Megan Brady, OWLA Immediate Past President and Awards Chair
Spanish Teacher, Lake High School

The world language education community in Ohio is filled with incredible educators doing amazing work every single day. From the elementary teacher who has kindergarteners singing French songs with perfect pronunciation, to the high school instructor whose students are landing college scholarships thanks to their language skills, to the administrator who fights for program funding year after year – our field is bursting with talent, innovation, and dedication.

So why do so many of these outstanding educators go unrecognized?

OWLA wants to change that, and we need your help. With the January 1st deadline approaching for award nominations, now is the perfect time to celebrate the excellence happening in classrooms, departments, and programs across our state.

Your Colleagues Are Doing Incredible Things
Think about the world language educators you know. That colleague who stayed late to help students prepare for the AP exam. The teacher who created an innovative cultural exchange program that has students video-chatting with peers in Spain. The administrator who advocated successfully for a new language program when others said it couldn’t be done. The technology integration specialist who helped your entire department transition to digital storytelling. These aren’t just good teachers – they’re award-worthy educators who are advancing our entire profession.

OWLA offers recognition across a remarkable range of categories, ensuring that excellence at every level and in every role gets its due. The Leona Glenn Awards honor outstanding teachers at elementary, middle, and high school levels, while the Ed Allen Award recognizes exceptional college instructors. There’s the Distinguished Career Award for retired educators whose lifetime contributions deserve celebration, and the Beginning Teacher Award for those incredible educators who are already making their mark in their first few years.

But it doesn’t stop at classroom teaching. The Outstanding Professional Service Award recognizes those who go above and beyond in serving our profession. The Community Service Award celebrates educators who take world languages beyond school walls to impact their broader communities. The Theresa Minick Technology Integration Award honors those who are pioneering innovative uses of technology in language learning.

For those whose contributions come through research and writing, the Publications Award recognizes outstanding professional publications. The Outstanding Program Award honors exceptional world language programs at the K-12 or college/university level. And importantly, OWLA also recognizes the administrators and friends of world languages who support our work, even if they’re not OWLA members themselves.

Don’t Let Imposter Syndrome Win
Here’s what we know about world language educators: you’re humble. Maybe too humble. That little voice in your head that says, “Oh, I’m not really award-worthy,” or “There are so many others doing better work than me” – that’s imposter syndrome talking, and it’s time to tell it to be quiet.

The truth is, if you’re reading this article, you probably know someone who absolutely deserves recognition. You might even BE someone who deserves recognition. The OWLA awards aren’t about perfection – they’re about celebrating the real, meaningful work happening in our field every day.

Look at the award criteria. These guidelines are meant to help identify strong candidates, not create impossible barriers. If you or someone you know meets many of these qualifications, that’s nomination-worthy.

Advocacy Through Recognition
When we nominate colleagues (and ourselves) for awards, we’re doing more than just saying, “Nice job;” we’re engaging in powerful advocacy for our entire field. Every nomination tells the story of what world language education can accomplish. Every award winner becomes an ambassador for our profession, showing parents, administrators, and policymakers the incredible impact of language learning.

Think about it: when your colleague wins an award, their success story gets shared beyond just their classroom. Their innovative teaching methods get highlighted. Their student success stories get told. Their program’s achievements get celebrated. This visibility helps all of us by demonstrating the value and excellence of world language education.

The Nomination Process Is Manageable
Worried that the nomination process is too complicated? It’s more straightforward than you might think. You’ll need a nomination letter, the candidate’s CV or résumé, three letters of support, and some additional documentation. Yes, it takes some effort—but think about how much effort your colleague puts into their students every single day. They’re worth an hour or two of your time to gather these materials.

The online submission process makes it easy to compile and submit everything in one place. And remember, for some awards, you don’t even need to nominate a fellow OWLA member—Outstanding Administrator and Friend of World Languages awards are open to anyone who supports world language education.

Your Action Plan
Before January 1st rolls around, take these steps:

First, look around your professional community. Who’s doing outstanding work that deserves recognition? Don’t overthink it – if someone immediately comes to mind, trust that instinct.

Second, consider yourself. Are you doing innovative work? Have you been teaching successfully for years? Are you making a difference beyond your classroom? If so, don’t wait for someone else to nominate you. Self-advocacy is professional development.

Third, reach out to potential nominees to get their permission and gather the required materials. Most people are honored to be considered, even if they initially protest that they’re “not worthy.”

After all, if we don’t celebrate our own excellence, who will?

Learn more about OWLA awards and submit your nominations here: https://www.owlaohio.org/awards-scholarships/owla-awards