GWATFL
GWATFL is a non-profit organization focused on advocacy and professional development for World Language teachers in Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Maryland. Since 1965 GWATFL has been committed to providing professional development and advocacy opportunities for world language educators.
We envision language professionals collaborating and advocating in the pursuit of developing passionate multicultural and multilingual global citizens.
GWATFL organizes two conferences for world language teachers a year. One in the Fall and one in the Spring. Teachers of any language, at any career stage, from diverse backgrounds and parts of the world are welcome to attend and submit presentation proposals.
We envision language professionals collaborating and advocating in the pursuit of developing passionate multicultural and multilingual global citizens.
GWATFL organizes two conferences for world language teachers a year. One in the Fall and one in the Spring. Teachers of any language, at any career stage, from diverse backgrounds and parts of the world are welcome to attend and submit presentation proposals.
GWATFL Board
President
Chiara Monticelli Dabney
Hardy Middle School- DCPS
Chiara Monticelli Dabney
Hardy Middle School- DCPS
Chiara is an Italian mom, wife, teacher, gourmand and self care enthusiast. She has taught in the greater DC area since 2007, and landed in DCPS in 2012. Chiara has faced teacher burnout at various times in her career, and has made sharing her experience a priority in her working and mentoring practice. She embarked on a journey of self discovery and self love that encompasses every aspect of her life to this day.
Chiara is a Selfcarefully™ certified expert, holds a Master of Science in Teaching Italian Language and Culture, a Master of Science in Education Program, and a Masters in Mediation and Conflict Resolution. She collaborates with organizations focused on teacher retention, whole child and whole teacher approaches.
Chiara has presented at several conferences, including ACTFL, MFLA, FLAVA and GWATFL. She is also the recipient of multiple awards, including the DCPS 2021 World Language Teacher of the Year, and the Global Programs Copeland Award for Teacher of the Year in 2020.
Chiara is a Selfcarefully™ certified expert, holds a Master of Science in Teaching Italian Language and Culture, a Master of Science in Education Program, and a Masters in Mediation and Conflict Resolution. She collaborates with organizations focused on teacher retention, whole child and whole teacher approaches.
Chiara has presented at several conferences, including ACTFL, MFLA, FLAVA and GWATFL. She is also the recipient of multiple awards, including the DCPS 2021 World Language Teacher of the Year, and the Global Programs Copeland Award for Teacher of the Year in 2020.
Vice President
Larissa Giacoman
St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, VA
Larissa Giacoman
St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, VA
Larissa Giacomán teaches Spanish at St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Virginia. She is the Founder of KidSpanish, an after school program for children to learn a second language. Larissa is involved in multiple organizations including the National Network for Early Language Learners, NNELL where is a State Representative for DC and Virginia and has participated in implementing PD in PJ’s, the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, ACTFL, where she was a presenter on EdTech Implementation and Creativity for Learning in the Target Language, and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, AATSP, where she sponsors Santitos, a chapter of the Sociedad Hispánica de Amistad, SHA. She is an active member of GWATFL, and the International Society for Technology in Education, ISTE. Larissa advocates for language and cultural competency through the use of authentic resources, diverse and inclusive representation, and social-emotional practices.
Immediate Past President
Luis Deocares
National Cathedral School, DC
Luis Deocares
National Cathedral School, DC
Luis Deocares joined the GWATFL board in 2013 and subsequently served as its president until 2023. He has over 28 years of experience teaching languages across all levels, from elementary to adult learners. He began his career as an EFL teacher in his native Chile, working at The British Institute and private schools. Since 2008, he has been a Middle School Spanish teacher at the National Cathedral School. Luis holds a Licenciatura en Educación with a specialization in Language Acquisition and Teaching and a postgraduate degree in Educational Technology from the University of Concepción in Chile. In recognition of his unwavering support, outstanding leadership, and dedication to world language professional development and teaching excellence, Luis was awarded the GWATFL Lifetime Recognition Award in November 2023.
Treasurer
Yi-Na Chung
Georgetown Day School, DC
Yi-Na Chung
Georgetown Day School, DC
Yi-Na Chung has 9 years of experience teaching second language acquisition to students from 1st to adults in the United States, Taiwan, and Cambodia. In addition to a B.A. in Applied Foreign Languages from the National Quemoy University in Kinmen, Taiwan, Yi-Na holds a B.A. in interdisciplinary Social Science from the University of West Florida. As of May 2014, she completed her M.A. in Education of Teaching & Learning at Clemson University graduating with honors. Yi-Na currently teaches Chinese at Georgetown Day school to students from 3rd grade to 8th grade. She dedicates her life to developing young students’ knowledge and understanding of the Chinese language. She has been a board member at GWATFL since 2014.
Secretary
Maria Silva
DCPS
Maria Silva
DCPS
Maria Silva is a Venezuelan English teacher and a Specialist in Foreign Language teaching, and her career journey started in 2004. She taught English back in her country until 2015 and worked as a Spanish teacher at Georgetown, High School SC until 2020. Maria has been working for DCPS since 2020, starting as a Middle School Spanish teacher for two years, and is now committed to Elementary English Language Teaching. Maria leads the Family Engagement Leadership Team at her school and works with passion and dedication to building great family relationships in her school community. Maria participated in VENTESOL (Venezuelan Teachers of English to Speakers of Foreign Languages) from 2009-2015 and is currently part of WATESOL (Washington Area Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). She serves as an NNEST Chair in the organization. She has presented at several conferences about technology in language teaching and cultural activities. Maria loves integrating cultural awareness into her lesson plans and develops cultural projects and festivals with her students. Maria is a GWATFL Conference Associate as part of GWATFL MAP since 2022 and she became a GWATFL board member in 2023.
Conference Chair
Donna Clark
Northern Virginia Community College
Donna Clark
Northern Virginia Community College
Donna A. Clark earned her BA in Spanish at Morgan State University and her MA in Spanish from The Ohio State University. She has been teaching Spanish since 1986, starting as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. From there, she taught Spanish at Howard University. Since 1991, she has taught Spanish at Northern Virginia Community College, where she is an Assistant Professor. She has been awarded study scholarships from NECTFL, AATSP and the Spanish Embassy. She has created and taught Spanish courses at the Prince William Criminal Justice Academy, Marine Base Quantico, Stafford County Sheriff, NVCC Workforce, Prince William County Government, PWC Police and the Virginia Department of Transportation. She has been on the GWATFL board since 2005 and is especially passionate about language acquisition, study-abroad, mentoring and postsecondary instructor training.
Exhibits and Sponsors Coordinator
Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett
Miss Panda Chinese, DC
Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett
Miss Panda Chinese, DC
Amanda Hsiung-Blodgett is an Intercultural Language Consultant and Trainer, the author of the “Let’s Learn Mandarin Chinese with Miss Panda!” audio album, and host of the PLAYFUL CHINESE podcast. She is a dynamic world language instructor and the mother of two bilingual teens. She is a native Mandarin Chinese speaker and a trained Language Instructor. She was the host for “The English Club,” a top-rated language learning program on the National Education Radio Station in Taiwan. She has extensive teaching experience with children and business professionals in Taiwan, Morocco, Canada, Ecuador, and the United States.
GWATFL MAP Chair
Vicky Masson
Norwood School, MD
Vicky Masson
Norwood School, MD
Vicky Masson has 15+ years of experience teaching Spanish as a second language in the United States. She graduated from Escuela Nacional Superior en Lenguas Vivas “John F. Kennedy” in Argentina and earned a B.A. in Humanities and a Certificate of Diversity Awareness from University of Maryland in the United States. Vicky is a GWATFL Board member since 2017, a former SmithsonianEdu Fellow, a #TeachSDGs Ambassador, participant of ACTFL Leadership Initiative for Language Learning (LILL), and a 2020 HP Teaching Fellow. She is passionate about education, professional development, education technology, and global competence. @VickyMasson21
Presenters Committee
Diana Sarabia Acosta
DCPS
Diana Sarabia Acosta
DCPS
Diana has been the World Language Spanish Teacher at Wheatley Education Campus (District of Columbia Public
Schools) since August 2020. Prior to this role, she served as Lecturer of Spanish at the State University of New York
at Plattsburgh. She received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Universidad Autónoma de Barranquilla (Colombia) and her master’s degree and doctorate in Spanish from the University of Ottawa (Canada). Her Ph.D. dissertation was published by Universitas Castellae in 2009: Sueños y desencantos de novelas y películas cubanas del “período especial” [Dreams and Disenchantments in Novels and Films of the Cuban “Special Period”]. She has also published articles in academic journals. Her new area of interest is bilingualism and the sociological impact of knowing more than one language.
Schools) since August 2020. Prior to this role, she served as Lecturer of Spanish at the State University of New York
at Plattsburgh. She received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Universidad Autónoma de Barranquilla (Colombia) and her master’s degree and doctorate in Spanish from the University of Ottawa (Canada). Her Ph.D. dissertation was published by Universitas Castellae in 2009: Sueños y desencantos de novelas y películas cubanas del “período especial” [Dreams and Disenchantments in Novels and Films of the Cuban “Special Period”]. She has also published articles in academic journals. Her new area of interest is bilingualism and the sociological impact of knowing more than one language.
Past GWATFL board members