FinnFest USA is pleased to welcome Saara Martikka, a teacher in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Martikka’s innovative teaching methods in her language arts and literature classes have gotten the attention of the New York Times. Since 2011, Finnish Education has been a popular and well-respected topic at FinnFest festivals, and the 2023 Festival will have a workshop about Finnish teaching methods. Saara Martikka is a passionate advocate for literacy skills and an accomplished Finnish language and literature teacher at Kauriala School in Hämeenlinna, Finland. Her extensive background includes serving as a multi-literacy advisory teacher and being a valued member of the media literacy project group for the Uudet lukutaidot (new reading skills) development program. As an expert in teaching Finnish media literacy in international media, Saara’s knowledge and experience are widely recognized. Interestingly, Saara is also a renowned international judge of competitive cheerleading, demonstrating her expertise and versatility outside the classroom. Whether evaluating routines, educating students or developing new teaching strategies, Saara’s expertise are respected globally.