W&L’s Tess Deyerle ’24 Selected for Teaching Assistant Program in France Deyerle will teach English to French public school students before pursuing a career in special education.
Washington and Lee University graduate Tess Deyerle ’24 has been selected for the Teaching Assistant Program in France (TAPIF) to teach English in France. At W&L, Deyerle was a cognitive and behavioral science and French double major. Deyerle is a native of Midlothian, Virginia, and graduated from St. Catherine’s School.
TAPIF is administered by the Cultural Services division of the French Embassy in the United States. Teaching assistants are placed in elementary or secondary schools throughout France and the overseas departments of French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Mayotte, Martinique and la Réunion, teaching English linguistic and language skills while improving their own French language skills and fully immersing themselves in French culture and society.
“I could not be more grateful for this opportunity to fully immerse myself in French culture, explore more of the world and learn more about myself and others,” said Deyerle, who will be placed in the city of Poitiers.
Learning about the French language and culture has been a lifelong passion for Deyerle. Since spending Spring Term of 2022 abroad in Toulouse, France, with Steve McCormick, associate professor of French and Italian, she has dreamed about returning to France, and TAPIF will make this dream a reality. McCormick and Megan Fulcher, professor of cognitive and behavioral science, served as Deyerle’s faculty advisers, and she is grateful for the support and guidance she received from them during her four years at W&L.
At W&L, Deyerle was a member of Chi Omega sorority, serving in various leadership positions through her involvement in Greek life, and was involved in the Francophone Student Organization and First-Year Orientation Committee. Deyerle was also a member of the women’s swim team for all four years, which she credits as her most impactful experience at W&L.
“From the moment I stepped foot on campus, my teammates became my family,” Deyerle said. “They, along with my coaches, have always supported me in and out of the pool. Over my years on the team, I learned how to adapt to challenging situations, how to set and reach goals and how to push myself to be the best I can be. I grew so much as a member of this team, and I owe much of my success to my experience as a W&L swimmer.”
With TAPIF, Deyerle will depart in September 2024 for her seven-month program. Upon completion of the program, she plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in special education.
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