AATSP-GA Awards

AATSP National Secondary Teacher of the Year AATSP-GA Secondary Teacher of the Year Marisol García Mitchell Greenbrier High School Evans, GA
See the amazing televised feature produced about our National Teacher of the Year for her home country, Panamá! https://youtu.be/jaX9QLfNhSg?si=B2L9gvRQi55AtcLd
AATSP-GA Middle School Teacher of the Year Pamela Light Augusta Preparatory Day School Martinez, GA
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AATSP-GA High School Student of the Year Noah Wallace Savannah Arts Academy Teacher - Ana Zurita
AATSP-GA Middle School Student of the Year Rob Wynn Episcopal Day School Teacher - Andrea Setter- San Miguel
AATSP-GA Elementary Student of the Year Barrett Robertson Episcopal Day School Teacher - Sonia Puerta-Quinn
Raúl Fernández Travel-Study Award Winner 2025 Kaleb Hyatt Spanish Teacher - Bay Springs Middle School
This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Seville, Spain, while working toward my Master of Arts in Spanish at Georgia Southern University. Thanks to the AATSP-GA Raúl Fernández Memorial Travel-Study Award, I was able to immerse myself in the language and culture I love, not just in the classroom, but in everyday life. Seville is truly something special. From the moment I arrived, I was awestruck by the people, the atmosphere, and the rhythm of life. I spent my days studying Spanish in the heart of the city,just steps away from historic landmarks like the Catedral de Sevilla and the streets of the Barrio Santa Cruz. It was surreal to walk past places I’d only seen in textbooks and movies. One of the highlights of the trip was getting to apply what I’ve been learning in my graduate courses to real-life situations. Whether chatting with locals, navigating the market, or attending Flamenco shows, I was constantly using Spanish in ways that pushed me to grow. I also had theopportunity to work as a teaching assistant aiding undergraduate students in their studies and conducting research on Spanish pragmatics. Another unforgettable part of the experience was traveling to Morocco. Standing in Tangier, I was reminded of the deep cultural connections between Spain and North Africa. It was eye-opening to experience the blend of languages, histories, and traditions in that part of the world.I came back from this trip inspired, not just as a student, but as a teacher. Studying abroad in Seville reminded me why I fell in love with Spanish in the first place, and it gave me so many new perspectives and stories to share with my students. I’m incredibly thankful to AATSP-GA for making this experience possible.