The Alexander Award was established in 1998 to be awarded annually to an outstanding future Kansas language teacher, a student currently enrolled in a formal teacher-training program or fulfilling his/her professional semester. It is in honor of Dr. Loren Alexander (1930-2017), who taught FL methods and German for many years at Kansas State University. The candidate must be a future language teacher who is currently under the supervision and/or training in an accredited Kansas university. The candidate must be nominated by a professional language educator who is a current member of KSWLA.
The award recipient will receive a two-year membership to ACTFL (at the BASIC level) and have their current KSWLA conference registration, including meals covered.
Nominations must be received by June 1st. For more information, contact the KSWLA Past President (kswlapastpresident@gmail.com).
Rubric
| Relationship-building | Reflective Practices | Lifelong Learning |
Exceeds Expectations | Shows evidence of building relationships with ALL students and, PLUS shows evidence of promoting student-to-student connections. | Shows regular evidence of reflective practices on a daily/weekly basis. Takes criticism as a means to grow as an educator and takes initiative to change what didn’t work from class to class. Enacts change in order to better their effectiveness as a teacher. | Regularly seeks out PD opportunities, either on their own or organized. Frequently asks questions of the mentor teacher or supervising professor if they need help. Develops lifelong learning skills in students. |
Meets Expectations | Shows evidence of building relationships with ALL students in the classroom, PLUS works to help students make connections to each other. | Shows evidence of reflective practices. Takes criticism as a means to grow as an educator. Attempts to change in order to better their effectiveness as a teacher. | Sometimes seeks out PD opportunities, either on their own or organized. Asks questions of the mentor teacher or supervising professor if they need help. Attempts to develop lifelong learning skills in students. |
Approaching Expectations | Shows evidence of building relationships with MOST students. | Shows some evidence of reflective practices. Takes criticism lightly and sometimes grows from it. Attempts to change in order to better their effectiveness as a teacher. | Rarely seeks out PD opportunities. Sometimes asks questions of the mentor teacher or supervising professor if they need help. Some attempt to develop lifelong learning skills in students. |
Below Expectations | Shows evidence of building relationships with SOME students. No evidence of helping students connect to one another. | Shows little to no evidence of reflective practices. Takes criticism personally. Makes no attempt to change in order to better their effectiveness as a teacher. | Does not seek out PD opportunities and tends to believe that they already know best. Rarely asks questions of the mentor teacher or supervising professor if they need help. Does not attempt to develop lifelong learning skills in students. |
Previous Recipients
2022: Kayley Kuck, Junction City High School
2021: Denise Menjivar, Wichita State University
2020: Hannah Schmidt, Wichita State University
2019: April Taylor, Emporia State University 2018: Brandon Davis, Washburn University 2017: Jennifer Bailey, Wichita State University
2016: Claire Schroettner, Benedictine College
2015: Mason Talbott, Wichita State University 2014: Annika Schneider, Kansas State University 2013: (no nominee) 2012: (no nominee) 2011: Elizabeth Carmen Wilson, Kansas State University 2010: Jessie Skala, Wichita State University 2009: María Elizabeth Chávez Miller, Friends University 2008: Lindsey Alexander, Friends University 2007: Joanna Lord, Friends University 2006: Daagya Dick, Friends University 2005: Courtney VanSant, Friends University 2004: Erin Douglas, Pittsburg State University 2003: Regina Winemiller, Pittsburg State University 2002: (no nominee) 2001: Heather Bledsoe, Pittsburg State University 2000: Ronda Montieth, University of Kansas 1999: Jodi Parsons, Pittsburg State University 1998: Amy Poos, University of Kansas