GWATFL Teacher of the Year (ToY)
Each year, GWATFL choses a teacher of the Year, who will represent the Washington DC area in the Northeast Conference in February.
In January, the NECTFL will review all state dossiers and choose a regional winner who will be announced as the Northeast Conference Teacher of the Year. This world language educator then represents NECTFL at the National Language Teacher of the Year competition at the ACTFL Conference in November.
In January, the NECTFL will review all state dossiers and choose a regional winner who will be announced as the Northeast Conference Teacher of the Year. This world language educator then represents NECTFL at the National Language Teacher of the Year competition at the ACTFL Conference in November.
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🌟 Congratulations to our GWATFL 2026 Teacher of the Year! 🌟We are thrilled to announce that Carmen Reyes has been named the 2026 GWATFL Teacher of the Year! With a deep passion for world languages and an unwavering commitment to cultural understanding, Carmen has made a meaningful and lasting impact on her students, colleagues, and the broader world language community. Her classroom is a space where languages come alive, curiosity is nurtured, and students are empowered to see themselves as global citizens. As a dedicated educator and advocate for multilingualism, Carmen inspires learners to embrace diversity, build empathy, and engage authentically with the world around them. Her commitment to excellence in teaching, continuous professional growth, and service to GWATFL truly sets her apart. Please join us in celebrating Carmen Reyes and her remarkable contributions to world language education! 🎉 |
Carmen Reyes is a Peruvian educator with a master’s degree in the Teaching and Learning of the Spanish Language and its Culture from the University of Granada in Spain.
She is the World Language Department Chair at The Langley School in McLean, Virginia, where she teaches Spanish and leads her team with passion and creativity.
An author, presenter, and trainer, Carmen shares her innovative work at national conferences, inspiring educators to bring joy, culture, and connection into language learning.
She is the World Language Department Chair at The Langley School in McLean, Virginia, where she teaches Spanish and leads her team with passion and creativity.
An author, presenter, and trainer, Carmen shares her innovative work at national conferences, inspiring educators to bring joy, culture, and connection into language learning.
How to nominate a teacher for GWATFL Teacher of the and apply
Nominate a teacher for GWATFL Teacher of the year!
GWATFL WORLD LANGUAGES TEACHER OF THE YEAR
NOMINATION FORM
GWATFL is proud to announce the World Languages Teacher of the Year competition. The recipient will receive a gift, a personalized award, and will be recognized at a “Teacher of the Year” Celebration. The award has been developed to honor the field of language teaching. It also offers opportunities to increase the visibility of the importance of learning languages and cultures.
PROCESS OF APPLICATION:
The World Languages Teacher of the Year process begins with the submission of the requirements for Phase I. GWATFL encourages broad participation and will review sufficient evidence from candidates of their teaching accomplishments and ability to represent the language profession.
Nominee Requirements for GWATFL World Languages Teacher of the Year (Based on NECTFL and ACTFL requirements)
1. Must be a GWATFL member.
2. The recipient must be willing to meet all of the criteria and to fulfill all of the duties described throughout this document.
- Be a full-time language teacher who spends at least 50% of their time in direct teaching during the year of application with an expectation of teaching for at least two additional years.
- Cover page
- One page letter of recommendation from a supervisor
- One page letter of recommendation from a current student
- One page letter of recommendation from a current or former parent
- Curriculum vitae of no more than five pages in length
- 500-word first-person statement on the value of learning a language and developing cultural competence for all learners
- A classroom video providing a brief, clear, and concise snapshot from a unit that must include the teacher and must show teacher interacting with students in the target language that is a continuous, non-edited 20-minute segment of a lesson in the actual classroom
Submission Procedures
1. Nominees will submit the required documents as stated in the Nominee Requirements by October 1, 2025.
All materials submitted to GWATFL must be shared with [email protected] via Google Drive folder. Please do not mail or email your materials. Contact us for details and guidelines on sharing your portfolio.
2. The winner will be notified by October 15th and will be formally recognized at the GWATFL Fall Conference.
Here is a checklist
Download the Application Process and Submission Procedures for GWATFL Teacher of the Year:
GWATFL Teacher of the Year Application
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