About
Our History
The New York State Association for Language Teachers was founded in 1917. Its purpose was, and remains, to serve the needs of the profession dedicated to the development of second language skills and cultural awareness among students. The creation of NYSAFLT marked an important step in enabling schools to give their students an informed and sensitive global perspective in an era of international turmoil.
Since that time the same spirit has motivated world language teachers and served as the basic inspiration for this vibrant organization.
Each year the Association offers its members:
- A network of communication with colleagues throughout the state.
- Opportunities for professional growth through conferences and workshops regionally and statewide.
- A direct link with the State Education Department.
- An advocate’s voice among the members of the Board of Regents and the state’s legislators.
- Various support services designed to enrich teachers’ professional lives.
 Robert J. Ludwig | First Executive Director of NYSAFLT |
 John D. Carlino | Second Executive Director of NYSAFLT |
 William C. Anderson | Interim Executive Director of NYSAFLT | 2022 |
 Michael T. Mitchell | Third Executive Director of NYSAFLT | 2022- Present |
PAST PRESIDENTS OF NYSAFLT
| 1946-47 | Winthrop H. Rice | 1994 |
Helene Combopiano
|
| 1947-50 | Charles Choquette | 1995 | Carol Reed |
| 1950-52 | J. Allen Pfeffer | 1996 |
Elizabeth Bossong
|
| 1952-54 | A. Harold Bagg | 1997 | Michelle Bloom |
| 1954-56 | Glenn Waas | 1998 | David Graham |
| 1956-58 | Lincoln Canfield | 1999 | Janine Manley |
| 1958-60 | Lucy A. Massey | 2000 | Don King |
| 1960-62 | Robert M. Browning | 2001 | Marie Guillet |
| 1962-63 | Judah Lapson | 2002 | Joan Militscher |
| 1963-69 | Robert J. Ludwig | 2003 |
Dawn Santiago-Marullo
|
| 1969 | Sr. Rose Aquin Caimano | 2004 |
Patricia Ann Ryan
|
| 1970-71 | Sharon Moore | 2005 | Linda Zusman |
| 1972-73 | Joseph Tursi | 2006 | Louis Baskinger |
| 1973-74 | Gladys Lipton | 2007 | Joanne O’Toole |
| 1974-75 | Paul Cincinnato | 2008 | Paul Sabatino |
| 1976 | Warren Born | 2009 | Sue Barnes |
| 1977 | Maryalice Seagrave | 2010 |
Susanne Hochmuth
|
| 1978 | Marcella DeMuth | 2011 | Nancy Ketz |
| 1979 | Robert Sherburne | 2012 | Mary Holmes |
| 1980 | Patricia Sweet | 2013 |
Deborah Carlson
|
| 1981 | Kay Lyons | 2014 |
William Anderson
|
| 1982 | George Castellanos | 2015 |
Francesco L. Fratto
|
| 1983 | Anthony Papalia | 2016 |
Candace R. Black
|
| 1984 | Russell Webber | 2017 |
Marie J. Campanaro
|
| 1985 | Paul Wood | 2018 |
Michelle Shenton
|
| 1986 | Shirley Sherburne Zimmer | 2019 | Beth Slocum |
| 1987 | Anthony DeNapoli | 2020 | Leslie Kudlack |
| 1988 | Brenda Benzin | 2021 | Sally Barnes |
| 1989 | Nancy McMahon | 2022 |
Jenny-Lynn Delfini
|
| 1990 | John Webb | 2023 |
Marissa Coulehan
|
| 1991 | Nancy Wallace | 2024 | Swaz Piron |
| 1992 | Mary Champagne Myers | 2025 | Alexis Thornton |
| 1993 | Al Martino |
NYSAFLT exists:
- to promote the acquisition of languages and the exploration of cultural products, practices, and perspectives, as well as to support articulation at all levels of instruction
- to provide opportunities for high-quality professional development and networking, by collaborating with local, state, and national organizations, while responding to the changing needs of the field
- to include and embrace multiple perspectives, fostering student growth as global multilingual citizens
- to advocate for the preservation and expansion of language acquisition programs
- to recognize excellence in the world language education field
NYSAFLT Vision
- NYSAFLT strives to empower its members in supporting learners, as their authentic selves, on their multicultural journey to acquire languages.
For more information about NYSAFLT’s Strategic Planning goals for the future, please click here.
