Two Organizations Honor Spanish Instructor Jill Woerner

Oct 30, 2017 | Featured

Jill-Woerner-AwardLeader of Leaders Award from IN-NELL

Jill Woerner was quietly working in the back of the room at the 2017 IN-NELL Fall Conference when she realized the presenter on stage was talking about her. When she looked up, she saw her photo on the screen below the name of an unfamiliar award – the IN-NELL Leader of Leaders Award.

As it turns out, Woerner’s colleagues at IN-NELL (Indiana Network for Early Language Learning) decided to surprise her with a new award, created just for her.

The “Leader of Leaders Award” was designed to recognize an individual who is appreciated for significant and broad-ranging contributions to IN-NELL and all other world language and global learning communities. This fit Woerner, who started teaching Spanish at University High School this fall, to a tee.

According to Pamela Gemmer, one of the founders of IN-NELL, the award is incredibly special and not likely to be given every year. She described some of the different ways Woerner has “affected and influenced the world language and global learning communities,” including the following:

  • Jill-Woerner-Leader-of-LeadersExhibiting excellence as a teacher of world languages
  • Advocating for global learning and second language learning at the state level
  • Forming the Indiana DOE Global Learning Advisory Council
  • Guiding new dual language and immersion programs in Indiana elementary schools
  • Establishing criteria and procedures for high school students to receive a Certificate of Multilingual Proficiency
  • Supporting visiting teachers from Spain and China
  • Connecting Indiana teachers and classrooms with teachers and classrooms abroad
  • Caring about her colleagues and their questions or concerns
  • And so much more

“Jill makes our community of language and global learning stakeholders stronger and more connected,” said Abby Diaz, president of IN-NELL and Spanish teacher at Clay Middle School. “Jill sees potential in her colleagues and organizations, and she brings out the best in those around her. Case in point – I would not be the president of IN-NELL had it not been for Jill recognizing my passion and encouraging me to join this organization.”

Key Person of the Year Award from AATSP

In addition to the IN-NELL honor, the Indiana Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portugese just named Woerner their 2017 Indiana Key Person of the Year. She was chosen for this honor because of her exemplary work supporting the teaching of foreign languages in Indiana schools, including her work to advance in early language teaching programs and increase recognitions for bilingual high school students. She will be presented with this award on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the 2017 Indiana Foreign Language Teachers Association Conference.