Madame Pavlovich began her teaching career at the Washington International School but after one year moved to Sidwell Friends School where she continued teaching for thirty-five years. Privileged and honored to work collaboratively with her in the last seventeen years, I will say, without hesitation, that she is the best mentor, guide, and friend I have met in my teaching career.

Josée exemplified how to stay focused on a well-established and strong French program, how to avoid the temptation of new innovative methods that do not prepare students for the vital linguistic challenges that are real in the study of literature. She knew how to demand hard work from students and still win their respect and admiration. In the Quaker tradition, she “let her teaching style speak” in such a humble way that to learn any teaching strategy from her, you had to be observant to catch it, because she would never tell you what to do or how to do it.

Josée held students to the highest standards and she inspired them to love French literature and culture. Her unusual wit, her authenticity, her good sense of humor, her elegance and “savoir faire” are attributes each student she reached and touched will remember as long as they live. Only disciplined and gifted teachers can reach Josée’s achievements in the language teaching field. With Josée’s retirement, Sidwell Friends has lost a teacher who was unfailingly committed to teaching.

When asked how she hopes to spend her time, Josée replied, “My plans are still vague and I want them that way! I jumped with the bell for 35 years and look forward to being unscheduled for a while. I intend to look for some property in Switzerland and spend more time over there and travel in Europe, mostly during non school holidays! I will take some courses in Spanish and painting and of course spend more time with my family and grandchildren. But right now, I am still enjoying my vacation!”

On the School community’s behalf, I wish Josée good health, enjoyable rest, and exciting travel around the world, in peace.

“Merci infiniment de tout mon coeur.”