Dora Kennedy Award Winner

Ryleign Ahearn, Gerstell Academy

Spanish teacher Ryleigh Ahearn has received the DORA KENNEDY NEW TEACHER AWARD from the Maryland Foreign Language Association (MFLA). Dora Kennedy, former Supervisor of World Languages for Prince George’s County Public Schools, and methods instructor at the University of Maryland, had a lifelong passion for building teacher leaders. The purpose of this award is to support MFLA members who are new to the teaching of World Languages and interested in participating in a professional learning opportunity to improve their implementation of current best practices in the classroom.
 
In July 2021, Srta. Ahearn participated in the four-day American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The theme of the conference was Celebrating Diversity. One of the focuses of Srta. Ahearn’s study at the conference was project-based learning activities to teach culture, diversity, global citizenship, and social justice. After the conference, she plans to share her work with the Gerstell Spanish Department and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She will also present a session at a future MFLA conference for world language teachers in our state.
 

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