Lincoln Board honors three language teachers named 2025 statewide award winners

The Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education on Jan. 27 unanimously adopted resolutions recognizing three district language teachers who received statewide honors.

Sarah Klanky, a French teacher at Moore Middle School, was named the 2025 Nebraska French Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Languages Association. The board read a resolution congratulating Klanky, and she told the board she felt “included, welcomed and inspired” at Lincoln Public Schools and thanked colleagues and family for their support.

Brenda Lopez Adami, a Spanish teacher at Lincoln High School who teaches Spanish for Spanish speakers and AP Spanish, was named the 2025 Outstanding Language Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Languages Association. In her remarks she said the classwork is deliberately rigorous and described helping heritage speakers reach higher standards in writing and assessment.

Muhammad Elijem, an Arabic teacher at Northeast and North Star High Schools, received the 2025 New Language Teacher of the Year award from the Nebraska Languages Association. He said he developed multi-level curriculum, used a textbook he authored in his classes, and noted that Lincoln Public Schools added Arabic as a high-school world language.

Each recognition was presented as a formal resolution, moved, seconded and approved by roll-call vote. Board members congratulated the winners after each vote.

The awards and the teachers’ remarks highlighted the district’s world-language programs and the role of district support and collaboration among teachers, curriculum specialists and building leaders.