Alabama-Mississippi
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
AMTESOL has a new mailing address! AMTESOL PO Box 360122 Hoover, AL 35236
AMTESOL Awards
AMTESOL offers several annual awards, which are awarded during the annual conference in January.
Nominations for the 2026 AMTESOL Awards were due on November 1, 2025.
AMTESOL Teacher of the Year Award
The AMTESOL Teacher of the Year Award recognizes full-time K-12 English Learner teachers, one from Alabama and one from Mississippi, who have excelled as ESL teachers and mentored others in instructional strategies to create a culture of support for English Learners. Nominees will be asked to submit a CV or resume. Winners will receive a scholarship to AMTESOL's conference the following year.
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Nominees must be:
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A full-time K-12 ESOL teacher in Alabama or Mississippi
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A current member in good standing of AMTESOL (If the nominee is not a current member of AMTESOL, they will be given the opportunity to become a member in order to be eligible for the award)​​​​​
AMTESOL 2025 Teachers of the Year
Debbie Ortiz-Frey & Shay Stewart
This collaborative teaching team from Baldwin County Schools is redefining education for English Learners in Alabama. Although the award typically honors one teacher, their nominator knew these two wouldn't accept it individually - they're stronger together!
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Debbie, a dually certified History and ESL teacher, is passionate about creating authentic learning experiences for newcomer ESL students. Shay, a dually certified ELA and ESL teacher, is constantly growing her skills, pursuing eMints and National Board Certifications. Together, they've built a school-based program that helps students earn ELA and History credits while focusing on language acquisition.
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Beyond the classroom, they lead professional development and serve on curriculum leadership teams, inspiring other with their unique teaching styles and shared mission to support diverse learners.
Ashley Donnell
From Biloxi School District, Mississippi, Ashley is a true champion for English Learner students! Her dedication goes beyond the classroom, ensuring her newcomer students thrive academically, socially, and personally. From integrating them into school activities like sports and clubs to fostering confidence and belonging, she's making a lasting impact.
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Ms. Donnell also shares her expertise as a mentor, guiding colleagues with best practices to support EL students schoolwide. Her classroom is a welcoming space where students feel safe to learn, grow, and celebrate their progress every step of the way.
2025 Teacher of the Year Sponsor
Bailey Education Group offers coaching and professional development services in teacher effectiveness, assessment and data systems, tutorial services, leadership development, federal programs and more.
Bailey Education Group is the proud sponsor of the AMTESOL 2025 Teacher of the Year Awards, providing conference and hotel fees for the 2025 winners to attend AMTESOL 2026 in Flowood, Mississippi.
Spezzini Rural ESOL Teacher Award
Named in honor of Susan Spezzini, Ph.D. (University of Alabama at Birmingham) for her many years of service to AMTESOL, the AMTESOL Spezzini Rural ESOL Teacher Award recognizes one K-12 teacher from an Alabama rural area and one K-12 teacher from a Mississippi rural area, who have excelled as ESL teachers and mentored others in instructional strategies to create a culture of support of English Language Learners. Nominees will be asked to submit a CV or resume. Winners will receive a scholarship to AMTESOL's conference the following year.​​​
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Nominees must be:
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A K-12 ESOL teacher working in a rural area of Alabama or Mississippi
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A current member in good standing of AMTESOL (If the nominee is not a current member of AMTESOL, they will be given the opportunity to become a member in order to be eligible for the award)​​
AMTESOL 2025 Spezzini Rural ESOL Teachers
DeAnna Buhl
From Etowah County Schools, Alabama, DeAnna is a passionate EL teacher, advocate, and mentor who has inspired so many. She encouraged teachers to pursue their dream of becoming an EL teacher through the University of Alabama at Birmingham's EDGE grant and supported others every step of the way.
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DeAnna's dedication shines through her work, from coordinating magical EL summer camps to mentoring teachers and advocating for EL students and families. Her camps gave students unforgettable experiences and helped teachers learn best practices while earning their EL master's degrees. She's also working to bring that same magic to literacy camps.
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DeAnna is bilingual - a self-taught Spanish speaker - who bridges the gap between school and home for her students and their families. Her passion, advocacy, and mentorship make her the perfect winner for the AMTESOL Spezzini Rural ESOL Teacher Award.
Kizzie Edwards
From Carroll County School District, Mississippi, Kizzie is a superstar educator who received 20 nominations for her incredible work supporting English Learners! As an EL teacher, mentor, BETA Club sponsor, and cheer coach, she goes above and beyond to help her students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
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Kizzie is passionate about language acquisition, using effective strategies to guide her students through every stage of learning. She advocates for her students, collaborates with colleagues, and ensures families feel connected to the school community. Her caring and supportive nature helps students feel confident, welcome, and ready to thrive.
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From her extra effort in the classroom to her role in empowering students and families, Kizzie is truly one of a kind.
AMTESOL Friend of ESOL Award
The "Friend of ESOL Award" recognizes one person from Alabama and one from Mississippi who have taken a special interest in and action towards meeting the needs of our multilingual students and their families and supporting the goals of the local ESOL program even though they do not serve in an ESOL teaching position.
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Goes above and beyond to support the work of ESOL in their district, school or community
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Demonstrates a strong commitment to the work of serving our ESOL population
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Serves in a role outside of the ESOL field
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Nominees could be one of the following in Alabama or Mississippi:
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Non-ESOL teacher (general education, special education, electives, etc.)
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K-12 Instructional coach (Non-ESOL)
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K-12 Building administrator
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K-12 District, College, or University personnel serving in a non-ESOL role
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Support Staff serving in a non-ESOL role (paraprofessionals, office staff, custodial staff, etc.)
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Community partner (civic-based or faith-based organization representative, business leader, community organization, volunteer, etc.)
AMTESOL 2025 Friend of ESOL Winners
Brent Byars
The Federal Programs Supervisor and District Test Coordinator for Alabaster City Schools, Alabama, Brent is an incredible administrator making a huge impact! In 2022, he launched the Alabaster City Schools Parent Academy of Spanish-speaking families, creating a welcoming space where parents get vital information in their home language and feel heard.
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Brent also started the ESL Teacher Academy, providing targeted professional development for teachers. Despite not having an ESOL background, he stepped into the ESOL supervisor role with dedication, learning, listening, and leading with grace. Brent's care for multilingual students, parents, and teachers has transformed the program.
Angel Bacon
From Madison County Schools, Mississippi, Angel is a true champion for her students! Known for her dedication to creating a nurturing and inclusive environment, Angel goes above and beyond to support her students in mastering English, math, reading, and writing.
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Angel's passion for student success shines in everything she does - advocating for resources, addressing challenges, and believing in each student's potential to thrive. Her impact on the ESOL community is immeasurable, making her a perfect winner of the Friend of ESL Award.