About the Innovation Fellowship
This scholarship is provided to support an individual in the development of a project that contributes to the foreign language teaching profession and advances quality language instruction. The Mead program was created to develop future leaders for the profession at the state, regional, and national levels.
Educators of ALL LANGUAGES at ALL LEVELS are encouraged to apply to this program, designed to identify potential leaders in education and to support the development of their potential. Each scholarship recipient will be assigned a mentor with expertise in the area of that person’s project, and NECTFL will facilitate virtual and, if possible, face-to-face meetings of the two.
How to Apply
Please note the tighter timeline this year due to earlier conference dates. Please see the application packet for complete details.
- Applications must be submitted to NECTFL by a state association and must therefore be received by the state association’s posted deadline. Applications must be submitted to state associations by November 1.
- State associations are requested to select their winner and submit his or her dossier to NECTFL by December 1. Dossiers should be shared electronically via Google Drive with [email protected].
Individuals should send their dossier to their state association, not directly to NECTFL.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
2024 Mead Innovation Fellow
Michael Lauria, Carmel High School, NY
Deconstructing, (Decolonizing), and Reconstructing Your World Language Classroom
As our population of language learners becomes increasingly diverse, having a curriculum that matches that demographic is of utmost importance. As educators, we learn that to ensure learning there must be intrinsic motivation in the classroom, and one of the ways to promote this motivation amongst learners (native and heritage learners especially) is to see representation in their world language class. In today’s world, having a diverse mix of resources embedded into a curriculum is crucial. As part of the ongoing journey to see classrooms that are more diverse, equitable, and inclusive, learning languages from underrepresented voices and stories, those that have been previously pushed aside in favor of the traditional colonized version, is key. To push ourselves away from the danger of the single-sided story, where we hear only from the oppressor, we lift up in support of those voices of the oppressed and make them a central figure in the World Language classroom. Our world is more connected today than ever before. This project strives to guide teachers in how to deconstruct their World Language classroom, include diverse voices, and reassemble it into a space where all learners feel they belong.
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2023 Mead Innovation Fellow
Traci Dougherty, Sandy Run Middle School, Dresher PA
“Mind the Gap: Helping World Language Teachers Understand their Data” will be a webinar series dedicated to discussing data driven instruction in the world language classroom. Each month will focus on a specific topic (such as data analysis, data tools, assessment, feedback, action plans, etc.) to allow educators to apply knowledge to their own language classrooms. Once a month, participants sign up and receive a link for a live Zoom webinar, which will be recorded and made available freely online via YouTube or Vimeo for those who cannot participate. In addition to a general insight to the topic at hand, each webinar will feature sample data sets, analysis demos, as well as a Q&A session. Participants will be able to submit questions ahead of time. Moreover, the project seeks to invite subject-area experts (e.g. data informed educators) to provide their own unique perspectives and suggestions for the participants and later viewers. Beyond the monthly webinar, the project aims to keep discussions going all month by offering follow up PLC sessions and quick tip videos and free resources and readings for participants.
2022 Mead Leadership Fellows
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| Julia Koch Bernards Township School District, NJ French FLENJ |
Stephanie Krause & Wesley Wood McLean School in Potomac, MD Bullis School in Potomac, MD Latin GWATFL |
Click here for full details on their projects!
Click here to view archives of Mead recipients and their projects