The Connecticut Council of Language Teachers is pleased to recognize and reward the excellence of teachers across the state by offering teacher awards and scholarships. The criteria and information about each award is outlined below. Please note that in order to win an award, teachers must be members of CT COLT and meet all requirements for the award.
Direct all questions about CT COLT Awards and Scholarships to awards@ctcolt.org.
CT COLT would like to recognize and highlight some of the many dedicated world language teachers represented by our membership - teachers who, day in and day out, work hard in their classrooms to underscore the importance and to promote the development of foreign language skills among their students. There may be more than one winner for this award.
CRITERIA:
All nominees must be current CT COLT members in good standing for at least three years and have been teaching teaching world language full-time for at least three years. Nominees should demonstrate:
- Professionalism
- Respect for cultural differences
- Involvement or Interest in professional growth within the language field
- Dedication to students
- Enthusiasm for languages and for teaching
PROCEDURES:
- Teacher may nominate self or colleague.
- For the Pegasus Pride Award: Briefly outline how the nominee/applicant demonstrates the criteria for this award: respect for cultural differences, professional involvement, dedication to students, and enthusiasm for language learning.
- Individuals selected will be highlighted in the CT COLT World Language News Exchange.
•receive one year's free membership to CT COLT.
•be identified in a letter sent to their superintendents.
The Connecticut Council of Language Teachers takes great pride in honoring two groups of teachers each year at the annual Fall Conference.
- Retiring World Language Teachers
- Teachers with at least 25 years of service in the world language teaching profession
NECTFL Mead Leadership Fellows Program supports individuals in the development of a project that contributes to the World Language teaching profession and advances quality language instruction.
The program was created to develop future leaders for the profession at the state, regional, and national levels. Teaching in CT COLT submit their applications to COLT, who will support one application to be sent to compete with other applicants to NECTFL.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: World language educators who have demonstrated leadership potential in their institutions and/or professional organizations at the local, state, or regional or national level may apply. They must teach in one of the thirteen NECTFL states or the District of Columbia (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT, WV).
IMPORTANT DATES: View the website for more information. The application will be turned in to the state organization.
APPLICATION MATERIALS (to be uploaded using the application button below):
1. A narrative project description written by the applicant describing his/her project, containing the following:
o Project Rationale: How will this project contribute to the field and advance quality
language instruction? Why should NECTFL support this project?
o Project Description: What is your project? What goals and objectives do you hope to
accomplish? How will you use technology to disseminate your project?
o Action Plan: What steps will you take to implement the project? What is your timeline?
o Leadership Statement: How will your project provide leadership at the local, state,
regional, and/or national level?
2. A current résumé or C.V. of no more than two pages.
3. A letter of support from the nominee’s school/academic institution. (uploaded using the "Recommenders" button below)
4. A signed statement of commitment (see next page) expressing the nominee’s willingness to complete his/her proposed project and present findings at the following year’s Northeast Conference.
View the MEAD evaluation rubric here.
FOLLOW-UP: The recipient of the award will attend NECTFL for free, and will be asked to present at the Fall Conference and write an article for the newsletter. The participant is asked to reach out to NECTFL to find out information about funding from NECTFL for the award. CT COLT will cover up to $150 per year in travel expenses for two years of the award (receipts required for reimbursement).
The LILL Leadership Initiative for Language Learning was established by ACTFL in 2015. LILL’s Summer Institute is open to up to 50 emerging leaders. Sending one Connecticut representative invests in the future leadership of the Connecticut Council of Language Teachers (CT COLT) and our profession, by building capacity for leading change and implementing initiatives. For more information, please visit the ACTFL website. NECTFL will cover the cost of registration. CT COLT will cover up to $1500 per year (for two years, for a total of $3000) in expenses, which may be used for travel, food, childcare, parking, and lodging, or to cover the cost of child care. Receipts are required for reimbursement.
Deadline to apply: 3/17/23
The Connecticut Council of Language Teachers Teacher of the Year program was established to elevate the status and public profile of language learning in our state.
The CT COLT Language Teacher of the Year is selected from among highly qualified candidates, based on a statement about the value of learning languages and developing cultural competence, as well as professional experience, and letters of recommendation. The Teacher of the Year Committee seeks to select a candidate who demonstrates high leverage teaching practices, enthusiasm for language learning, and the potential for serving as an influential advocate for languages.
The Connecticut Language Teacher of the Year will have opportunities to engage in advocacy to increase awareness of the value of language learning with the media, policy-makers, and stake-holders at the local, state, and national level. The CT COLT teacher’s portfolio will be forwarded to the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (NECTFL) for consideration as a semifinalist for the ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year.
Eligibility:
Candidates for Connecticut Language Teacher of the Year must be full-time World Language Pre-K-12 teachers or Postsecondary instructors or professors. There is an expectation of teaching for at least two additional years beyond the award year. An active CT COLT membership is required to apply; if the candidate is not currently a member they can update their membership status as a part of the application.
Candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Be a full-time World Language teacher and spend at least 50% of their teaching duty in direct teaching of languages, with no more than half of the language teaching percentage being the teaching of English Language Learners.
- Not serve on the ACTFL Board of Directors, or be nominated for a position on the ACTFL Board or another ACTFL award for the year in which that candidate would be placed in eligibility for the ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year.
- Not serve on the CT COLT Board of Directors or be nominated for a position on the Board.
To Nominate:
Candidates are nominated by a colleague or may self-nominate. Once nominated, the nominee will receive an email from the CT COLT Teacher of the Year Committee with directions for completing the application.
Application Process:
Candidates for Teacher of the Year will be asked to provide the following documents:
- One-page letter of recommendation from a supervisor
- One-page letter of recommendation from a current student
- One-page letter of recommendation from a current or former parent or student
- Curriculum Vitae of no more than five (5) pages.
- Five-hundred-word personal statement on the value of learning languages and developing cultural competence for all learners.
The CT COLT Teacher of the Year Committee reviews all applications and notifies semi-finalists in order to schedule virtual interviews. The final winner is notified and publicly announced through social media and with a letter to the teacher's administrators. By submitting an application, the CT COLT Teacher of the Year agrees to participate in all required activities associated with the award, including attendance the CT COLT Fall Conference.
Following the procedures outlined by the ACTFL National Teacher of the Year program, the Connecticut Teacher of the Year further develops his or her portfolio for consideration as the NECTFL Teacher of the Year. That winner is then nominated for consideration for the ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year. The candidate's portfolio is progressively developed at the state, regional, and national levels. For further information visit the ACTFL Teacher of the Year Program website.
In 1990, an annual $1000.00 scholarship was established in memory of Helen Amaral, president of CT COLT from 1986-1988, and former Foreign Language Department Head in Newtown, Connecticut. She served the World Language profession, students, and adults in an exemplary way throughout her professional career.
PURPOSE OF SCHOLARSHIP: To help defray the cost of travel or study abroad in existing programs or one designed by the applicant in order to enhance language skills, absorb contemporary culture, and/or gain historical perspective.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: A World Language teacher with three years of continuous CT COLT membership currently employed, three classes or more in world language teaching and/or administration in Connecticut. Priority will be given to proposals designed to improve language and/or cultural proficiency. Consideration will be given to applicants who have not previously received awards, scholarships, or grants. This scholarship is not available to previous recipients.
IMPORTANT DATES: The scholarship will be made annually and must be used prior to September 1st of the following year. The application deadline for each year is March 31. Monies will be made available upon receipt of appropriate documentation.
FOLLOW-UP: The recipient of the scholarship will agree to submit a written report to the CT COLT News Exchange or give a presentation at the CT COLT Annual Fall Conference, or both.
RUBRIC: Click here to view the rubric for the scholarship.
APPLICATION MATERIALS
- One letter of recommendation (such as from a supervisor or a colleague) that address the intent of the scholarship.
- Curriculum Vitae including professional experience and any or all of the following:
- professional travel
- travel/study abroad and dates
- positions of leadership
- organizational leadership
- contributions to the profession
- awards received
- Three statements expressing the below items. These statements may be written or shared in a recorded video.
- Your World Language philosophy and goals.
- Your objectives, anticipated destination(s), and duration of your proposed trip or those of the program to which funding will apply.
- The benefits this experience would give you in improving your language and/or cultural proficiency and those of your students.
In 1996, an annual scholarship of up to $300.00 was established in memory of Robert G. Mead, Jr., a beloved colleague and friend in the World Language profession, University of Connecticut Professor Emeritus of Spanish American Literature, recipient of the CT COLT Distinguished Service Award, a founder of both CT COLT and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), and mentor to countless language students and teachers throughout his long and illustrious career. Dr. Mead quietly assisted many language teachers to attend conferences to further their knowledge and understanding of the art of teaching. The Robert G. Mead, Jr. Scholarship keeps alive the spirit of his tradition and CT COLT is pleased to honor such an outstanding person in this way.
PURPOSE OF SCHOLARSHP: To help defray the cost of attending a national-level conference focusing on teaching language and culture.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: A tenured World Language teacher with three years of continuous CT COLT membership, currently employed full-time in World Language teaching and/or administration in Connecticut. This scholarship is not available to previous recipients.
IMPORTANT DATES: The application deadline is March 31.
FOLLOW-UP: The recipient of the scholarship will agree to submit a written report to the CT COLT World Language News Exchange.
RUBRIC: Click here to view the rubric for the scholarship.
APPLICATION MATERIALS:
- One letter of recommendation from a supervisor supporting the nominee
- Curriculum Vitae including professional experience and any or all of the following:
- professional travel
- travel/study abroad and dates
- positions of leadership
- organizational leadership
- contributions to the profession
- awards received
- Three statements expressing the below items. These statements may be written or shared in a recorded video.
- Your World Language philosophy and goals.
- The conference (location, dates, etc.) you plan to attend and your purpose in attending this particular conference.
- The benefits this experience would give you professionally in your job and the benefits to your students.
In 1999, an annual scholarship of $300 was established in memory of Jane G. Graveen, former headteacher of Glastonbury's Foreign Language in the Elementary School (FLES) program. During her tenure in Glastonbury, she made immeasurable contributions to students, to staff and to the community, helping to preserve the program as a nationally recognized model.
PURPOSE OF SCHOLARSHIP: To support the accomplishments of a FLES teacher by providing funding for the purchase of classroom materials.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS: All elementary FLES teachers who are current CT COLT members with at least two years of continuous membership and who are teaching FLES at least 50 percent of the time in a public or private elementary school in Connecticut. This scholarship in not available to previous recipients.
IMPORTANT DATES: The scholarship will be announced at the Fall Conference and must be used in the following academic year. The application deadline is March 31. Disbursement of funds will be made to the recipient upon receipt of appropriate documentation.
FOLLOW-UP: The recipient of the scholarship will agree to either submit an article for the CT COLT Newsletter or give a presentation at the next annual Fall Conference.
