GWATFL MAP Bulletin, March 2022

 

Introducing Our New Leaders!

Outreach, Liaison, and Advocacy (OLA) Leader for DCPS (Chiara Monticelli Dabney)

My name is Chiara Monticelli Dabney, I am from Napoli and moved to the US in 2007. I have been an Italian teacher throughout the DC area and started teaching for DCPS in 2012 at Hardy Middle School.

As the Outreach Liaison and Advocacy for DCPS my project will be to ensure the visibility of GWATFL within DCPS, as well as creating a collaborative space specific for DCPS teachers.

In the collaborative, DCPS teachers will meet, exchange perspectives and ideas on various topics, from proficiency to authentic resources, from racialized curriculum to equitable and just classrooms, from teacher burnout to self-care practices.

We will plan on meeting remotely on a monthly basis, and having the opportunity to meet in person during the GWATFL conference as well as for a possible happy hour.

Early Language Leader (Glenda De Hoyos)

Register at https://www.gwatfldc.org/ and join Glenda de Hoyos on Saturday, March 5th, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. at The Langley School for GWATFL - Early Language In-Person Convening.

Connect, Collaborate, & Café brings together educators from the DMV area to connect, collaborate and brainstorm ideas, initiatives and possible Professional Development opportunities to address the specific needs of the early language teachers.

GWATFL Mentorship Leader (Maris Hawkins)

My name is Maris Hawkins, and I currently teach elementary and middle school classes.  This spring, I am working on developing a mentorship program to kick off this fall.  

My hope is to not only have mentors connect virtually, but also during the GWATFL conferences to create a more robust pattern.  If you are interested in helping me start the program, my email is marisdemosthenes@gmail.com.

GWATFL TIPS Leader (Allison Perryman)

¡Hola! My name is Allison Perryman–I am the new TIPS Leader. TIPS stands for Teaching Insights for Professional Success. Visit our GWATFL TIPS YouTube channel!

This year’s theme is "Inspiring Belonging: Building Community". Stay tuned for more information!

*And start thinking about ideas that might fit into this concept!*

Teacher of the Year Leader (Wesley Wood)

GWATFL MAP [Member Action Program]

GWATFL MAP is offering current GWATFL members a space to contribute to the advancement of GWATFL’s mission and vision and to provide:

• a larger voice in our organization
• an opportunity to participate and act on GWATFL initiatives
• a chance to serve in leadership positions
• a possibility to become a GWATFL board member

https://www.gwatfldc.org/gwatflmap.html

GWATFL Teacher of the Year award winner 2022: Wesley Wood

GWATFL is delighted to announce that Wesley Wood, Latin and French teacher at Bullis School, will serve as GWATFL Teacher of the Year award 2022. 

We commend Wesley for his commitment to the language teaching profession, his passion and effort to lead with languages, and his robust curriculum. We also appreciate how he shares his expertise with other teachers in our GWATFL community and beyond, leading conference sessions, giving workshops, and writing articles.

Congratulations!

GWATFL Tribute to Barbara Bennett

We, at GWATFL, commemorate the life of Barbara Bennett, our former President and beloved Board Member for more than 30 years. Barbara was the epitome of service as a friend, as a colleague, and as a leader. She served at GWATFL with dedication, strength, and vision. She was a kind and wonderful person and we will miss her dearly.


In her honor, GWATFL is establishing an annual award/scholarship to be presented at our future conferences. GWATFL will always remember Barbara and we will celebrate her life, legacy, and contributions.





For many years Barbara attended our monthly meetings and yearly conferences. I always felt impressed by her extraordinary professionalism during those events. She was constantly present when and where needed, always caring about the people around her. But above all, I would like to highlight her wonderful, gracious personality; A pleasantly sweet smile accompanied every idea and contribution she made. When I remember her, I will think of all her extraordinary contributions to our profession, her kind smile, and how fortunate I was to see how she touched the lives of so many.

Victor Vincent (GWATFL Board)


Barbara was a devoted and cherished Board member for GWATFL. She dearly loved our organization and mission and much of what we are today and where we are trying to become is a tribute to the work she did with our board over the past 30 years. We will miss her sweet smile and friendly personality. I have nice memories of when I first came to the board and she often came with her husband who was supportive of GWATFL. Barbara is one of the reasons I connected with GWATFL. She inspired me.
Karen Adamson (GWATFL Board)


Barbara made an imprint on me since the moment I saw her at one of the first GWATFL Board meetings that I attended back in 2017.
Barbara's smile immediately struck me as genuinely welcoming and although she did not speak much, when she did so, her words were inclusive and kind, and at the same time spoken with knowledge and candor. Barbara was a true leader.
Vicky Masson (GWATFL Board)


Barbara and I met at GWATFL in 2016. She welcomed me with open arms and a warm smile that immediately made me feel a part of the GWATFL family. I will remember her for the caring way she listened to others, making sure everyone’s voice was heard. Her eagerness to lend a helping hand was admirable. She devoted herself wholeheartedly by attending each monthly board meeting, pre-conference preparations, and conference. Although she might leave us, her love and memory will stay in our hearts forever.
Yi-Na Chung (GWATFL Board)


When I think about Barbara, her big and beautiful smile always comes to my mind. She was a sweet and kind woman and she always made people around her feel welcome. Barbara was an institution at GWATFL. She has been a member of our association since before any of us can remember. Barbara was always present in every meeting and she had a huge presence. I will always remember her taking precise and accurate notes of all of our meetings. Barbara was a beautiful human being and we will deeply miss her.
Mar Ramirez (GWATFL Board)


Barbara’s dedication to the language teaching profession and to GWATFL has been an inspiration. I first saw Barbara on an online video workshop for K-12 language teachers titled “Valuing Diversity in Learners”, Produced in association with ACTFL, years before I met her at GWATFL. Her pioneering insights on learning from students inform your curriculum and connect with your students. Barbara devoted a huge part of her life as an active and devoted GWATFL board member. I will always remember her friendliness, her warm personality, and her generosity.
Luis Deocares(GWATFL President)

Some people are born to be educators and Barbara was one of them.  She had a big heart, a soft voice, and a strong presence.  She was patient, always willing to listen and lend a hand, and offered the best advice.  Her contributions to World Languages education in Washington, DC, across the DMV, and across the nation are too immense to count.  Our profession will continue to be impacted by Barbara's talent for many years to come.  She loved and was so proud of her family.  I treasure the moments Barbara and I shared in between GWATFL Meetings and Conferences where we discussed life, love, family, and teaching.   I will miss her big heart and professional wisdom that she shared with the GWATFL Board, our members, and the many students and teachers that had the opportunity to cross her path over the years.  

Jane Tarwacki (GWATFL Past President)

GWATFL Stands in Solidarity with the AAPI Community and Condemns Acts of Xenophobia and Violence

 Dear Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) friends,

Our hearts are with you after the increased incidents of bias, harassment, and violence in the community, including the recent incidents in Atlanta. 

GWATFL continues to stand in solidarity with our Asian heritage community and the AAPI community at large. As language professionals, it is our purpose to promote intercultural understanding and we commit ourselves to diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in our classrooms and community.

#StopAsianHate

GWATFL stands in solidarity with the Black community

The Greater Washington Association of Teachers of Foreign Languages (GWATFL) stands in solidarity with the Black community against violence, social injustice, and systemic racism. As an organization dedicated to global competence and social justice, we condemn prejudiced and hateful actions against Black citizens.  We advocate for equity and justice to end the long history of systemic racism in the United States of America.

As world language educators, we are instrumental in guiding our students, modeling compassion, tolerance and courage. It is our responsibility to hold each other accountable by challenging bias.

We lament for those whose lives were unjustly cut short due to police brutality and systemic racism, including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and countless others. To our Black GWATFL community and the Black community at large: we see you and we stand with you.

Luis Deocares, GWATFL President,  and the Board.

GWATFL Spring Conference 2020 Cancelled

March 12, 2020

Dear GWATFL Community,

Due to the ongoing and increased challenges presented by COVID-19 and in accordance with health guidance from the CDC, WHO, and the state of emergency declared in Washington DC yesterday, the GWATFL Board has made the hard decision to cancel our 2020 GWATFL Spring Conference.  

GWATFL Board wants to reassure you that keeping our community protected and secure is our top priority. Registrants will receive their refund through Eventbrite.

We would like to recognize the hard work that our presenters and the GWATFL board have done to organize this conference.  In the meantime, the GWATFL Board is committed to continue planning the Fall 2020 conference on November 7th. Please mark your calendars!

Thank you for your support and patience as we move through this challenging time.

Sincerely,

Luis Deocares  

GWATFL President and the Board

Please help a NECTFL Mead Leadership Fellow winner

"Hello! My name is Michele Back and I am one of the NECTFL Mead Leadership Fellows for 2020-2021. As part of my project for this coming year I would like your assistance in completing a brief survey about any efforts you use or know about with respect to recruiting future world language teachers. Your responses will be completely anonymous, unless you decide that you would like to participate in the second stage of this project (and I hope you will!) Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions: michele.back@uconn.edu. Thank you for your participation!"

Click on the link below to begin the survey:

https://uconn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eQXhPuML4iGlS7z

Click here for full details on her project.