Ohio Foreign Language Association

It is time to think of those outstanding teachers and administrators who are deserving of recognition of OFLA for their “above and beyond” contribution to the world language community in Ohio and beyond.

The Awards Committee is accepting nominations for awards in the categories described below. All submissions must be sent electronically and received by: November 30, 2022. Awards are not necessarily made each year in each category. If you wish to nominate a deserving colleague for a specific award, please use the official nomination form.

We suggest you obtain the individual’s agreement to be nominated and confirm that he/she is an OFLA member, when that is required for the award.

Policies:
There shall be no self-nomination for awards.

To be considered for an OFLA member award, one must be a currently active OFLA member and a member for at least 3 years, of which 2 must have been in the previous 2 years (see exception below for the Leona Glenn and beginning teacher awards).

OFLA board and committee members shall not be eligible for an award that is related to their current service to the OFLA board.

Nominations can only be submitted by a currently active OFLA member who has been a member for at least 3 years, of which 2 must have been in the previous 2 years.

The awards nomination form is available here: Awards Nomination Form

DEADLINE: All nominations must be received by November 30, 2022.

BACKGROUND:
LEONA GLENN AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING WORLD LANGUAGE EDUCATOR
What is today the Ohio Foreign Language Association (OFLA) was founded in 1962 as the Ohio Modern Language Teachers Association (OMLTA). Early in the 1960s, Leona Glenn, Ohio’s Foreign Language Supervisor, was convinced that the state’s foreign language teachers at all levels -elementary, secondary, and college- needed a professional forum that would have a pedagogical focus. At the time, the language-specific organizations at the state level were heavily oriented to literature-based meetings, with scant attention to classroom techniques. With the help of a number of key foreign language teachers around the state, Ms. Glenn established the new OMLTA with the idea that foreign language teachers as a whole have many methods in common, and as a united group, would be more visible and influential in furthering the interests of the profession.

Ms. Glenn served as the first president for the academic year 1962-63 to get things underway, but she quickly got others involved. She worked with OMLTA thereafter as advisor and willing helper for all sorts of tasks. Her tireless and energetic enthusiasm soon helped the fledgling OMLTA grow from a relatively few teachers meeting for a few hours on one day to a fully developed conference lasting two or three days by the end of the 1960s, with teachers from all parts of Ohio and beyond in attendance. She established the pattern of holding the conference at different locations in Ohio that still holds true today.

ED ALLEN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING COLLEGE WORLD LANGUAGE INSTRUCTOR
The foreign and second language education program at OSU is the oldest program of its type in the United States, having been started in 1967 by the late Professor Edward D. Allen, emeritus faculty member. Ed Allen was a mentor to many future world language teachers who have had a lasting impact on language teaching, programs, and students. The award was named to honor him for his many contributions.

AWARD CATEGORIES FOR OFLA MEMBERS

Leona Glenn Awards for Outstanding World Language Teacher

Three awards: Elementary world language teacher; Middle School/Jr. High world language teacher; High School world language teacher

Preferred Qualifications:

A currently active OFLA member and a member for at least 5 years, of which 2 must have been in the previous 2 years
Outstanding teacher
Demonstrated a minimum of ten years of successful classroom experience in world language teaching
Innovative contributions to world language teaching
Outstanding service to the profession including at least some kind of service to OFLA
Successful in expanding/maintaining enrollment in world language
More than half-time in teaching world language

Ed Allen Award for Outstanding College World Language Instructor

Preferred Qualifications:

A currently active OFLA member and a member for at least 3 years, of which 2 must have been in the previous 2 years
Outstanding teacher
Innovative contributions to world language teaching
Outstanding service to the profession including at least some kind of service to OFLA
Successful in expanding/maintaining enrollment in world language
More than half-time in field at the post-secondary level

Distinguished Career Award

Preferred Qualifications:

OFLA member for at least 3 years
Retired world language educator
Exceptional cumulative career teaching, service and/or other language-related accomplishments
Outstanding teacher
Successful in expanding/maintaining enrollment in world language
Outstanding service to the profession including at least some kind of service to OFLA

Beginning Teacher Award

Preferred Qualifications:

A currently active OFLA member
With 1-2 years experience, must have been an OFLA member for at least 1 year
With 3-5 years experience, must have been an OFLA member for at least 2 years
Outstanding teacher
5 years or less of teaching experience at all levels—K-16
Innovative contributions to world language teaching
More than half-time in teaching world language

Pre-Service Teacher Award

Preferred Qualifications:

Nomination by a world language teacher training supervisor or by a world language cooperating teacher, who is a current member of OFLA, at an Ohio public or private institution
Nominee shows proof of current student status at an Ohio institution
Nominee is in their final year of world language licensure program
Nominee has at least a 3.0 GPA
Nominee demonstrates great potential in teaching a world language

Outstanding Professional Service Award

Preferred Qualifications:

A currently active OFLA member and a member for at least 3 years, of which 2 must have been in the previous 2 years
Outstanding teacher
Innovative contributions to world language teaching
Successful in expanding/maintaining enrollment in world language
Outstanding service to the profession including at least some kind of service to OFLA
More than half-time in teaching world language
More than 5 years of teaching experience

Community Service Award

Preferred Qualifications:

A currently active OFLA member and a member for at least 3 years, of which 2 must have been in the previous 2 years
Outstanding teacher
Innovative contributions to world language teaching
Successful in expanding/maintaining enrollment in world language
Carries world language news/message/inspiration beyond the school or school system
Outstanding public relations
More than half-time in teaching world language

Theresa Minick World Language Technology Integration Award

Preferred Qualifications:

A currently active OFLA member and a member for at least 3 years, of which 2 must have been in the previous 2 years
Outstanding teacher
Successful in expanding/maintaining enrollment in world language
Outstanding service to the profession including at least some kind of service to OFLA
Innovative use of technology in world language education
More than half-time in teaching world language

Publications Award

Preferred Qualifications:

A currently active OFLA member and a member for at least 3 years, of which 2 must have been in the previous 2 years
Outstanding teacher
Successful in expanding/maintaining enrollment in world language
Outstanding service to the profession including at least some kind of service to OFLA
Outstanding professional publication(s) related to world language education,

• Refereed journal
• Pedagogical book
• Editorial services
• Materials for student use

Candidates should have contributed in quality and quantity to more than one category.
More than half-time in field

Outstanding Program Award

May be awarded to an Elementary–Secondary Level and/or to a College-University Level program.

Preferred Qualifications:

Currently active OFLA members and a majority of who have been members for at least 3 years, of which 2 must have been in the previous 2 years
Program that goes far beyond normal world language education activities
Program that has some unique distinction
Program that involves a group of educators
Outstanding teachers
Innovative contributions to world language teaching
Successful in expanding/maintaining enrollment in world language
Outstanding service to the profession including at least some kind of service to OFLA
Program in existence at least three years

AWARD CATEGORIES FOR NON-OFLA MEMBERS

Outstanding Administrator in Support of World Language Award

Preferred Qualifications:

Administrator in school or school district
Strong support of world language
Recommended by world language teacher in that system

Educator Friend of World Languages Award

Preferred Qualifications:

Non-world language educator
Exceptional support of world languages
Recommended by world language teacher in that system

Non-Educator Friend of World Languages Award

Preferred Qualifications:

Non-educator
Exceptional support of world languages
Recommended by world language teacher in that system

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