The National Latin Exam: Committees

Click here for the 2010 NLE Report or here for Participation Statistics

Steering/Writing Committee

The individual members of the Writing/Steering Committee, all seasoned teachers with experience using a wide variety of textbooks and teaching methods, begin writing the exams each spring. By the middle of August the members, meeting together as a committee, begin the difficult task of reviewing each exam with respect to the level of difficulty, accuracy, and content. After several revisions, the exams are sent to the consultants for their in-depth critiques. Acting upon their suggestions, the committee makes further changes. After a final review, fine-tuning, and proofing, the exams are printed and sent to the schools.

It usually takes the committee twelve to fifteen sessions averaging three to four hours each to complete the work associated with the exams. In addition to the general working sessions, each committee member spends hours taking care of specific tasks such as answering correspondence, word processing, record keeping, publicizing the exam, and writing newsletter articles.

Joe Davenport, Norwell Middle School, Norwell, MA
Sally Davis, 2110 South Quincy St., Arlington , VA 22204
Liz Heimbach , 923 Water Street/P.O. Box 66, Port Royal, VA 22535
Ian Hochberg, St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School, Alexandria, VA 22304
Mark Keith, Co-Chair, Riverbend HS, Fredricksburg, VA 22407
Patricia Lister, Thomas Jefferson HS for Sci & Tech, Alexandria, VA
Betty Merrill, Treasurer, 904 Sylvania Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Linda S. Montross , 52 Spinnaker Court,Heathsville, Va 22473
Sue Robertson, 12211 Diamond Hill Dr. Midlothian, VA 23113
Matthew Webb, 6 Shaw Lane, Dedham, MA 02026

EMERITAE:
Jane H. Hall, White Stone, VA
Christine Sleeper, New Hampshire

Office Staff

Janine Kuty, Office Manager, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Ellen Smith, Administrative Assistant,Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Matt Wallace, Student Aide,Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Consultants

Every fall the Writing/Steering Committee sends drafts of the seven exams to the consultants who are current high school teachers, college professors, or former educators. These consultants are split into two groups, the first group receiving the exams around mid-September and the second group in mid-October. David Perry, our macron specialist, adds the macrons to all the Latin words on the exams. The consultants carefully critique every question on each of the exams, offer suggestions for improvement, and return their comments to the Writing/Steering Committee within a week’s time. Their ideas and contributions are invaluable in the process of preparing the exams for distribution to national and international Latin students.

Martha Abbott, ACTFL, Alexandria , VA 22314
Michael Bales , Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cindy Pope Caltagirone, Web Page Consultant, San Antonio, Texas 78209
Sheila Dickison, Universlty of Florida, Gainesville, Fl
John Donohue, 3414 Valewood Drive, Oakton, VA 22124
Kathy Elifrits, 19 Brandywine Court, Highland Heights, KY
Kevin Gushman, Yorktown High School, Arlington, VA 22207
Ruth Haukeland, 19 Locust Ave., Port Washington, NY
Nancy Llewellyn, Wyoming Catholic College, Lander, WY
David Perry, Rye High School, 1 Parsons St. Rye, NY 10580
Wallace Ragan, St. Albans School, Mount St. Albans School, Washington, D.C. 20016

Scholarship Committee

The NLE Scholarship committee is composed of seven readers: three college professors and three high school teachers plus the Chair. Only two professors and two high school teachers serve as readers each year. The applications are read several times prior to the selection of the twenty-one scholarship winners and five alternates. The first screening is done by the Chair. A second screening is then done to determine which applications will be sent to the readers. Approximately ninety applications are sent to the readers for a third reading. Each reader selects his top thirty-five applications and returns these selections to the chair. At this time, the committee members’ choices are collated, and the winners are chosen. The names of the Scholars are announced at The American Classical League Institute late in June.

Ephy Howard, Chair, Henderson HS, Troy, AL
Cathy Daugherty,11174 Elmont Road, Ashland, VA 23005
Judith de Luce, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Gaylan DuBose, 1304 Fairbanks Dr., Austin, TX
Edith Foster, Visiting Asst. Prof. Classics, College of Wooster, Wooster, OH
Sue L. Gillen, 514 Guinevere Drive, Newtown Square, PA
Linda S. Montross 52 Spinnaker Court,Heathsville, Va
Sandra Woodward, 2881 Sable Ave., Salt Lake City, UT

Advisory Committee

The members of the NLE Advisory Committee represent the various geographic areas of the country, from both public and private middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Their job is to listen to suggestions that teachers around the country may have regarding the exams. When the Advisory Committee meets with the Writing/Steering Committee at the ACL Institute each June, these suggestions are presented and discussed. Please contact any of these members with your comments, suggestions, questions, or concerns about the National Latin Exam. This is a very important way in which your ideas can receive attention.

Susan McDonald, chair, Bradenton, FL
Nancy M. Czupik, Bay Village, OH
Liane Houghtalin, U of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA
Caroline Kelly,Charlotte, NC
Stephen Lee Pearce, New Orleans, LA
Tom Sienkewicz, Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL
Jim Updegraff, Bishops School, La Jolla, CA
Matthew Webb, Alton, NH
Sandra Woodward,Salt Lake City, UT
Athanasia Worley,Overland Park, KS

Advisory: Colleges and Universities

Liane Houghtalin, University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Thomas Sienkewicz, Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL 61462

How to Contact the NLE:

Phone:
1-888-378-7721 (NLE)
1-800-459-9847 (Clement Testing Service)
1-540-654-1567 (FAX)

Address:
National Latin Exam
University of Mary Washington
1301 College Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Email Address:nle@umw.edu