Alabama-Mississippi
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
AMTESOL has a new mailing address! AMTESOL PO Box 360122 Hoover, AL 35236
AMTESOL 2026 Awards
AMTESOL offers several annual awards, which are awarded during the annual conference in January.
Nominations for the 2027 AMTESOL Awards will be announced in Fall 2026 and will be due on November 1, 2026.
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 2026 Teacher of the Year
Andrea Cockrell Gibbs
From Tarrant City Schools, Alabama, Andrea demonstrates a strong commitment to equity and academic excellence for multilingual learners by creating inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms where students feel valued, supported, and successful.
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Andrea builds district-wide capacity through mentorship, family literacy initiatives, and professional development that equips educators with effective strategies to support language development across content areas. She also strengthens school-family partnerships by engaging families in meaningful, culturally responsive ways that promote trust, collaboration, and student literacy growth.
Lauren Carpenter
From Pascagoula-Gautier School District, Mississippi, Lauren is a dedicated EL teacher who fosters significant student growth, contributing to the school's sustained A-Rating and creating a warm, engaging classroom where learners thrive.
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Lauren actively shares expertise through professional development and AMTESOL presentations, while advocating for resources to enhance student and teacher success. She also promotes inclusion and cultural pride through initiatives like the annual Hispanic Culture Poster Contest, strengthening community engagement and awareness.
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 2026 Spezzini Rural ESOL Teachers
Carley Andrews Tellish
From Russellville City Schools, Alabama, Carly demonstrates sustained excellence as an ESL educatory through high expectations, research-based instruction, and strong instructional leadership. She serves a diverse, high-need student population, mentors colleagues across grade levels, and continually refines practice through National Board Certification and culturally responsive teaching.
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Carly builds deep, trusting relationships with students and families by creating a welcoming, empowering classroom and extending literacy support beyond school walls. She also advocates for multilingual learners through family engagement, cultural competence, and inclusive practices that foster language growth, confidence, and academic success.
Cole Penton
From Marion County School District, Mississippi, Cole demonstrates strong instructional impact as a district EL educator in a rural setting, producing measurable growth in all language domains and supporting successful student exits through targeted, high-expectation instruction grounded in second language acquisition.
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Cole provides transformative leadership by mentoring teachers across content areas, promoting effective sheltered instruction, and fostering a district-wide culture where English Learner support is shared, integrated, and equitable.
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 2026 Friend of ESOL Winners
Nidia Escamilla
At Thompson Intermediate School in Alabaster City Schools, Alabama, Nidia serves as a vital bridge between the school and Spanish-speaking families, creating a safe and welcoming front office where families feel supported and heard. Through close collaboration with ESOL teachers, she ensures students and families receive both academic and community resources, strengthening family engagement across the school.
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Even during an extended leave, Nidia proactively established systems to ensure families continued to receive support and remained connected. She maintains strong, trusting relationships with parents, positively impacting ESOL instruction and family partnerships school-wide.
Celene Trueblood-Wade
From Madison County School District, Mississippi, Celene demonstrates exceptional impact with English Learners, serving the school's largest EL population and achieving the highest growth in literacy through data-driven instruction and a strong understanding of language development. She continues to pursue professional growth through advanced credentials and reflective practice.
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Celene serves as a dedicated advocate for multilingual families by strengthening school-family partnerships, supporting access to resources, and fostering inclusion. She consistently goes beyond instructional responsibilities to support students and families as whole individuals, reflecting AMTESOL's mission of equity and excellence.