The AATSP Outstanding Teacher-of-the-Year Awards are given to teachers of Spanish or Portuguese representing the following four categories:

A. Elementary Level: Grades K-8

B. Secondary Level: Grades 9-12

C. Two-year College Level

D. College or University Level

This year awards will be given for the secondary and university levels.

The 2014 AATSP Outstanding Teacher of the Year Secondary Level

The AATSP Outstanding Teacher of the Year Secondary Level is María del Pilar García who teachers at Bayside High School in Flushing, NY.

The letters of nomination and support for María del Pilar García are outstanding and praise her professionalism, her compassion, her up-to-date teaching methods and strategies, and her enthusiasm. A supervisor commented that María works diligently to bring Spanish to life for her students. The supervisor wrote, "On a daily basis, I have found María and the students together writing scripts and painting cardboard sets for class plays in Spanish, preparing a bake sale to raise funds for Spring Break in Spain, or excitedly discussing a performance her classes recently viewed at the local Repertorio Español. A student wrote that Ms. García "makes her classes become like a family; we all share our experiences and make sure each one is equally appreciated.” Another colleague wrote that "María del Pilar García is a motivator, a self-starter, and a catalyst for positive instructional change.” She integrated instructional technology into the Spanish program so that her students would benefit from multimedia-infused lessons; she implemented the AP course into the Spanish offerings, and has jump-started a Medical Interpretation Program. All of the letters of recommendation attest to the fact that María is most deserving of the Teacher of the Year Award.

The 2014 AATSP Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award College / University Level

The AATSP Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award University Level is Ethel Jorge from Pitzer College in Claremont California.

The letters of support for Ethel Jorge are unanimous in their praise for her innovative teaching and course design. Some of the courses that she has developed include Spanish in the Community; Los Angeles: The City and its People; Latinas in the Garment Industry; Latin American Popular Cultures; Latin American Cultural Diasporas, and Contemporary Issues in the Spanish-Speaking World. The administration at Pitzer College were pleased to note that Ethel’s classes have the student engagement at their center. While her classes are taught completely in the target language there is an appropriate balance of dialogue between the teacher and the student. A colleague wrote that Ethel Jorge "is a very well-regarded teacher; students appreciate her pedagogic approach and her availability for academic support outside of the classroom. Other colleagues commented on some of her well-grounded teaching practices that include student review of campus events and their personal life events, community visits, and service work at local sites. The following statement from a colleague best summarizes the reason that Ethel Jorge has received the AATSP Teacher of the Year Award: College/University: "Professor Jorge is one of the foremost scholars and practitioners of community-based language learning in the country.”