Copperas Cove World Language Teacher Honored, Boosts Cultural Equity
Copperas Cove High School Spanish teacher Lisa Yates was named 2025 Teacher of the Year by the Texas Foreign Language Association, an honor announced during the TFLA annual fall conference on November 12. The recognition and a separate Excellence in Teaching award highlight local strengths in language education and have implications for cultural awareness, student opportunity, and community access to services.
Lisa Yates, a Spanish teacher at Copperas Cove High School, was recognized by the Texas Foreign Language Association as the 2025 Teacher of the Year during the association's annual fall conference on November 12. The award is one of the highest honors for world language educators in Texas and assesses excellence in language and cultural instruction, advocacy for language learning, classroom creativity, promotion of cultural awareness, and mentorship of other educators. Yates also received TFLA’s Excellence in Teaching award for her work in Copperas Cove, underlining a sustained commitment to students and colleagues.
Yates said, “I’m incredibly honored to receive this recognition from the Texas Foreign Language Association. Teaching language is essential in today's world and is about opening doors to new cultures, perspectives and connections. I share this award with all of the students, colleagues and mentors who inspire me every day to keep teaching, growing and sharing the beauty of language learning.”
The recognition carries statewide and regional significance. As Texas Teacher of the Year from TFLA, Yates will serve as the state nominee for the Southwest Conference on Language Teaching Teacher of the Year award, extending Copperas Cove’s visibility in a multistate professional community. The accolades draw attention to the resources and leadership present within Copperas Cove Independent School District and to the role that strong world language programs play in preparing students for diverse careers and civic life.
District leaders framed the awards as evidence of local educational quality. Superintendent Dr. Brent Hawkins said, “Mrs. Yates is one of many examples of the amazing educators who work tirelessly to ensure the students in CCISD receive a world class education. Her leadership in our district enhances the way Cove students learn foreign language and are exposed to cultures from around the world. I could not imagine anybody more deserving of this honor and I hope everyone will join me in celebrating her.”
Beyond classroom achievement, the awards carry practical implications for the community. Language education supports social equity by broadening cultural understanding and reducing barriers for students from multilingual homes. It also intersects with public health and community services, because language skills and cultural competence improve communication between residents and local health providers, schools, and social service agencies. Investment in world language instruction can therefore strengthen access to care and resources for families who speak languages other than English.
The recognition also reinforces the value of mentorship and professional development for teachers, factors that influence teacher retention and program continuity in smaller districts. For Copperas Cove residents, Yates’ awards are both a point of local pride and a reminder of the broader benefits of supporting language teachers and programs that promote inclusion, opportunity, and healthier community engagement.
