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Awards AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Each year MCTLC recognizes the extraordinary work of language teachers and advocates at its Annual Fall Conference. 
How to nominate:
To nominate a student, administrator, organization or business, or pre-service, beginning, or veteran teacher this year: 
  1. Review the eligibility criteria and required supporting documents for the award.  
  2. Complete the initial nomination form for the 2024 awards by clicking the hyperlink, or scanning the QR code above. 
  3. Email all required supporting documents in Word or PDF by September 13, 2024 to awards@mctlc.org. Please also submit questions about the awards and the nomination process to awards@mctlc.org.  


Looking for past award winners? Click here!

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AWARD CATEGORIES AND DESCRIPTIONS 

Students, Pre-Service, and Beginning Teacher Awards


Language Advocacy Awards


Administrator Award






Future Language Educator

Awardees are full-time college or university foreign language methodology student and pre-service teachers who attend the MCTLC Fall Conference in October at a reduced rate. In return, they agree to volunteer and participate in the conference. Register for the conference as a Future Language Educator. 


Outstanding Student Teacher Award

In recognition of outstanding service and extraordinary potential in providing excellent instruction in the world language classroom by a student teacher of a world language in Minnesota. The student teacher may be nominated by a collaborating teacher or university methods professor.

Criteria:

  1. Outstanding service and potential as a student teacher.
  2. Completion of student-teaching during the preceding academic year.

Submit:

  1. A letter of nomination from cooperating teacher and/or university methods professor.
  2. A letter of recommendation of the candidate from a methods instructor or collaborating teacher.


Student Service Award

In recognition of a significant contribution to others by voluntarily using ESL or second-language skills in Minnesota. The nominator must be a current member of MCTLC, but not a voting member of the Executive Board.

Criteria:
  1. Nominee must be a student in Minnesota during the year of nomination;
  2. Use of developing ESL or second language skills to make a significant contribution to others;
  3. Service was voluntary (it was not a class assignment or requirement);
  4. Reliable service and dedication to others for a year or more during the experience; and
  5. Advancement of nominee’s ESL or second-language skills through the experience.

Submit with the permission of the nominee:
  1. Two letters of support for the nominee, one each from:
    • a world-language teacher
    • someone who has benefited from the nominee’s service
  2. A statement of nomination describing the nominee’s experience, especially how the experience related to the nominee’s use of his/her developing ESL or second-language skills and how it benefited others.


First-Time Attendee Scholarship

MCTLC is pleased to offer five (5) first-time attendee fall conference scholarships to world language teachers.

A teacher may self-nominate or may be nominated by a colleague or administrator.

Criteria:
  1. Nominee must be currently teaching a world language;
  2. Nominee must be a first-time attendee to an MCTLC Fall Conference; and
  3. Nominee must be willing to share a brief reflection about their conference experience to be featured on the MCTLC website or in the digital MCTLC newsletter.

Early Career Award

In recognition of outstanding promise in providing excellence in instruction in the world-language classroom by a language teacher in Minnesota in their first three years of teaching. Any current member of MCTLC may nominate a first through third year teacher.

Criteria:
  1. Excellence in instruction and outstanding promise;
  2. Prospective completion of at least first, second, or third year of teaching a world language by June of nomination year;
  3. A continuing commitment to the world-language classroom; and
  4. Membership in MCTLC upon nomination.


Minnesota Teacher of the Year

This award is given in recognition of outstanding instruction, leadership, and advocacy a world language educator has provided his/her district, community, and profession in Minnesota.  It represents the first step for the Teacher of the Year Award at the national level as awarded by ACTFL. 

The Minnesota winner will be nominated to the Central States Teacher of the Year selection process.  If the Minnesota winner is chosen as one of five regional finalists, he/she will proceed to the national competition. Anyone interested in earning this award should familiarize themselves with the portfolio requirements at the regional level which can be found HERE.

In order to be considered for this award at the state level, the following documents are required:

  1. Letter of recommendation from an administrator.
  2. Letter of recommendation from a current or former parent or student.
  3. Comprehensive Curriculum Vitae of no more than five pages.
  4. A 500 word first-person statement on the value of learning language and culture.  Ideas can be gathered from past ACTFL Teachers of the Year on the ACTFL website. 
  5. A written statement of commitment to complete and submit all items required for the final portfolio to the regional committee by December 15. 



Emma Birkmaier Award for Outstanding Language Educator

In recognition of outstanding service and support for world languages and cultures by someone within the language-teaching profession in Minnesota.

The nominator need not be an MCTLC member.

Criteria:

  1. Sustained involvement in the teaching of world languages and cultures;
  2. Significant impact on MCTLC or on the teaching of world languages in Minnesota;
  3. Significant service to or support for the language-teaching profession;
  4. A current member of MCTLC.
  5. Five years of membership in MCTLC, not necessarily consecutive.

The nominee is:

  1. a Minnesota language teacher.
  2. not a current member of the Executive Committee of the MCTLC Board.
  3. considered a major contributor to the profession.

Submit:

  1. Curriculum Vitae or resume
  2. Full name and complete home contact information for nominator and nominee
  3. Four letters of support for the nominee, one each from:
  • an administrator
  • a current colleague
  • a student or parent
  • a world-language professional who works outside of the nominee’s current institution



Pro Lingua Award

In recognition of outstanding service to and support of education in world languages and cultures by a person or Minnesota organization/business that is not a world-language educator.
Any current MCTLC member may nominate an organization or business which is not managed or owned by self.

Criteria:
  1. A large contribution to the teaching of languages and cultures;
  2. Significant support for the language teaching profession; and
  3. Important service to or support for the language-teaching profession.
The nominee is:
  1. a Minnesota organization or person that is not a world language educator
  2. not a current voting member of the MCTLC Board
Submit with the permission of the nominee:
  1. One letter of support for the nominee or nominated entity which also includes a description of pertinent contributions
  2. Full name and complete contact information for nominator and nominee.


Administrator Award

In recognition of outstanding service to and support of education in world languages and cultures by a current administrator who is not a world-language educator.

‘Administrator’ could be defined as an education professional serving at the levels of early childhood through 12 as school principal, assistant principal, guidance counselor, district instructional supervisor, superintendent, or assistant superintendent, and at the level of post-secondary in the positions of academic dean, director, provost, or president, or the equivalent thereof for institutions where the titles differ from those mentioned here.

Criteria

  1. Outstanding leadership in the past five years in promoting the study of world languages 

  2. Exceptional support for world language programs 

  3. Must have helped to improve the quality of world language teaching and learning at his/her institution, in the community, or in the state

  4. Currently serving as an administrator, when nominated.


The nominee is:

  1. a person that is not a world language educator

  2. not a current voting member of the MCTLC Board

Submit with the permission of the nominee:

  1. One letter of support for the nominee which also includes a description of pertinent contributions

  2. Full name and complete contact information for nominator and nominee


Percy Fearing Award for Language Curriculum Development

In recognition of excellence in the creative development of instructional materials for teaching world languages and cultures by a classroom teacher in Minnesota.

The nominator need not be a member.

Criteria:
  1. Reasonable and clearly stated learner outcomes;
  2. Quality design and structure;
  3. Readily understandable, meaningful content;
  4. Appropriate use of the target language;
  5. Varied activities for authentic communication;
  6. Varied and appropriate assessment which is aligned with teaching materials;
  7. Originality and adaptability to other languages;
  8. Nominee is a current member of MCTLC.

The nominee is:
  1. a classroom teacher in Minnesota
  2. not a current voting member of the MCTLC Board
  3. the main author of the unit(s) of excellence

Submit with the permission of the nominee:
  1. One letter of support for the nominee
  2. The complete unit(s) of excellence
  3. Full name and complete home contact information for nominator and nominee
**Special Note**

Awardees are encouraged to present their unit(s) to the MCTLC membership, either via the Fall Conference, the MCTLC Newsletter or another publication.
Professional Service Award

In recognition of service to students and the profession through provision of a quality language program by language educator retired from a school in Minnesota.

Criteria:

  1. Professional achievements/activities;
  2. Dedication to the language-education profession;
  3. Minimum of ten years of experience in education; and
  4. Minimum of five years of membership in MCTLC.
Certificate of Recognition

In recognition of a significant contribution to students and/or the profession by a language educator in Minnesota.

Criteria:
1. Professional achievements/activities;
2. Dedication to students and/or the language-education profession;
3. Minimum of five years of experience in education; and
4. Minimum of five years of membership in MCTLC.


Department of Excellence

Departments of Excellence have 100% membership participation in MCTLC. While membership alone does not assure commitment, affiliation can be the first step to a rich, professional experience. This program is open to schools at all levels (Pre-K through post secondary).

STAR Award


The four STAR areas, Study, Travel, Achievement and Recognition, of professionalism represent continued professional development in learning outside the classroom, striving to excel, and showing leadership in professional organizations. Any educator may submit their accomplishments for recognition.

Criteria:

  1. Current World Language educator in a Minnesota elementary school, a junior high/middle school, or in a secondary, post-secondary or four-year institution.
  2. Current member of the MCTLC
  3. Experience in each of the four STAR areas (Study, Travel, Achievement, and     Recognition) in the last five years.

For recognition, complete the STAR Award form.  You can view this past STAR Award form for reference.

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