Past Award Recipients

Anne Dow Award for Excellence and Creativity

2020: Sandra Cunha,  Global Learning Charter Public School, New Bedford, MA - for leading collaboration to support the education of English Learners.

2019: Stephanie Pickup, UMass/Dartmouth; Vula Roumis and Gloria Cho, Brockton Public Schools - for culturally and linguistically responsive teaching.

2018: Eli Driscoll, Glenda Cohen and Maria Lourdes Santos, Framingham High School -  for leadership in empowering English Learner student and/or parent voices in education policy and decision-making.

2017: Laurie Hartwick, Lawrence Public Schools - for creative and innovative academic language instruction that promotes student achievement in the content areas.

2016: Jeffrey Gross, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition - for addressing the needs of refugee students.

2015: Sara Hamerla, Framingham Public Schools - for fostering a professional, supportive collegial environment for educators of English language learners in today’s challenging environment.

2014: Andrew J. Lord IV, Taunton Public Schools - for innovative use of technology tools to enrich and improve English language development.

2013: Cynthia Soo Hoo, Josiah Quincy School, Boston - for leadership in developing collaboration that promotes the academic and linguistic achievement of English language learners.

2012: Christine Tibor, Framingham Adult ESL Plus, Framingham - for an administrator, at either the program or institutional level, who has exhibited courageous, inclusive leadership and implemented sound and supportive decisions vis-a-vis the institution’s ESOL programs.

2011: Patricia Mytkowicz, Professor and Coordinator of PAL for Multilingual students (PML), Curry College - for innovative contributions that enable non-native speakers to complete their education.

2010: Irene Garnits, Roxbury Community College Community Access ESOL Program - for volunteer work in a community-based program.

2009: Maria Estela Brisk, Boston College - for building language teaching capacity.

2008: Paul Abraham, Simmons College - for professional development.

2007: Moira Lucey, Immigration Center (formerly of IIB) and Jane McAndrews, SND, Irish Notre Dame Education Center, South Boston - for advocacy for the benefit of immigrant communities.

2006: Susan McGilvray, Framingham Public Schools’ pre-K-12 Bilingual, ESL and Sheltered English Programs and Esta Montano, Office of Minority Achievement Initiatives - for teacher training in response to NCLB requirements, with emphasis on parent/community involvement.

2005: Andy Nash, New England Literacy Resource Center (World Education) - for addressing social problems in an ESL environment.

2004: Elaine Ward, Director of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Community Leadership and Empowerment (CIRCLE) at UMass/Boston's College of Public and Community Service (CPCS) - for program development.

Linda Schulman Innovation Award Grant

2020: Amy Ostroff, Baker School, Brookline. Project Title “The Baker Arboretum”; Karen Malley, Federal Street Elementary School, Greenfield. Project Title: “Reviving a Community Garden in our Own Backyard”; Christi Cartwright, International High School, Lawrence; Jen Noorjanian, Woodland Elementary School, Mildford. Project Title: “Project WEAVE:  Welcome and Engage to support Adjustment Via Education”; Megan Gabellieri, Woodland Elementary School, Milford. Project Title: “Mindful Practice for ELs”

2019: Hannah Dingman, Stratton Elementary School, Arlington, “STEM Technology to Engage and Grow Language Skills in ELL Students”; Christina Rish, McAuliffe Charter School, Framingham, “Sophisticated Word Study”; Lindsey Mayer, Lawrence High School, Lawrence, “I Learn Lawrence:  A Collection of Student Stories”; Christi Cartwright, Lawrence International High School, Lawrence, “Innovation for ELs”; Heidi Upton, Greenhalge Elementary School, Lowell, “Learning Language with Laptops”; Kristen Eschmann, Stoklosa Middle School, Lowell, “English is Everywhere”; Leah Palmer, Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools, “Teaching Social Justice through Complementary English Language Development and Sheltered Mathematics Content Curriculum Units”; Anna Burt, Brookside Elementary School, Milford, “Listening Lab for English Learners: Language Learning through Comprehensible Input and Structured Talk”; Megan Gabellieri, Woodland Elementary School, Milford, “View-Master Virtual Reality for Building EL Schema”; Andrea Tobio and Maria Russo, Northeast Elementary School, Waltham, “Northeast ELL Writing with Technology Project”; Maria Morong, Woodland and Field Schools, Weston, “Developing Academic Conversation and Writing Skills Through a Mock Caldecott”

2018: Noreen O’Brien, Billerica Middle School and High School, Project title: Experiencing America’s Early Years through Literature & Plimouth Plantation; Esther Jeong, Ninth Grade Academy, Lawrence High School, Project Title: Growing Confident Readers through Audiobooks; Rita DeOliveira, Sky View Middle School, Leominster, Project Title: Homework Hotline for English Learners; Holly Fleury, STEM Academy, Rogers School, Lowell, Project Title: Welcome to Our School; Michele Leduc, Woodland Elementary School, Milford, Project Title: Using Technology to Foster Confidence in Our English Learners; Molly Curren, North Attleboro Public Schools, Project Title: Seeing is Believing: A Project to Foster a Growth Mindset in English Learners; Shelly Hamm-Moylan, Clark School, Worcester, Project Title: My SLIFE Students are Seeds Ready to Sprout.

2017: Jason Drinkwater, Roberts Elementary School, Medford MA. Project title: Kindles for Kids; Kimberly K. Chaput, Patrick E. Bowe Elementary School, Chicopee MA; Project title: Grow with Bowe; Kevin J. Freeley, Asian American Civic Society, Boston MA. Project title:  Expanding Opportunities for Learning with Tablets; Marjorie Nott, Rebecca Johnson Elementary School, Springfield MA. Project Title: Chick Embryology Project;  Jennifer Otto, Seven Hills Charter Public School, Project Title: Seven Hills Robotics Education Club; Cynthia Rosancrans & Laura Wyld, Lunenberg Public Schools Special Services, Project Title: Empowering English Language Learners for Academic Success; Mary P. Stormon-Flynn, Revere High School. Project Title: I Helped Craft This Binder; Svitlana Stepanchenko, Sheffield Elementary School. Project Title: Kids Post Office.

2016: Alicia Pattison Serafin, Whittier School, Everett, MA. Project Title: Word Consciousness; Karen Malley, Lawrence Full Service Community School, Holyoke, MA. Project Title: Models of Persistence: English Language Learners Interview Successful Role Models; Dianne Norton, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Oak Bluffs, MA. Project Title: Bridging L1 to L2 Mathematics with Peer Mentors’ Video Lesson Giving Newcomers Access to Classroom Content; Gerardo DeLauri, Revere High School, Revere, MA. Project Title: English Language Learners and the Election Process; Grace Harris, High School of Science and Technology, Springfield, MA. Project Title: Viewing America History through the Eyes of Students with Interrupted Formal Education; Brenda McGinnes & Kathleen Sundstrom, Belmont Street Community School, Worcester, MA. Project Title: Kindle Fires Spark the Flames of Literacy; Daniel Gay, James A. Caradonio New Citizens Center, Worcester, MA. Project Title: Remembrance: Human Rights and Holocaust Awareness for Secondary SLIFE Students.

2015: Noreen O’Brien, Marshall  Middle School, Billerica, “The World We Come From, The World We Live In;” Caroline Kelly, Brookfield Elementary School, Brockton, “iPads for Success;” Colleen  Monahan & Kara McGaffigan, Edgar B. Davis K‐8 Community School, Brockton, “Family Literacy Fun Time;”  Jessica Swier, BMC Durfee High School, Fall River, “Using state and country history to teach academic language to ELLs;” Megan Quinlan, Fuller Middle School, Framingham, “Kindle Fire Melts Socrates' Wax Tablet of the Mind;” Douglass St. Lawrence, Charlotte M. Murkland School, Lowell, “Photographs from Home: Writing about Our Lives;” Alicia Serafin, Lincoln School, Melrose, “Word Consciousness;” Melissa Shoer, Tri Town Public Schools, Middletown, Boxford, & Toppsfield, “Multicultural Cookbook.”

2014: Tiffany Probasco, Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, Boston: “History’s Ballad: Telling America’s History through Music”; Jim Meyer, Josiah Quincy Upper School, Boston: “Guided Inquiry into Topics In American Culture”; Patricia Bagnell, Braintree High School: “Using technology to accelerate learning for older ELLs with little or no English”; Ellen Feldman, Bunker Hill Community College: “Greening ESL in the Classroom”; Janis Sokop, McMahon School: “The McMahon Café: Coffee and Conversation about Books for Kids”; Caitlin Shelburne, Francis M. Leahy Elementary School, Lawrence: “iPods for Innovation”, Erin Shimala, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School: “Increasing Understanding of American Culture through Art”, Anna Bashmakova, M. L. Donovan Elementary School, Randolph: “Empowering with Words: Vocabulary Workshop for English Language Learners”, Jessica Farmer and Elisabel Calcano, Chandler Magnet School, Worcester: “Our Celebrations!”; Abby Wagner, Chelsea High School Bridge Academy, Chelsea: “On-Site Research and Observation.”

2013: Meryl Becker, Somerville Center for Adult Learning Experience for "SCALE Theater Arts Program"; Francine Johnson, Greater Lawrence Technical School. Project: Increasing ELL Parent Involvement through the Discussion of Reading; Jennifer Bellavance, Revere High School. Project: A Day in the Life of an ELL Student; Debra Roberts, Fitchburg High School
. Project: Using Technology to Communicate and Learn in Multiple Languages; Viviana Pagan & Sandra Lozkoz, Chandler Magnet School, Worcester
. Project: Immigration Comes Alive on a Voyage Through History/La Immigración Toma Vida Através de la Historia.

2012: Cori Weiner, CELOP, Boston University for "Connecting English Language Learners to Culture: More than Authentic Material"

2011: Jennifer McCabe, Malden Public Schools for "Children Reading the World"; Maeve Hitzenbuhler, Millbury for "Empowering Parents through Second Language Learning Communities."

2010: Marilyn Barret, Nantucket High School for "Developing projects utilizing voice thread and building an electronic portfolio using Google sites"; Annette Wiley, Norrback Avenue School, Worcester for "Dr. Seuss for you, Dr. Seuss para mi."

MATSOL Teacher of the Year Award

The MATSOL Teacher of the Year Award was given from 2009 to 2019 to recognize excellence in the education of English language learners. A teacher selected for the award has demonstrated:

  • Successful teaching of English language learners as shown through evidence of best instructional practices and incorporation of students' linguistic and cultural backgrounds within the classroom.
  • Long-term commitment to the education of ELLs.
  • Leadership roles at the school, district, and/or state level on behalf of English language learners.
  • Mentoring and supporting of new teachers to the field through both informal and formal induction programs.
  • Strong relationships with the community and (for K-12) parents of ELLs.

2019: Christine Hingston, Medford Public School

2018: Nicoleta Filimon, International High School, Lawrence

2017: Anne Baseggio, Newton Public Schools

2016: Evanggelia Diamantopolous, Framingham Public Schools

2015: Theresa Castagnetti, Medford Public Schools

2014: Rebecca Daigle, Caradonio New Citizens Center School, Worcester.

2013: Sima Kirsztajn, Edith C. Baker School, Brookline

2012: Mary-Margaret Almonte, Beebe School, Malden

2011: Jill Gold, Whittmore Elementary School, Waltham

2010: Maria Pina, Brockton Public Schools (Elementary); Joy Karol, Newton Public Schools (Elementary); Katheryn Brucker, Boston Public Schools (Secondary)

2009: Lucille Ouellette, Salem Public Schools (Elementary); Beverly Glackemeyer, Marlborough Public Schools (Secondary); Cathy Sadow, SHOWA Boston (Higher Ed)

Special Leadership Award

2012: Ann Feldman. Presented by MELLC and the Low Incidence SIG in deep appreciation of her outstanding generosity, support and dedication.