NYSAFLT Anthony Papalia Award for Excellence in Teacher Education

The Anthony Papalia Award honors a teacher, educator, and author who significantly influenced the lives of countless students and practicing teachers. His tenure at the State University of New York, Buffalo, service to the State of New York through work with the New York State Education Department, and involvement in the New York State Association for Language Teachers, Inc. (NYSAFLT) were characterized by selfless dedication to improving the quality of teachers and teaching.

The Anthony Papalia Award for Excellence in Teacher Education was established by ACTFL in 1987 to recognize a world language educator who has demonstrated excellence in the preparation and continuing education of teachers for the profession. It is supported by New York State Association for Language Teachers, Inc.

Evidence of the nominee's impact on teacher education should consist of a record of active participation, leadership, and significant contributions to the field of world language education. This documentation would include supporting documentation as to the impact of the nominee’s contributions toward the development of preservice (entry level) teacher candidates and in service teachers, with a focus on teaching, service, research, and honors received.

Since 1991, an honorarium has been provided to the recipient by New York State Association for Language Teachers, Inc. and ACTFL. The award is evidence of the commitment of ACTFL and New York State Association for Language Teachers, Inc. to excellence in teacher preparation and to the support of those in our profession who share this concern.

The recipient of this award receives an honorarium.

Procedures for Nomination

The nomination dossier must include the following documents (in order):

A cover letter introducing the nominee and other dossier materials to follow, signed by nominator or by self-nominee (not to exceed 500 words).
1. Curriculum vitae of the nominee (not to exceed 10 pages or 4500 words).
2. A program narrative addressing the award criteria (not to exceed 4500 words).
3. Letters of support – maximum of 3; including but not limited to colleagues, supervisors, current or former students, and administrators.
4. Other supporting documentation not to exceed 10 pages or 4500 words (e.g., photos, artifacts, articles, etc.) that documents the nominee’s excellence in teaching, research and service at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels (see rubric for specific criteria and indicators); supporting materials may include links to video and audio files.

2. Complete nomination dossiers must be submitted through the online form in one PDF file by the deadline.

Procedures for the Selection Committee

The award Selection Committee will be chaired by a member of ACTFL, invited by the current ACTFL President.
Committee members will be selected from those that apply as volunteers.
Committee members rate and rank the dossiers using the award rubric and return their ratings and rankings to the Committee Chair or Co-Chairs by an agreed upon date.
The Committee may meet as many times as needed to decide on the award recipient.
At the discretion of the Committee, the award may or may not be presented during a given year.

NOTE: No member or officer of the ACTFL or Language Connects Foundation Board of Directors may write a letter of support for any award nominee or actively shepherd the nomination of an award nominee. No member or officer of the ACTFL or Language Connects Foundation Board of Directors, or ACTFL employee is eligible for nomination for any award while holding these positions.

PDF View Evaluation Rubric

Anthony Papalia Award Rubric

- 2023: Kelly Arispe, Boise State University (ID)
- 2022: Francis Troyan, The Ohio State University
- 2021: Martha Nyikos, Indiana University, Bloomington
- 2020: Kristin Davin, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- 2019: No Award Was Given
- 2018: Cherice Montgomery, Brigham Young University
- 2017: Christina Frei, University of Pennsylvania
- 2016: Scott Kissau, University of North Carolina
- 2015: Linda Quinn Allen, Iowa State University
- 2014: Mary "Sue" Barry, Auburn University
- 2013: Richard LaFleur, Arnoldsville, GA
- 2012: Bonnie Adair-Hauck, University of Pittsburgh
- 2011: Gregory W. Duncan, Interprep, Inc.
- 2010: Johanna Watzinger-Tharp, University of Utah
- 2009: Anne Nerenz, Eastern Michigan University
- 2008: Judith Shrum, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, VA
- 2007: Bill VanPatten, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
- 2006: Kathryn Corl, The Ohio State University, Columbus
- 2005: Mary Lynn Redmond, Wake Forest University
- 2004: Helena Curtain, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
- 2003: Audrey Heining-Boynton, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
- 2002: Renate Schulz, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
- 2001: Marcia Harmon Rosenbusch, National K-12 Foreign Language Resource Center Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
- 2000: Aleidine Moeller, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
- 1999: Myriam Met, Montgomery County Public Schools, Rockville, MD
- 1998: Carol Ann Pesola Dahlberg, Concordia College, Moorhead, MN
- 1997: David C. McAlpine, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
- 1996: Eileen w. Glisan, Indiana University, Indiana, PA
- 1995: Gail Guntermann, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
- 1994: Lynn A. Sandstedt, University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO
- 1993: Eleanor Jorden, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA
- 1992: Charles R. Hancock, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- 1991: Constance K. Knop, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
- 1990: Edward D. Allen, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
- 1989: Alice Omaggio Hadley, University of Illinois at Urbana, Urbana, IL
- 1988: Wilga M. Rivers, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.

Resources by Topic

Anthony Papalia Award

Procedures for Nomination

Procedures for the Selection Committee

ACTFL & Language Connects Foundation Professional Award Nominations are Open