The Iowa World Language Association (IWLA) is pleased to announce the 2016 Teacher of Promise has been awarded to Emily Wallace, a Spanish language teacher at Maquoketa High School in Maquoketa, Iowa. Wallace graduated from the University of Iowa College of Education Teacher Education Program in the spring of 2016 with undergraduate licensure in 5-12 Spanish Education and a K-12 ESL Endorsement. The award presentation was held during the Luncheon of the 2016 Iowa World Language Association Annual Conference at the Coralville Marriott in Coralville, Iowa on Friday, October 7th.

According to one of her former professors, she is “one of the more promising teachers that I have worked with in recent years.  Although she is a new teacher, she is extremely mature and thoughtful in her outlook about the profession of teaching.  She is truly clever, often grasping difficult concepts or coming to important conclusions very quickly."

In describing her purpose as a world language teacher, this TOP awardee stated, "So many opportunities become available when a person can speak more than one language and it is undeniably advantageous in today’s diversifying workforce. As a World Language Educator, I want to facilitate my students’ understanding of the Spanish language and culture, but more importantly, I want to prepare them to have successful futures. I want my students to have futures that include celebrating new cultures and accepting differences with open arms."