NILA annually recognizes outstanding Nebraska educators and supporters of World Language education. In addition to awards of recognition, NILA also offers mini-grant and student competition opportunities.
The NILA Outstanding World Language Teacher of the Year may choose to advance to the regional Teacher of the Year competition that is hosted by CSCTFL. NILA award recipients who are interested in participating in the regional competition should contact the NILA Board to express interest and initiate the nomination process. The full CSCTFL TOY process is outlined in the link below.
Recipients of NILA Honors and Awards
2023
Outstanding World Language Teacher:
New World Language Teacher:
Pro-Lingua:
Best of Nebraska NILA Session (awarded from 2022 Fall Conference): Kelly Garcia, ESU 5
Modes made simple and strategic
AATSP - Nebraska Spanish Teacher of the Year:
AATF - Nebraska French Teacher of the Year:
AATG - Nebraska German Teacher of the Year:
CLTA- Chinese Teacher of the Year:
2022
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Alicia Dallman Shoemaker
New World Language Teacher: Trinia Perigo, Columbus High School
Pro-Lingua: Nathan Bacon, Bellevue East
Best of Nebraska NILA Session (awarded from 2021 Fall Conference): The Future of World Languages in Nebraska Schools, Colleges and Universities Observations, Trends and Advocacy
Josh Pope and Jared List, Doane University
AATSP - Nebraska Spanish Teacher of the Year: Piper Porras, Bellevue East High School
AATF - Nebraska French Teacher of the Year: Sara Parkening, Pound Middle School
AATG - Nebraska German Teacher of the Year: Dr. Olaf Böhlke, Creighton University
CLTA- Chinese Teacher of the Year: Coral Su, North Star High School
2021
Outstanding World Language Teacher:
New World Language Teacher: Brent Koenigsman, Lincoln High
Pro-Lingua:
Best of Nebraska NILA Session (awarded from 2020 Fall Conference): Tools for Online Language Learning
Jan Coone ESU #16, Kathy DaMoude, Hershey Public Schools
AATSP - Nebraska Spanish Teacher of the Year:
AATF - Nebraska French Teacher of the Year: Stephanie Miller, Mickle Middle School
AATG - Nebraska German Teacher of the Year: Not awarded this year
2020
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Theresa Jensen, Millard North High School
New World Language Teacher: Nich Anderson, Lincoln North East High School
Pro-Lingua: Dr. Steven Duke, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Best of Nebraska NILA Session : Angela Wagoner Crete High School
Helping Students Plan Their Personal Language
AATSP - Nebraska Spanish Teacher of the Year: Rachel Twist, Skutt Catholic High School
AATF - Nebraska French Teacher of the Year: Karla Halpine, Lux Middle School
AATG - Nebraska German Teacher of the Year: Yulia Evans, Lincoln East High School
2019
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Kathy DaMoude
New World Language Teacher: Kelleen Browning, Lincoln Southeast High School
Pro-Lingua: Jenny White, Schuyler Public Library
Best of Nebraska NILA Session (awarded from 2018 Fall Conference): Jamie Honke, Ralston High School,
Fancy Free with Freewrites and Free Reading
NATSP Teacher of the Year: Dr. Jami Holbein Swanson, Lincoln Northstar High School
NATF Teacher of the Year: Sasha Van Zandt, Lincoln Southwest High School
Cover Design: Alex Vodraska (sr), Lincoln High School
2018
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Melissa Hernandez, Lincoln Northeast High School
New World Language Teacher: Mariah Wailes, Lincoln High School
Pro-Lingua: Toba Cohen-Dunning, Omaha Public Schools Foundation
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: TBA
NATSP Teacher of the Year: Jamie Honkie, Ralston High School
NATF Teacher of the Year: Kristen Tangen, Lincoln Southeast High School
NATG Teacher of the Year: Kristen Hetrick, Doane University
2017
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Terri Wright, Millard South High School
New World Language Teacher: Brett Ávila, Sidney High School
Pro-Lingua: Jan Coone, ESU 16
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: Terri Wright, Millard South High School
NATSP Teacher of the Year: Cathy Scurlock, Davis Middle School
NATF Teacher of the Year: Lisa Maupin, Lincoln East High School
NATG Teacher of the Year: Marissa Wanamaker, Lincoln High School
2016
Teacher of the Year: Cara Heminger, Lincoln Northstar High School
New WL Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Metcalf, Millard South High School
Pro-Lingua: Janine Theiler, Nebraska Department of Education
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: Brett Ávila, Sidney High School
2015
Teacher of the Year: Katie Hayes
New WL Teacher of the Year: Dené Ogelby
Pro-Lingua: Sabina Strong
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: Terri Wright
2014
Teacher of the Year: Pat Branson
Pro-Lingua: Camp Carol Joy Holling
Mini-Grant: Rebecca Gill-Rose
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: Nick Ziegler
2013
Teacher of the Year: Jenny Paskach
New WL Teacher of the Year: Amanda Dickey
Pro-Lingua: Cedric Fichepain
Mini-Grant: Yulia Evans
2012
Teacher of the Year: Cris Fishback
New WL Teacher of the Year: Desiree Hayden Parra
Pro-Lingua:
Mini-Grant: Piper Porras, Linda Gjere, Cara Heminger
2011
Teacher of the Year: Nila Jacobson
New WL Teacher of the Year: Ginger Starks Yoble
Pro-Lingua: Gerda Bailey
2010
Teacher of the Year: Carolina Molina-Martin
New WL Teacher of the Year: Jim Nailon
Pro-Lingua: Mardi North of NDE
Mini-Grant: Lindsey Schultz and Wendy Brennan
Design Cover: Gene Luebker of Palmyra High School
2009
Teacher of the Year: Rev. Stephen Plank
New WL Teacher of the Year: Sarah Percival
Pro-Lingua: Malaika Foundation
Recipients of NILA Honors and Awards
2023
Outstanding World Language Teacher:
New World Language Teacher:
Pro-Lingua:
Best of Nebraska NILA Session (awarded from 2022 Fall Conference): Kelly Garcia, ESU 5
Modes made simple and strategic
AATSP - Nebraska Spanish Teacher of the Year:
AATF - Nebraska French Teacher of the Year:
AATG - Nebraska German Teacher of the Year:
CLTA- Chinese Teacher of the Year:
2022
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Alicia Dallman Shoemaker
New World Language Teacher: Trinia Perigo, Columbus High School
Pro-Lingua: Nathan Bacon, Bellevue East
Best of Nebraska NILA Session (awarded from 2021 Fall Conference): The Future of World Languages in Nebraska Schools, Colleges and Universities Observations, Trends and Advocacy
Josh Pope and Jared List, Doane University
AATSP - Nebraska Spanish Teacher of the Year: Piper Porras, Bellevue East High School
AATF - Nebraska French Teacher of the Year: Sara Parkening, Pound Middle School
AATG - Nebraska German Teacher of the Year: Dr. Olaf Böhlke, Creighton University
CLTA- Chinese Teacher of the Year: Coral Su, North Star High School
2021
Outstanding World Language Teacher:
New World Language Teacher: Brent Koenigsman, Lincoln High
Pro-Lingua:
Best of Nebraska NILA Session (awarded from 2020 Fall Conference): Tools for Online Language Learning
Jan Coone ESU #16, Kathy DaMoude, Hershey Public Schools
AATSP - Nebraska Spanish Teacher of the Year:
AATF - Nebraska French Teacher of the Year: Stephanie Miller, Mickle Middle School
AATG - Nebraska German Teacher of the Year: Not awarded this year
2020
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Theresa Jensen, Millard North High School
New World Language Teacher: Nich Anderson, Lincoln North East High School
Pro-Lingua: Dr. Steven Duke, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Best of Nebraska NILA Session : Angela Wagoner Crete High School
Helping Students Plan Their Personal Language
AATSP - Nebraska Spanish Teacher of the Year: Rachel Twist, Skutt Catholic High School
AATF - Nebraska French Teacher of the Year: Karla Halpine, Lux Middle School
AATG - Nebraska German Teacher of the Year: Yulia Evans, Lincoln East High School
2019
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Kathy DaMoude
New World Language Teacher: Kelleen Browning, Lincoln Southeast High School
Pro-Lingua: Jenny White, Schuyler Public Library
Best of Nebraska NILA Session (awarded from 2018 Fall Conference): Jamie Honke, Ralston High School,
Fancy Free with Freewrites and Free Reading
NATSP Teacher of the Year: Dr. Jami Holbein Swanson, Lincoln Northstar High School
NATF Teacher of the Year: Sasha Van Zandt, Lincoln Southwest High School
Cover Design: Alex Vodraska (sr), Lincoln High School
2018
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Melissa Hernandez, Lincoln Northeast High School
New World Language Teacher: Mariah Wailes, Lincoln High School
Pro-Lingua: Toba Cohen-Dunning, Omaha Public Schools Foundation
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: TBA
NATSP Teacher of the Year: Jamie Honkie, Ralston High School
NATF Teacher of the Year: Kristen Tangen, Lincoln Southeast High School
NATG Teacher of the Year: Kristen Hetrick, Doane University
2017
Outstanding World Language Teacher: Terri Wright, Millard South High School
New World Language Teacher: Brett Ávila, Sidney High School
Pro-Lingua: Jan Coone, ESU 16
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: Terri Wright, Millard South High School
NATSP Teacher of the Year: Cathy Scurlock, Davis Middle School
NATF Teacher of the Year: Lisa Maupin, Lincoln East High School
NATG Teacher of the Year: Marissa Wanamaker, Lincoln High School
2016
Teacher of the Year: Cara Heminger, Lincoln Northstar High School
New WL Teacher of the Year: Jennifer Metcalf, Millard South High School
Pro-Lingua: Janine Theiler, Nebraska Department of Education
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: Brett Ávila, Sidney High School
2015
Teacher of the Year: Katie Hayes
New WL Teacher of the Year: Dené Ogelby
Pro-Lingua: Sabina Strong
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: Terri Wright
2014
Teacher of the Year: Pat Branson
Pro-Lingua: Camp Carol Joy Holling
Mini-Grant: Rebecca Gill-Rose
Best of Nebraska NILA Session: Nick Ziegler
2013
Teacher of the Year: Jenny Paskach
New WL Teacher of the Year: Amanda Dickey
Pro-Lingua: Cedric Fichepain
Mini-Grant: Yulia Evans
2012
Teacher of the Year: Cris Fishback
New WL Teacher of the Year: Desiree Hayden Parra
Pro-Lingua:
Mini-Grant: Piper Porras, Linda Gjere, Cara Heminger
2011
Teacher of the Year: Nila Jacobson
New WL Teacher of the Year: Ginger Starks Yoble
Pro-Lingua: Gerda Bailey
2010
Teacher of the Year: Carolina Molina-Martin
New WL Teacher of the Year: Jim Nailon
Pro-Lingua: Mardi North of NDE
Mini-Grant: Lindsey Schultz and Wendy Brennan
Design Cover: Gene Luebker of Palmyra High School
2009
Teacher of the Year: Rev. Stephen Plank
New WL Teacher of the Year: Sarah Percival
Pro-Lingua: Malaika Foundation