Kansas
World Language
Association
Kansas World Language
Teacher of the Year
This award is designed to recognize an outstanding person in the language teaching field. The candidate must be a Kansas language educator who has made major contributions to language education at the school, state, regional, or national level. The award recipient receives state-wide recognition, a one-year ACTFL Membership, and Conference Registration at the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CSCTFL) for the following year. The recipient will provide a photograph and a mini-bio for press releases. KSWLA will provide a complimentary meal for one guest of the recipient at the Conference banquet. ​Nomination forms must be submitted by June 15th.
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Use the online nomination button below. For more information, contact the KSWLA Past President (kswlapastpresident@gmail.com).
Criteria:
Previous Recipients
2026: Rebecca Werthmann, Spanish, Goodland High School
2025: Elke Lorenz, German, Manhattan High School
2024: Amanda Mendoza, French, Emporia High School
2023: Kassy Hunt, Spanish, Louisburg Middle School
2022: Alyssa Rumple, Spanish, Wichita North High School
2021: Rachel Delzer, Spanish, Maize South High School
2020: Leigh Rysko, Spanish, Shawnee Mission South High School
2019: Jennifer Parga, Spanish, Wichita North High School
2018: David Shelly, Spanish, Wichita East High School
2017: Julie Sellers, Ph.D., Spanish, Benedictine College
2016: Jodi Nichols-Johnson, French, Blue Valley North High School
2015: (no nomination)
2014: Chuck Thorpe, Spanish and German, Kansas State University
2013: Kris Scheuerman, German, Shawnee Mission West HS
2012: (no nomination)
2011: Nora Kelting, French, Newton High School
2010: Karen Tritt, Spanish, Shawnee Mission West High School
2009: Paula Biggar, Spanish, Sumner Academy of Arts & Science
2008: Marilyn Bolton, Spanish and Italian, Buhler High School
2007: Sally Guillen, Spanish, Shawnee Mission South High School
2006: Wanda Tilford, German, Bishop Caroll High School
2005: Patricia Staver, Ph.D., FL Methods, Kansas State University
2004: Jenifer Banks, German, Topeka West High School
2003: Karen Tritt, Spanish, Westridge Middle School, Shawnee Mission
2002: Anke M. Wells, German, Seaman High School
2001: Jane Bodecker, Spanish, Halstead High School
2000: Diane DeNoon, coordinating teacher, Blue Valley School District
1999: Cherice Montgomery, Spanish, Southeast High School
1998: Doris Van der Giesen, French, Hutchinson High School
1997: Linda Bankes, Spanish, Abilene High School
1996: Ruth S. Campos, Spanish, Sumner Academy of Kansas City
1995: Llona Steele, French, Salina High School South
1994: Ingeborg Teasley, German, Abilene High School
1993: Connie Garcia, Ph.D., Emporia State University