After more than 30 years with Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools, Linda Beaudet has been promoted to District Principal of French Immersion. Beaudet joined the district in 1986 and spent 22 years at Ecole St. Gerard. She has been the principal at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Sexsmith since 2009 and is credited with helping it grow from a small K to 8 school to an innovative pre-K to grade 12 facility.
Beaudet has an extensive education background and won the province’s Exellence in Teaching Award in 2000 for her use of technology in the classroom. On the side, she’s also volunteered for many events that promote French language and culture through the French Association of Grande Prairie, and introduced the Alberta Francophone Games to the city. That event stills goes on today.
“I do think that French Immersion programming provides a great advantage for children,” she says. “The earlier they learn a language, the more proficient they become. However, the advantage is more than knowing both official languages. Students also learn to be creative thinkers, become more independent, open-minded, and it stimulates the brain.”
In addition to her regular duties, Beaudet’s main work for her new job will be bettering the grade 7 to 12 French Immersion program, and supporting the pre-K to grade 6 one as well. She’ll stay based out of St. Mary’s until they can find a replacement.