Shepard French Teacher Named 2025 Foreign Language Teacher Of The Year

PALOS HEIGHTS, IL — Shepard High School French teacher Kelly Karstrand has been named the 2025 Teacher of the Year by the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

Karstrand was celebrated for her creativity, passion, and dedication to world language education during an awards ceremony Oct. 9 at the Northern Illinois University Naperville Campus.

The ICTFL Awards Committee said Karstrand stood out for her commitment to being a lifelong learner and her significant contributions to the profession. In its award notification, the committee said, "Equally impressive was the impact [Karstrand has] had on novice teachers. [Her] mentorship and encouragement serve as a model for how to strengthen and sustain the future of our profession.”

Karstrand’s career, which spans nearly three decades, is marked by a commitment to making students global citizens. A recipient of the prestigious Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Fellowship, she has worked with her colleagues on district-wide curriculum overhauls focused on authentic cultural materials. She also helped establish the Seal of Biliteracy program to recognize students' language skills, and presented at national conferences on global education.

“The entire Shepard community is absolutely thrilled to celebrate Mrs. Karstrand being named 'Teacher of the Year' by the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages,” said Shepard Principal Dr. Tim Baker in a news release. “Her passion for foreign language education is infectious, and her dedication to our students is unparalleled. This is a tremendous honor, and we are incredibly fortunate to have a teacher of her caliber in our foreign language program.”

Accepting the award, Karstrand emphasized her core belief in the power of language education.

"I am deeply honored by this recognition," she said. "My singular goal has always been to pass that spark on to my students. I firmly believe that learning a new language and developing cultural competence is not a luxury, but a necessity for every single learner. We are not just teaching subjects; we are building bridges to the future."

As the ICTFL Teacher of the Year, Karstrand will represent Illinois at the Central States Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in March. She will compete against educators from 13 other central states to become the nominee of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

As the ICTFL Teacher of the Year, Karstrand will represent Illinois at the Central States Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages in March. She will compete against educators from 13 other central states to become the nominee of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).