October FLAVA Presidential Message Dear Members and Friends of FLAVA, What an incredible October we’ve had! I’m still energized from the success of our 2024 Fall Conference, Navigating a Changing World With Languages. So many of you have reached out, sharing how impactful this event was, and I can’t thank you enough for your enthusiasm. Your feedback has been inspiring—FLAVA is truly stronger than ever, and it’s all because of our dedicated community! The cool temperatures of the rooms didn’t stand a chance against the warm and celebratory atmosphere that filled this year’s conference. From the Wine & Cheese social in the exhibitor’s hall on Thursday evening to the FLAVA After Dark events—salsa dancing, karaoke, and painting on Friday evening—the spirit of collegiality and fun carried throughout the entire weekend. The connections and conversations didn’t stop at the end of each day; they kept us energized with fresh ideas and inspiration. We celebrated outstanding colleagues during the conference with FLAVA’s annual awards. Congratulations to the 2024 recipients: -
Lauren Paz Soldan – David Cox Teacher of the Year, for creating a classroom where curiosity and confidence thrive. Lauren teaches Spanish at Annandale High School, where her students are actively engaged and passionate about language learning. -
Miles Meijer – Novice Teacher Award, for impressive accomplishments, including national publications in ACTFL and Edutopia. Miles teaches Spanish at Annandale High School and brings fresh perspectives to language education. -
Sarah Donahue and Chrissy White – University Student Recognitions, for their excellence in Modern Languages at Longwood University. -
Tom Haines – Friend of FLAVA Award, for championing language equity and access statewide through his founding of Global Virginia in 2020. His work has driven the Virginia Language and Global Education Roadmap and brought together notable advocates for language learning. -
Dr. Paul “Dick” Kuettner – Helen Warriner-Burke Service Award, for his lifetime contributions to language education. At Washington and Lee University, Dr. Kuettner serves as the Director of the Global Discovery Laboratories and teaches Romance Languages and Teacher Education. He has coordinated the Virginia Governor’s World Language Academies since 2011, offering high school students invaluable immersion experiences. His innovative approach to K-12 language instruction has opened doors for students in rural areas, ensuring they have access to world languages. A two-term president of FLAVA, Dr. Paul “Dick” Kuettner embodies the spirit of the Helen Warriner-Burke Service Award. His dedication to language education, mentorship, and innovative programs has left an indelible mark on our community. Special thanks go to our Conference Team, led by our incredible Conference Coordinator, Virginia Kibler, along with Sue Robertson, Presenter Liaison; Beth Marshall, President-elect; Cherie Duma, Exhibits Coordinator; Aliea Lewis, Affiliates Liaison; Dali Tan, Volunteer Coordinator; Holly Fitterer, Communications Coordinator; Kathryn Murphy-Judy, Treasurer; Chantel Kushner, Assistant to the Treasurer; and Heidi Trude, Immediate Past President, Sponsorships & Door Prize Coordinator, for guiding us through another memorable conference. I would also like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the volunteers, sponsors, projector patrons, and presenters whose dedication and passion made our conference such a success. Your contributions are invaluable to our community, and we are deeply appreciative of your commitment to language education. A heartfelt thank-you to our Keynote Speaker, Dr. L.J. Randolph Jr., for his powerful presentation, Languaging as an Act of Abolition, Liberation, and Joy. Dr. Randolph challenged us to reimagine schools as spaces of empowerment and joy for marginalized students through language education. His sessions on interdisciplinary frameworks, including Pedagogies of Joy in the Language Classroom, helped us envision ways to center joy in our curricula. Dr. Randolph’s willingness to present for FLAVA without an honorarium made his contributions even more impactful. Looking ahead, don’t miss our next FLAVA interactive workshop, coordinated by our Teacher Education Leader, Jen Carson. On Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at 4:00 PM, join Leveraging Literacy Strategies in World Language, led by Sally Barnes & Beth Slocum. Register here. This session will explore visual literacy—connecting language, communication, and interaction. Discover how ideas and images can enhance literacy instruction and inspire language learners through visual literacy. Mark your calendars for our 2025 Fall Conference, October 9–11, at the Norfolk Marriott. This will be our last year under the current three-year venue contract, established prior to my presidency. The conference team and board are exploring options to keep costs accessible, foster greater participation, and ensure FLAVA’s sustainability for 2026 and beyond. I am deeply grateful to our board members for their support and collaboration in this effort. Before then, join us for our Virtual Spring Conference on Saturday, April 26, 2025: Charting New Horizons with Languages. This event promises even more opportunities for collaboration, learning, and joy through language education. Stay tuned for the 2025 Fall Conference theme announcement and the upcoming calls for proposals for both the Spring and Fall Conferences! As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to recognize the dedication of our Advisory Council and Standing Committees. Special thanks to Advocacy Chair Sharon Scinicariello; Communications Chair Holly Fitterer; Conference Chair Virginia Kibler; Treasurer Kathryn Murphy-Judy and Assistant to the Treasurer Chantel Kushner; Membership Chair Lisa Fore; Nominations Chair Thomas Sones; and Recognition & Awards Chair Kelly Arble—your commitment is truly appreciated. We are also thrilled to welcome our new affiliate team members, Errol M. O’Neill, President of the Mid-Atlantic Association for Language Learning Technology (MALLT), and Beatrix Preusse-Burr, President of Global Virginia (Global VA). Their fresh energy and insights will undoubtedly enrich our planning processes. In the spirit of fostering open communication, I’m pleased to provide access to important 2024 FLAVA minutes, agendas, and reports for your review: -
[Link for accessing all Minutes of all 2024 FLAVA Meetings] -
[Link for accessing all 2024 Advisory and Executive Board Meeting Agendas] -
[Link for accessing all 2024 Presidential Reports] -
[Link for accessing all 2024 Monthly Presidential Messages/Newsletters] -
[Link for accessing all 2024 FLAVA Advisory Council/Affiliate Reports] Thank you all once again for an incredible October, for the hard work you bring to our profession, and for your contributions to FLAVA. Here’s to continuing our journey together into November and beyond! With gratitude and excitement,
Eric Jaworski, FLAVA President | 
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