was business as usual last week as students in Chaney's German II class listened attentively as he reviewed prepositions.
Verona ninth-grader Kelly Monteleone, 14, had no trouble understanding the subject matter.
"He explains it well and makes it easy to understand," she said. "It's great to have a good teacher."
A German teacher at Linton for the past 19 years, Chaney, 50, teaches his students not only the language, but also the German culture.
"He definitely deserves the award," said freshman Josh Rockman, 14, of Penn Hills. "We learn the language, plus the manners, etiquette and culture of the German people."
Chaney acknowledged that "it's a challenge to make grammar interesting and fun."
The creative teacher incorporates music, art and movement to support and enliven grammar and vocabulary lessons.
"Students seem to enjoy my hand-drawn flash cards, and the high-school German teachers often tell me that my former students still like to sing those grammar songs to them," Chaney said.
"He teaches creative ways so we actually learn the stuff, instead of just telling it to us," said freshman Suzy Spieler, 14, of Penn Hills. "It makes it a lot easier to learn."
In the last three years, two of Chaney's former students received top awards in the Penn Hills School District for their understanding of the German language.
Chaney said he is honored that he was nominated for the national award by his peers and that so many of his former students think so highly of him.
Two of his former students who nominated him for the award now are German teachers in the Mt. Lebanon and Fox Chapel Area school districts.
"Herr Chaney has been the most inspirational teacher I have had," said his former student Hannah Hiller, a sophomore majoring in German and chemistry at Allegheny College. "His enthusiasm for his subject encouraged me to pursue higher studies in German."
To expose his students to the German language and culture, every other summer, Chaney has taken a group of 13 to 20 students to Germany and Austria for nine days. He currently is planning his fifth trip for next summer.
Linton's German program has "flourished" under Chaney's direction, Linton Principal Sherry Conrad said.
"He's the person who most warrants this award," Conrad said. "The kids love and respect him."
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