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Leadership
Page 22 Electronic Edition: www .teachingtodaywi .com

West Spanish Teacher Named State’s Global Educator of the Year

herself as a passionate and inspiring leader, real-world environmental issues around the represent Wisconsin on a global site visit to
advocate, and model for global education in globe. She credits the experience as pivotal in Rome, Italy.
her school community and across the state. motivating her to bring authentic, real-world
Her teaching goes beyond language instruc- content into her classroom.
tion – she also teaches about the world through Santiago also serves as president of the
language, helping students become globally Wisconsin Chapter of the American Associa- www.nbexcellence.org
competent citizens. tion of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese
“We’re incredibly proud of Ms. Santiago and is a trained facilitator in global learning.
not only for this recognition, but for the work Her commitment to professional growth and
she does to infuse her love of the Spanish community partnership is evident in every- The application for Global Educa-
language and culture into our school and com- thing she does – from designing curriculum tor of the Year is not available yet for the
munity,” Superintendent Joe Garza said. “Her to building inclusive, globally aware school 2025–26 school year. However, the Wisconsin
students no doubt benefit from the language communities. Department of Public Instruction (DPI) has
skills she shares with them, and the real-world “Ms. Santiago exemplifies the very best a program for the “Global Educator of the
experiences she provides.” of what it means to be a global educator,” Year” award. See https://dpi.wi.gov/interna-
Santiago was recognized May 20 at an Underly said. “She ignites curiosity, encour- tional-education/global-ed-award
event hosted at West and attended by school ages critical thinking, and creates meaningful The DPI application form is available for
and district officials, our State Superintendent opportunities for students to connect their download and requires completion with signa-
School District of New Berlin and other DPI representatives. learning to the world. Her leadership, both in tures, and submission to the DPI, according
New Berlin West Spanish teacher Jessica As a recent participant in a U.S. Depart- and out of the classroom, is an inspiration. I to the DPI website. The application asks for
Santiago was named the Wisconsin Depart- ment of Education-funded Global Curriculum am proud to recognize her as the Global Edu- information addressing the award criteria,
ment of Public Instruction’s 2024–25 Global development Program, Santiago, through cator of the Year.” including the nominee’s global educator state-
Educator of the Year. collaboration with other global educators, As the 2024-25 Global Educator of the ment and letters of endorsement.
With 23 years teaching middle and high helped design an inquiry-based, standards- Year, Santiago will receive a Council on Inter-
school Spanish, Santiago has distinguished aligned Spanish unit to engage students with national Educational Exchange scholarship to

Wisconsin Teacher of the Year — How does it work?

five selected teachers to determine Wiscon- vices roles can include but are not limited to warded to a State Selection Committee in
sin’s nominee to the National Teacher of the special education, gifted and talented (or other February each year. Representatives of the
Year Program. exceptional needs), instructional resource Herb Kohl Educational Foundation, CESAs
or interventionist, speech language patholo- and MPS, the Wisconsin Newspaper Asso-
Nomination Process gist, school counseling, school psychologist, ciation Foundation, state education-related
Teachers must first be nominated for school nurse, school social worker, or instruc- associations, and community leaders serve
a Kohl Fellowship to be eligible to compete tional media personnel. on the State Selection Committee. Applicants
for the award. Nominations are only accepted Once nominated, a teacher receives email who have reached the Statewide Selection
The road to become a Wisconsin Teacher using the online nomination link on this notification of their nomination, and a link to Committee are contacted in March with the
of the Year starts when teachers are nomi- website: https://www.kohleducation.org/ begin the application process. The teacher results.
nated for a Herb Kohl Educational Foundation teacherfellowship/public/nominate_a_teacher. must accept the nomination and complete the For more information go to https://www.
Teacher Fellowship Award. php online application process in order to compete. kohleducation.org/teacherfellowship
Teachers can be nominated by students,
The Kohl Teacher Fellowship parents, other teachers, community members, Successful applicants’ materials are for-
The Kohl Teacher Fellowship program or administrators. Self-nomination is not
recognizes and supports teaching excellence allowed. Because the program’s purpose is
and innovation in the state of Wisconsin, to recognize the contributions of Wisconsin Five Educators Selected as 2026
USA. Our goal is to support Wisconsin teach- classroom teachers, staff members whose
ers in the pursuit of their unrealized goals assignments are administrative or supervisory Wisconsin Teachers of the Year
for their classrooms or professional devel- are not eligible. All PK–12 classroom teachers
opment. The 100 Herb Kohl Fellowship who plan to continue teaching in their current Continued from Page 20
recipients and the 100 Wisconsin schools or similar capacity for a minimum of 50% she has been a champion for inclusive edu- She is also a champion for her colleagues
of those teachers will each receive a $6,000 full-time equivalency for at least the upcom- cation and student advocacy, building strong, by supporting new teachers and helps them
grant. Nominations for the Herb Kohl Fel- ing school year are eligible to be nominated meaningful connections with her students, develop the necessary skills needed. Her col-
lowship are only using this website’s online and apply. Pre-school 4K teachers in commu- families, and colleagues. Van Hefty is widely laborative and kind nature create a tightknit
nomination form. Award cycle application nity-based centers must teach in a 4K program recognized for creating nurturing, student- community that Lisa is a critical part of. She
period opens in September each year and that is affiliated with an elementary school or centered learning environments that foster makes Mishicot a better school district and a
closes in January. All nominations received school district and must be a currently licensed growth, independence, and confidence. — WI safe environment for kids. — School District
after the previous award cycle closed are held teacher in Wisconsin. DPI of Mishicot
until the next application cycle opens and the Special services teachers are also eli- Lisa goes to great lengths to provide a Congratulations to all of our 2026 Wis-
nominee is notified thereof. gible. Special services teachers are those who stable, encouraging learning environment for consin Teachers of the Year!
Public school recipients of Herb Kohl serve in a PK–12 capacity other than that of her students, ensuring they all receive appro-
Teacher Fellowships automatically become a classroom teacher. Like classroom teachers, priate and equitable lessons. She creates a
candidates for the Wisconsin Teacher of the they must have daily face-to-face contact with sense of trust with the kids in her care and with
Year (TOY) program, and a state selection students. Teachers employed as virtual school their families to achieve mutually agreed upon mishicot.k12.wi.us
committee selects five Teachers of the Year teachers associated with a school district are goals that help them learn and thrive outside
from the annual pool of Kohl Fellowship also eligible for nomination. Special ser- of the classroom.
recipients. A review committee interviews the