Imagine the setting: the historic Ryman Auditorium. Picture the audience: 5.000 attendees, all language educators, at the ACTFL Conference. The keynote speaker: Forrest Sawyer, noted journalist. And the real center of attention: our own Christine Lanphere, who after competing with four other colleagues, steps up to the podium to accept the award as the second ACTFL National Teacher of the Year.

How did all this happen? Let us go back in time, to August, 2003. California's own Duarte Silva, Chair of the New Visions Project's Teacher Recruitment and Retention Committee, proposed to members of the committee the idea of establishing a National Foreign Language Teacher of the Year, to recognize members of the profession and at the same time, to create a national spokesperson for language education.

Once the idea took hold, SWCOLT agreed to pilot the program. State associations were asked to nominate a TOY (Teacher of the Year) candidate. These nominees were invited to compete at the 2004 SWCOLT Conference. The competition was rigorous. Nominees went through an interview, which consisted of

• a question on the profession (Which single professional affiliation do you find most beneficial/fulfilling to you and why?)
• a question on culture (What cultural explorations outside the classroom do you view as essential to complementing the student's language learning experience?)
• a question on teacher recruitment and retention (What structure(s) would you like to see in place in your district, local or state association to attract and retain colleagues in the field?)

The final question asked about the candidate's decision to teach language as a career choice, and this question was asked in the target language. Another of our own, Tanya Zaccone of FLAGS, was one of the 5 finalists in that first ever competition.

The process was then adopted by ACTFL. The award for The ACTFL National Language Teacher of the Year is intended to elevate the status of our profession at the state, regional, and national levels by creating opportunities for recognizing the most accomplished members of our profession. First and foremost, this process is designed to involve all of our state, regional, and national organizations in promoting our profession. Second, it is intended to create as many media opportunities as possible to increase the visibility of the importance of learning languages and cultures to the general public. Successful candidates must be full-time educators who spend at least fifty-percent (50%) of their time in direct teaching during the year of application with an expectation of teaching during the next two (2) years at the K-12 level.

Each state's foreign language association or other designated state organization is invited to submit to that state's regional language organization a nomination form and accompanying portfolio for one (1) state-sponsored foreign language teacher of the year candidate. The competition is very demanding. This year's candidate, Christine Lanphere, was nominated by CLTA. Once nominated, Christine had to assemble a portfolio, which included reflective writing as well as an uninterrupted 30 minute video demonstrating a standards-based lesson. The competition continued at the regional level, in much the way it is described in the pilot program. Christine was selected SWCOLT's Regional Language Teacher of the Year.

As a regional finalist, she attended the ACTFL Annual Convention in Nashville in order to complete a personal interview with the national selection committee. During this interview, she was asked to discuss pertinent topics, e.g., culture in the classroom, professional involvement, value of language learning, and offer in the form of a mock press conference or mock address to a civic group the first two or three minutes of a ten (10) minute presentation on an issue of current interest in national foreign language policy. Once again, Christine won the competition. And in front of thousands of her peers, she was formally recognized as ACTFL's National Language Teacher of the Year.

So now, Christine Lanphere

• French teacher at Natomas HS in Sacramento
• CLTA Outstanding Teacher Award-winner
• SWCOLT Regional Language Teacher of the Year
• member of CLTA and FLAGS (Foreign Language Association of Greater Sacramento and
• member of CAPFLP (Capitol Foreign Language Project)

is now Christine Lanphere, ACTFL National Language Teacher of 2007, who will continue to carry out all of her many responsibilities, but will also now educate the public, motivate educators and influence policy on a national scale. Bravo, Christine! And once again, thank you for the honor you bring to our profession and to our associations.