Dr. Christine Rinne
Congratulations to the recipient of the 2025 Post-Secondary Educator of Excellence, Dr. Christine Rinne, an Associate Professor of German at the University of South Alabama. Dr. Rinne was selected as this year’s recipient on the basis of her excellent teaching portfolio and letters of recommendation.
It is a tremendous honor to be nominated by the Alabama World Language Association (AWLA) for the SCOLT Educator of Excellence Award; these two organizations are vital to the support and success of our profession. At their conferences, colleagues from our region have inspired me to rethink how I approach teaching German, especially key aspects of student engagement like participation and testing. Learning about opportunities for students at other institutions inspired me to apply for the US Department of Education’s Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program and help implement the Global Engagement Certificate for all undergraduates at the University of South Alabama. I look forward to continuing to learn from and share with colleagues.
The Educator of Excellence Award for Post-Secondary Educators, formerly known as the Teacher of Excellence Award, recognizes educators at the community college, college, and university level who have demonstrated excellence in language teaching, active participation in SCOLT, and leadership and advocacy at the local, state, and/or regional or national level. The nominating documents for this award include a letter of nomination, a statement from nominee of acceptance of nomination (paragraph), a CV/Resume, and two letters of support.
Nominate a colleague for the 2025 Educator of Excellence Award! Deadline for applications is January 15.
Former recipients include:
Educator of Excellence – Post-secondary
2024 Erika Stevens
2023 Victoria Russell
2022 Kristin Davin
2021 Sandrine Hope
2020 Kelly Moser
2019 —
2018 Carol Anne Costabile-Heming
2017 Bobby Hobgood
2016 —
2015 Sabine Smith
2014 Mary Sue Barry
2013 Krista Chambless
2012 Aurora Fiengo-Varn
2011 Horst Kurz
2010 Ellen L. Friedrich
2009 Charles Moore
2008 Susan Navey-Davis and Jana Sandarg
2007 Richard La Fleur
2006 —
2005 David Alley and Patricia Carlin
2004 Mary Lynn Redmond
2003 Carmen C. Tesser
2002 Carol Saunders
2001 Dominique Linchet
2000 Judith H. Cox
1999 Sheri Spaine Long
1998 Anne Fountain
1997 Richard W. Thames
1996 Genelle Morain
1995 Carine Feyten and David Hill
1994 Paula Heusinkveld
1993 —
From 1993 until 2011, Awards were presented for the K-12 level as well. Since 2012, K-12 educators of excellence have been encouraged to participate in the state and regional Teacher of the Year competition to highlight their achievements.
Teacher of Excellence Award–K-12
2011 Tammy Tobin
2010 Sarah Loach Meister
2009 Alisha Dawn Samples
2008 —
2007 Mirella Hodges
2006 Melyn Roberson
2005 Lynn Fulton-Archer
2004 Louis P. Lillard
2003 Caroline Weathers Miklosovic
2002 Linda Paragone
2001 Luana Coleman
2000 Robin C. Snyder
1999 Peggy Bilbro
1998 Janene Sullivan
1997 George Ann Parker
1996 Pat Honea Nix
1995 Helga Howard Wilmoth
1994 Mary McGehee
1993 Kathy White and Richard Beaton
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Spring 2025 SCOLTalk is out! Check it out here:
The Language Connects Foundation congratulates the five Regional Language Teachers of the Year! Learn more about each of these amazing educators at: https://bit.ly/3Ur2cDm @cslang4all @_SCOLT_ @swcoltorg @pncfl1949 @NECTFL