Teacher of the Year Program
We congratulate William Lee: 2023 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year
The award for The ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year is intended to elevate the status of our profession at the state, regional, and national levels by creating opportunities for recognizing the most accomplished members of our profession. First and foremost, this process is designed to involve all of our state, regional, and national organizations in promoting our profession. Second, it is intended to create as many media opportunities as possible to increase the visibility of the importance of learning languages and cultures to the general public.
William Lee: ACTFL 2023 Teacher of the Year
Mr. Lee is a Latin Teacher at Tom C. Clark High School in San Antonio, Texas, and the 2022 Teacher of the Year for the Southwest Conference on Language Teaching (SWCOLT). Lee also represented the Texas Foreign Language Association as the 2021 Teacher of the Year.
How to apply:
Phase I: Portfolio Development and Submission
Each state’s foreign language association or other designated state organization is invited to submit to that state’s regional language organization a nomination form and accompanying portfolio for one (1) state-sponsored foreign language teacher of the year candidate. Additional details and scoring rubrics are provided below. Portfolios will be reviewed at the regional level and each regional foreign language organization will submit to ACTFL the portfolio of the winner of its regional Language Teacher of the Year. Each state may submit one (1) candidate. States who participate in more than one (1) regional conference may submit a candidate to only one (1) regional organization. While states and regionals have autonomy to change the selection process, regional candidates must submit all the required documents for the national dossier.
ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO YOUR REGIONAL ORGANIZATION BETWEEN DECEMBER 15 AND JANUARY 15 (CONSULT REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS FOR SPECIFIC DEADLINES)
- Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL)
Christopher Gwin, Executive Director
info@nectfl.org - Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT)
Leslie Baldwin, Executive Director (336) 422-6192
info@scolt.org - Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CSCTFL)
Daryl Biallas, Executive Director
csctfl.executive.director@gmail.com - Pacific Northwest Council for Languages (PNCFL)
Bridget Yaden, Executive Director (253) 535-8330
byaden@plu.edu - Southwest Conference on Language Teaching (SWCOLT)
Jocelyn Raught, Executive Director (405) 613-1481
jraught@swcolt.org
Phase II: National Finalists
Each regional finalist must attend the ACTFL Annual Convention in order to complete a personal interview with the national selection committee. During this interview, finalists will be asked to discuss pertinent topics, e.g., culture in the classroom, professional involvement, value of language learning, and offer in the form of a mock press conference or mock address to a civic group the first three to five minutes of a ten (10) minute presentation on an issue of current interest in national language policy.
Procedure Guidelines and Portfolio Requirements
Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame
- 2023: William Lee, Tom C. Clark High School, San Antonio
Hall of Fame 2023 full slate of candidates - 2022: Heather Sweetser, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
Hall of Fame 2022 full slate of candidates - 2021: Elena Kamenetzky, Eastern High School, Louisville, KY
Hall of Fame 2021 full slate of candidates - 2020: Rebecca Blouwolff, Wellesley Middle School, Wellesley, MA
Hall of Fame 2020 full slate of candidates - 2019: Rebecca E. Aubrey, Ashford School, Ashford, CT, NECTFL, Spanish
Hall of Fame 2019 full slate of candidates - 2018: Ying Jin, Cupertino High School, Cupertino, CA
Hall of Fame 2018 full slate of candidates - 2017: Katrina Griffin, North County High School, Glen Burnie, MD
Hall of Fame 2017 full slate of candidates - 2016: Edward Zarrow, Westwood High School, Westwood, MA
Hall of Fame 2016 full slate of candidates - 2015: Nicole Naditz, Bella Vista High School, Sacramento, CA
Hall of Fame 2015 full slate of candidates - 2014: Linda Egnatz, Lincoln-Way Community High School, Frankfort, IL
Hall of Fame 2014 full slate of candidates - 2013: Noah Geisel, Denver East High School, Denver, CO
Hall of Fame 2013 full slate of candidate