D. Leyder arrives at Blair, the intersection of cultural crossroads

"As a bilingual and bicultural teen, there were times that I felt that I didn’t fit in. It was as if I had one foot in each country."

D. Leyder

Photo: "As a bilingual and bicultural teen, there were times that I felt that I didn’t fit in. It was as if I had one foot in each country."

"As a bilingual and bicultural teen, there were times that I felt that I didn’t fit in. It was as if I had one foot in each country." Photo courtesy of Elaine Cheng.

Blair French teacher D. Leyder grew up in the United States and Belgium, splitting her time between the two countries every year. She spoke English with one parent and French with the other. Despite her fluency in both languages, she found it difficult to identify with a single country or culture.

Leyder found that her experience living in two different countries broadened her knowledge and perspective of the world. She encourages her students to spend time in another country and take advantage of foreign language classes. "Today, more than ever, it is important to be able to communicate in at least one other language. Knowing languages opens many, many doors," she says. Leyder is cheering for her students and hopes that they will approach learning a foreign language with determination and confidence. "I want students to know that they should never be afraid to ask for help and I am always there to help them," she says.

Leyder began teaching in Montgomery County Public Schools eight years ago at Montgomery Village Middle School. After she arrived at Blair, Leyder was immediately taken by the stunning variety and diversity of cultures and languages visible in its halls. "My first impression of Blair was that there seems to be a place for everyone," she says.