Teacher of the Year
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The 2022 MALT Teacher of the Year is Christy Peeples.
Christy Peeples has been teaching Spanish (or English as a second language) for almost 30 years. She started teaching English while living in Spain in the 90's and then taught Spanish as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Montana for 3 years. These teaching assignments had one thing in common. Christy had NO IDEA what she was doing. After much schooling and more teaching, Christy finally began teaching in the public school system in 2001. Christy has been an active member of MFPE, as the Kalispell Education Association Secretary and as a delegate to State and National conventions. She achieved National Board Certification in 2008 and then recertified in 2018. She has been on the NBC Training Cadre for many years and consults with other teachers in the process. Christy has been an enthusiastic MALT member for about 10 years and feels like she learns more about great teaching practice from other MALT members than anywhere else. "I believe that we are never done learning how to learn. No one is an expert. I think that the day after I was told I was MALT's Teacher of the Year I had an experience with a student that reminded me that I am NOT done learning. And that we are not all "teacher of the year" quality every day. My colleagues are invaluable and I constantly hold myself up to you, the MALT language teacher community, as my shining examples. |
MALT Friends of Language Award
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Hannah Jacobsma is the winner of the 2021 MALT Friends of Langauge Award!
Hannah became intrigued by the French language at an early age through ballet. It wasn't until college that she became fully engaged in learning the language and pursued a degree in French. During that time, she lived 6 weeks in Arles, France, and in the autumn following her college graduation, she was accepted into the TAPIF program and moved to Samatan, France, a village of just under 2000 people. There, she was an English Teaching Assistant in middle school and trade school. In this role, she loved teaching language and culture through songs and stories. She enjoyed finding new ways to let students express their individuality through language. Hannah is now the WLI-MT Program Coordinator, and words hard to support making language & culture education available to more Montanans. She is very passionate about empowering people, especially youth, in all facets of life, and believes that teaching and promoting language education and cultural humility can move mountains. Thank you, Hannah! |
Outstanding Contributions Award
Kristen Wolf is the winner of the 2021 Outstanding Contributions Award.
Kristen ND Wolf (@LaLobaLista) is a dynamic educator and presenter. Her background as a Montessori & Spanish teacher has led her to understand the process of language acquisition and human development in profound ways. Kristen thrives when creating a community with her classes. La Loba Lista’s (the ready/ clever Wolf) teaching style is engaging, holistic and supported by language acquisition research (Communicative Language Teaching). Kristen recently earned the distinction of Montana Language Teacher of the Year in 2019, as decided by the Montana Association of Language Teachers (MALT). She is blessed with two children and a very supportive husband, as well as one dog and a cat. Kristen loves getting outside and enjoying the beauty of Montana and its vibrant communities. She has travelled extensively and lived in Spain. Kristen completed her curriculum and instruction master’s degree at Montana State University in 2015. Currently, Kristen loves working with high schoolers at Bozeman Field School in an experiential based program; training teachers with CI Liftoff; teaching elementary age and adult students and supporting language coaches at the World Language Initiative- MT, where she is the founding teacher. She has recently been elected to represent Montana in the PNCFL (Pacific NW Council for Languages) and is now a member of the MALT board. She encourages you to come participate in or observe a class, online or in person. Recently published EdSurge Article.
Kristen ND Wolf (@LaLobaLista) is a dynamic educator and presenter. Her background as a Montessori & Spanish teacher has led her to understand the process of language acquisition and human development in profound ways. Kristen thrives when creating a community with her classes. La Loba Lista’s (the ready/ clever Wolf) teaching style is engaging, holistic and supported by language acquisition research (Communicative Language Teaching). Kristen recently earned the distinction of Montana Language Teacher of the Year in 2019, as decided by the Montana Association of Language Teachers (MALT). She is blessed with two children and a very supportive husband, as well as one dog and a cat. Kristen loves getting outside and enjoying the beauty of Montana and its vibrant communities. She has travelled extensively and lived in Spain. Kristen completed her curriculum and instruction master’s degree at Montana State University in 2015. Currently, Kristen loves working with high schoolers at Bozeman Field School in an experiential based program; training teachers with CI Liftoff; teaching elementary age and adult students and supporting language coaches at the World Language Initiative- MT, where she is the founding teacher. She has recently been elected to represent Montana in the PNCFL (Pacific NW Council for Languages) and is now a member of the MALT board. She encourages you to come participate in or observe a class, online or in person. Recently published EdSurge Article.
MALT Postsecondary Teacher of the Year
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Marton (Marty) Marko is the winner of the 2020 Postsecondary Teacher of the Year.
Marty Marko is an Associate Professor of German in the Department of World Languages at the University of Montana, where he has taught for 13 years. His areas of instruction and research include: language pedagogy, German culture and literature, film studies, and environmental humanities. Marty currently directs the first-year German language program at UM and is on the Faculty Advisory Board of UM’s Davidson Honor College. He has been an active member of MALT since his arrival at UM in the fall of 2006 and for several years was the editor of our former publication, the MALT Bulletin. Through his engagement with MALT, Marty has served as a liaison between World Languages at UM and instructors and programs at schools throughout Montana. He has been involved in UM’s Foreign Language Day, which hosts hundreds of Montana high school students and their teachers with open classrooms, special lectures, and language/culture-based activities. Marty has also been active in reaching out to schools and programs across Montana in collaborative efforts on behalf of the University of Montana. He has been an instructor, advisor, and mentor to many current Montana teachers – in German and in other fields. Marty looks forward to continuing his collaboration with Montana educators and MALT toward excellence in language teaching and learning at all levels as well as supporting vital connections between teachers, administrators, and students across the state and region. |
History Of MALT Awards
- 2021 Teacher of the Year Award, PNCFL Teacher of the Year Nominee- Teresa Mountains
- 2021 Outstanding Contributions Award - Kristen Wolf
- 2020 Postsecondary Teacher of the Year- Marton (Marty) Marko
- 2020 Outstanding Contributions- Kristi Schell
- 2019 Teacher of the Year- Kristen Wolf
- 2019 Outstanding Contributions. Also won the regional award for Outstanding Contributions- Sarah Buley
- 2018 Teacher of the Year- Kerri Hiatt, Spanish Teacher at both Belt and Highwood Schools
- 2018 Outstanding Contributions. Also won the regional award for Outstanding Contributions- Lynette Pottenger, Spanish Teacher in Fort Benton
- 2017 Teacher of the Year- Erika Shupe, Latin Teacher at Bozeman H. S. and MT Digital Academy
- 2017 Outstanding Contributions- Debbie Kelley, French & Spanish at Billings Skyview H. S. Debbie also won the regional Outstanding Contributions Award for 2017
LILL Participants
- Megan Hambrick 2017-2018 French Teacher Bozeman H. S. Platform-Seal of Biliteracy
MALT Awards Information
MALT offers three annual awards in coordination with the Pacific Northwest Council for Languages:
- MALT Language Teacher of the Year (becomes state nominee for PNCFL's Northwest LanguageTeacher of the Year)
- MALT Postsecondary Teacher of the Year (becomes state nominee for PNCFL's Ray Verzasconi Northwest Postsecondary Teacher of the Year)
- MALT Outstanding Contributions to the Teaching of World Languages (becomes state nominee for PNCFL's Outstanding Contributions to the Teaching of World Languages in the Pacific Northwest)
Please see the PNCFL website under "Awards and Grants" for more information and eligibility criteria for each award.
Also check out the ACTFL Professional Awards for further language education award opportunities.
