meet Madame Wardan

Foreign language classes have always been a unique part of the culture at Huntsville High School. Aline Wardan’s French class has added fun and flair to that culture.

Madame Wardan is not from France. Wardan hails from Lebanon, a country in the Middle East that borders Israel, Jordan and Syria. Lebanon is a member of the international organization of French-speaking countries, so Wardan’s first language is actually Arabic. Her second language is French.

France is also where Wardan discovered her passion for teaching.

“When I was 16 years old, I volunteered to help young kids in my village by teaching summer school, and for years I taught Sunday school at my church,” Wardan explained. “I enjoy being around students and making a positive and lasting impact on them.”

But it isn’t just in the classroom where Wardan has an impact on her students. She prides herself on fostering a safe, supporting environment for all of her students, and her impact has not gone unnoticed.

“She genuinely likes helping us as students and in personal struggles,” junior Njebe Shandomo said. “Like, if you’re having a bad day she’ll ask you what’s going on. She’s like a teacher and a mother figure at the same time.”

All of this is amazing when you take into consideration that Wardan arrived in Texas not too long ago, having immigrated to America with her family just 2 1/2years ago. In her short time here, Wardan has made quite an impression.

“I met Madame when I was her son’s teacher,” said Mrs. Mims, an English teacher at HHS. “Her son became friends with my son and now we consider her entire family to be our family." 

   “When I first met Madame Wardan, she was new to America,” Mims added. “When I realized how beautifully she spoke French,  I suggested she come teach French at Huntsville High School. I told (former principal) Mr. Trevino what a great person and teacher I knew she would make. Clearly, I was right! God has blessed our school with the addition of Madame Wardan.”