ICTFL Paul T Griffith Teacher of the Year Award
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Per the ACTFL website, “The proposal to establish a national award for Foreign Language Teacher of the Year is intended to elevate the status of our professional at the state, regional, and national levels by creating opportunities for recognizing the most accomplished members of our profession. First and foremost, this proposal is designed to involve all of our state, regional and national organizations in promoting our profession. Second, it is intended to create as many media opportunities as possible to increase the visibility of the importance of learning languages and cultures to the general public.” Learn more about the ACTFL TOY program. |
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ICTFL Teacher of the Year This ACTFL national award is intended to elevate the status of our profession at the state, regional, and national levels by creating opportunities for recognizing the most accomplished members of our profession. The Illinois awardee becomes a regional candidate for the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CSCTFL) Teacher of the Year Award. The CSCTFL recipient is one of the five national ACTFL Finalists who has the opportunity to be named the ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year. Past ICTFL Paul T Griffith Award recipients have been honored by the Governor, recognized at ISBE events, have represented ICTFL in Washington D.C. at Language Advocacy Day and have gone on to be named both CSCTFL Regional and ACTFL National awardees. Learn more, apply or nominate a deserving teacher. 
Linda Egnatz, Samantha Godden-Chmielowitz, and Carrie Toth, ICTFL Teachers of the Year.
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ICTFL Paul T. Griffith Teacher of the Year Awardees
(not pictured: John Stark 2004, Linda Egnatz 2012)
ICTFL Paul T Griffith Awardees at the 2022 ICTFL Fall Conference. (not pictured John Stark, Ryan Rockaitis, Jane Swisher, Erin Gibbons, Michael Ayala)
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Congratulations to Heidi Lechner
the 2022 ICTFL Paul T. Griffith Teacher of the Year
2022 - Heidi Lechner, Libertyville High School - 2023 CSCTFL Finalist
Heidi Lechner, German teacher at Libertyville High School, Libertyville, Il. was awarded the honor of Illinois Foreign Language Teacher of the Year. Heidi will represent Illinois in the Regional Foreign Language Teacher of the Year selection process in March 2023 at the Central States Conference. She will also serve as ICTFL 2023-2024 2nd Vice President. |
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Heidi joined the ICTFL Delegation to JNCL-NCLIS 2023 Language Advocacy Days as part of her role as our ICTFL Teacher of the Year.
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Past ICTFL Teacher of the Year Awardees
2021 ICTFL Paul T. Griffith Teacher of the Year Michael Ayala, John Hersey High School -- 2022 CSCTFL Finalist
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Michael Ayala met virtually for 2021 Illinois Delegate to Language Advocacy Day with U.S. House Representative Rep. Jan Schakowsky.
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2020 ICTFL Paul T. Griffith Teacher of the Year Ellen Ericson, Mahomet-Seymour High School -- 2021 CSCTFL Finalist
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Ellen Ericson was a virtual 2021 Illinois Delegate to Language Advocacy Day - pictured with Senator Duckworth's aides.
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2019 ICTFL Paul T. Griffith Teacher of the Year Jane Swisher (NBCT), Deer Park Middle School -- 2020 CSCTFL Finalist
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Awardee Jane Swisher with Teacher of the Year finalist, Melisa Lopez (left)
Jane Swisher is one of Illinois' delegates to Language Advocacy Day 2020, DC
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2018 ICTFL Paul T. Griffith Teacher of the Year Erin K. Gibbons, Barrington HS -- 2019 CSCTFL Finalist
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2018 ICTFL Paul T. Griffith Teacher of the Year Finalists
2016 - Ryan Rockaitis, Deerfield High School - 2017 CSCTFL Finalist - 2017 ICTFL Delegate "Language Advocacy Day"
2015 - Martha Behlow, Geneva Community High School - 2016 CSCTFL Finalist
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2016 Central States Conference Finalists
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2014 - Kathleen Priceman, Abraham Lincoln School - 2015 CSCTFL Finalist
2013 - Carrie Toth, Carlyle High School - 2014 CSCTFL Teacher of the Year - 2015 ACTFL Finalist
2012 - Linda Egnatz, Lincoln-Way North HS - 2013 CSCTFL Teacher of the Year - 2014 ACTFL Language Teacher of the Year
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2007 - Samantha Godden-Chmielowicz, Carl Schurz HS - 2008 CSCTFL Teacher of the Year - 2009 ACTFL Finalist
2004 - John Stark, Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
