ACTFL is pleased to introduce the five Regional Language Teachers of the Year who are finalists for the 2024 ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year. The award will be announced at the Opening General Session of the ACTFL 2023 Convention in Chicago on Friday, November 17, 2023.
The finalists representing the five geographic regions of the U.S. are:
- Claudia Decker: Nashua High North, Nashua, NH — Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL)
- Benjamin Fisher-Rodriguez: Bothell High School, Bothell, WA — Pacific Northwest Council for Languages (PNCFL)
- Natalie Lalagos: Kealakehe High School, Kailua-Kona, HI — Southwest Conference on Language Teaching (SWCOLT)
- Ke Peng: Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY — Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT)
- Alicia Dallman Shoemaker: Elkhorn Public Schools, Elkhorn, NE — Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (Central States)
The award for the ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year program is intended to elevate the status of the language teaching profession at the state, regional, and national levels by creating opportunities for recognizing the most accomplished members of the profession. The Language Teacher of the Year becomes a national spokesperson for the language profession to further demonstrate the critical importance of learning languages and cultures to the general public.
More information about ACTFL Teacher of the Year Program.
*Edited 9/11/23 to correct Central States' name