Stephanie Bellot-Donaldson, center, a Spanish teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School (Jefferson County), stands with Nadine Jacobsen-McLean, left, a Spanish teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School, and M. Beck Sexton, a Spanish teacher at Eastern High School (Jefferson County) and Kentucky World Language Association president. Photo courtesy Kentucky World Language Association
(NASHVILLE) – Stephanie Bellot-Donaldson, a Spanish Literacy teacher at Hawthorne Elementary School (Jefferson County) and 2024 Kentucky World Language Association (KWLA) Outstanding Teacher of the Year, has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) regional Teacher of the Year award. She received the award on March 21 at the SCOLT Conference in Nashville.
This award is intended to elevate the status and the public profile of the language profession at the state, regional and national levels by creating opportunities to recognize accomplished members of the world languages profession. It also recognizes best practices and excellence in the teaching and learning of world languages.
Bellot-Donaldson is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early and Middle Childhood Literacy. She earned her master’s degree in education at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill., and her bachelor’s degree at the University of Kentucky. She teaches Spanish immersion classes at all levels in Hawthorne Elementary School and serves as an elected representative in the school-based decision making (SBDM) council.
Bellot-Donaldson has been integral in developing the Spanish curriculum at Hawthorne Elementary School, including creating accessible resources, lessons and assessments so that all of the diverse learners in her classroom can be successful. She is a tireless advocate for her multilingual students and has worked with teachers who specialize in addressing dyslexia to ensure that her curriculum develops literacy and language skills for all students, even the students who need the most support.
As the new 2025 SCOLT regional Teacher of the Year, she now advances to the national level where she will compete for the National World Languages Teacher of the Year Award in November, given by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).
The Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT) is a professional organization whose mission is to promote universal world language education supported by the community, valued by political and business leaders, encouraged by parents and peers, and taught by exemplary instructors.
The Kentucky World Language Association (KWLA) has endeavored to support, celebrate and highlight excellence in teaching world languages in Kentucky schools. Bellot-Donaldson is the latest example of what is already known about education in Kentucky; we have the tools and the talent to do great things and to lead our students to achieve success at high levels!
Alfonso De Torres Núñez serves as chair of the Kentucky World Language Association’s awards committee.
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