Megan Brady, OWLA Immediate Past President and Awards Chair
Spanish Teacher, Lake High School
Every year, the OWLA gathers to do what world language educators do best—connect, collaborate, and celebrate the power of language to transform lives. This year’s annual OWLA conference was no exception, and one of its most memorable moments was the recognition of five extraordinary Ohio educators whose contributions to students, colleagues, and communities across the state have been nothing short of remarkable. Each of this year’s honorees was nominated through a process requiring a minimum of three letters of recommendation, and each one represents the very best our profession has to offer.
Community Service Award — Alondra Pacheco, University School
Some educators change lives inside the classroom. Alondra Pacheco does it everywhere. A Spanish teacher at University School in Cleveland, Ms. Pacheco was recognized this year for her extraordinary volunteer work with The Literacy Cooperative and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, a free monthly book gifting program for children under five across Cuyahoga County.
Rather than simply participating, Ms. Pacheco mobilized her Spanish Honors students alongside her, connecting the organization to Spanish-speaking families and events they had never been able to reach. She helped distribute hundreds of books, translated materials, and even guided her students to successfully apply for a grant on the organization’s behalf. Much of this work happened on weekends, on her own time, because that is simply who she is. Ms. Pacheco could not be present at the conference to accept her award, but her impact was very much felt in the room.
Outstanding Administrator Award — Michele Carlisle, East Central Ohio Educational Service Center
Michele Carlisle has spent over two decades doing something many said couldn’t be done: bringing high-quality world language instruction to schools and districts across Ohio that would otherwise never have the capacity to offer it. As a leader at the East Central Ohio Educational Service Center, Ms. Carlisle pioneered interactive video distance learning long before it became widespread.
She worked to build a network that delivers Spanish, Chinese, ASL, and ESL instruction to students across the state, including those in rural and underserved communities where such opportunities would otherwise be out of reach. She has secured millions of dollars in grant funding, mentored countless educators, and gone above and beyond to support visiting international teachers from Spain and China, arranging housing, transportation, and community connections with remarkable care.
In a fitting tribute to her values, Ms. Carlisle and her ESC sponsored the ASL interpreters at this year’s OWLA conference—a quiet but powerful statement about her commitment to equity and inclusion.
Leona Glenn Outstanding Educator Award, Middle School — Trista Todt, Dempsey Middle School, Delaware
There is a particular kind of teacher whose influence doesn’t stop at the classroom door—it travels with every student and colleague they touch, rippling outward for years. Trista Todt is that kind of teacher. A Spanish teacher at Dempsey Middle School in Delaware, Ms. Todt was honored with the Leona Glenn Outstanding Educator Award for Middle School World Language for her creativity, enthusiasm, and extraordinary impact as a mentor.
Her enrollment numbers speak to her gift. At one point demand was so high that the administration added an additional Spanish 1 section just to accommodate her students. But perhaps even more telling are the former student teachers and colleagues who wrote on her behalf, each reporting that they still use the ideas and strategies she gave them years later. Ms. Todt has mentored student teachers, served in the RESA mentorship program, presented at OWLA conferences, and serves on her school’s Building Leadership Team—a quiet force shaping the profession from the inside out.
Leona Glenn Outstanding Educator Award, High School — Nelly Andrade-Hughes, Benjamin Logan High School
Nelly Andrade-Hughes is the kind of professional who doesn’t seek the spotlight—she simply keeps doing extraordinary work, year after year, whether anyone is watching or not. A Spanish teacher at Benjamin Logan High School in rural Ohio, Ms. Andrade-Hughes was honored with the Leona Glenn Outstanding Educator Award for High School World Language for a career that spans the classroom, the conference stage, and the publishing world.
Her program has grown all the way to Spanish 6, and one of her former students now teaches Spanish alongside her—perhaps the ultimate testament to her influence. Nationally, she is a recognized trainer and coach in Acquisition-Driven Instruction, a published author of widely used readers including Selena, Fénix, and Minerva, and a content creator whose work has shaped Spanish classrooms across the country. She brings to every room she enters not only professional expertise, but her full identity—as a Mexican woman, a mother, an indigenous descendant, and a passionate advocate for cultural authenticity in language education.
OWLA Teacher of the Year — Gary DiBianca, Orange High School, Pepper Pike
Gary DiBianca describes his teaching philosophy as a mosaic—a collection of ideas, experiences, and relationships carefully arranged into something greater than the sum of its parts. After more than two decades in the classroom, that mosaic is extraordinary.
At Orange High School in Pepper Pike, Mr. DiBianca has helped 65 students earn the Ohio Seal of Biliteracy and 80 earn the Global Seal in Functional Fluency since 2022 alone. He regularly volunteers his free period to teach students who can’t fit Spanish into their schedules—not just once, but repeatedly and for multiple students, because their growth matters that much to him. His students describe a teacher who encourages rather than pressures, listens rather than lectures, and creates a space where every learner belongs.
Beyond the classroom, Mr. DiBianca is a nationally recognized trainer, published author, AP Spanish Language reader, and co-chair of GLSEN Northeast Ohio, where he has organized 17 youth conferences for LGBTQ+ students and allies. He is, in every sense, a model of what this profession can be.
Know Someone Who Deserves Recognition?
The educators honored at this year’s conference share something in common: someone took the time to nominate them. Behind every award is a colleague, a former student, or an administrator who paused and said, “This person deserves to be celebrated.”
OWLA award nominations open each year, and the process is straightforward. If you work alongside someone who inspires you, mentors others, serves their community, or simply shows up every day with passion and purpose, we want to hear about them. Start gathering your letters of recommendation and watch for nomination information in the coming months. The next remarkable honoree could be someone you see every day.
The Cardinal 