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Press Release for the IWLA Educator of the Year (Elementary/Middle School Level) Awardee

19 Oct 2017 5:29 PM | Pamela Wesely

Des Moines, IA—The Iowa World Language Association (IWLA) is pleased to announce that the 2017 Educator of the Year (Elementary/Middle School Level) Award has been given to Megan Fandel, a Spanish language teacher in the Van Meter Community School District, Van Meter, Iowa. The Educator of the Year Award is designed to recognize teachers who exemplify the best in teaching at their particular level, who demonstrate involvement in the Iowa World Language Association, and who provide evidence of leadership and contributions to the field of world language education. The award presentation was held during the luncheon of the 2017 Iowa World Language Association Annual Conference at the Des Moines Downtown Marriott in Des Moines, IA on Friday, October 13th. 

Ms. Fandel has taught in South Korea, in Spain, in Arizona, and in Omaha.  She has worked to establish the Spanish Olympics with her colleagues, and she has coached winning cheerleading and dance teams.  In her statement, Ms. Fandel wrote: “Exposure other cultures has made my classroom a place of acceptance and safety for everyone. In a constantly changing world, it is now more than ever that we need to help build a society of effective, culturally accepting and compassionate young adults. My world is big. My world accepts. My world is Galician, Spanish, Peruvian, Puerto Rican, Korean, Moroccan, American and Iowan.”

Ms. Fandel has presented at the IWLA conference every year for four years, and, as her principal states, she is a leader in emphasizing the importance of comprehensible input in the classroom.  

About IWLA
The Iowa World Language Association (IWLA) represents the more than 1200 world language educators in the state from all levels of instruction and representing all languages. The Iowa World Language Association (IWLA) is devoted to advancing the worldwide mission of education and world languages, literature and culture by promoting the study of world languages and cultures, promoting language curricula, from primary to post-secondary levels, to enable students to become proficient in the target language, and opening the doors for multilingual interaction with other cultures. More information can be found at www.iwla.net.


Pictured: Megan Fandel, Pam Wesely (IWLA President)

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