named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Collegial Circles and Networking Events
Regular membership meetings, virtual forums, and leadership luncheons that connect world language educators and administrators across New York State for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
FLACS Checkpoint A and B Examinations
Standardized assessments in world languages administered to secondary students in New York State, covering interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes of communication across multiple languages including Spanish, French, Chinese, and American Sign Language.
Professional Development Workshops
Item-writing and training workshops for educators in languages such as Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, and ASL to support assessment development and instructional alignment with state standards.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Teacher Professional Development 3 activities
- Conducts professional development workshops for educatorsOffers CTLE-credited Item-Writing Workshops and hands-on FLACS Item Writing Workshops in multiple languages (e.g., Chinese, French, Italian, German) to support world language educators in assessment development. These workshops are part of broader efforts to build capacity in item writing and assessment design.
- Provides state-aligned resources and guidanceProvides official state guidance, standards, and professional development resources for world language educators across New York State, supporting implementation of NYSED-aligned practices in world language instruction and assessment.
- Supports assessment development through educator engagementSeeks contributions from experienced language teachers to develop assessment questions for FLACS exams, enhancing the quality and relevance of state-aligned world language assessments.
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Local High School Scholarship Programs 1 activity
- Awards scholarships and recognition for excellence in world language educationAwards $500 scholarships annually to high school seniors who demonstrate outstanding achievement in world language study and intend to continue such study in college; recognizes educators, students, and administrators through annual awards, including the Teacher Leadership Award and the NYSAWLA Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement in World Languages.
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Mentorship and Professional Development Programs 1 activity
- Facilitates educator collaboration and mentorshipProvides a professional learning community for members and operates a mentorship program that pairs experienced members with new world language administrators to support leadership development and professional growth.
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Member-Exclusive Resource Access 1 activity
- Operates member support and assessment access systemsProvides members with access to FLACS exams and the FLACS Exam Archive through the NYSAWLA Member Portal; operates a 24-hour support hotline for member inquiries. Retired members receive limited access, including participation in general meetings and workshops, but are excluded from exam and archive access.
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Uncategorized 2 activities
- Administers standardized world language assessmentsAnnually develops and administers FLACS Checkpoint A and B exams in American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish for use in over 200 schools across New York State. These secure, field-tested, standards-aligned assessments include listening sections with AI-generated audio and provide student answer booklets in customizable Word, printable PDF, and standardized Google Form formats for ASL.
- Updates assessment rubrics in alignment with state guidanceDevelops and maintains scoring rubrics for FLACS Checkpoint A and B Interpersonal and Presentational assessments, updating them regularly (e.g., 2025–2026 updates) to align with NYSED OBEWL guidance on Interpersonal Speaking scoring.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$46K
Contributions & grants$00%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$48K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$11K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$23K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$23K
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +55.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
paid leadership · 4
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vincenza Graham | Executive Director | 2 | $11K |
| Leo Rivera | Vice President | 1 | $4K |
| Chris Pipala | Secretary | 1 | $1K |
| Iris Walsh | Board Liaison | 1 | $1K |
relationships · 30
Who they work with
- AAS – Association for Asian Studies Partner — Professional association facilitating scholarly exchange on East, South, and Southeast Asia.
- AATA – American Association of Teachers of Arabic Partner — Provides publications, programs, resources, scholarships, conferences, and grants in Arabic language education.
- AATF – American Association of Teachers of French Partner — Offers regional affiliations in New York State, annual student French exams, professional development, and resources including an online bulletin board and K–12 job postings.
- AATG – American Association of Teachers of German Partner — Promotes German language, literatures, and culture through professional development, scholarships, awards, and web-based resources.
- AATI – American Association of Teachers of Italian Partner — National organization with regional affiliations offering conferences, scholarships, study abroad opportunities, job postings, and a newsletter with classroom ideas.
- AATK – American Association of Teachers of Korean Partner — Supports Korean language, culture, and literature education through workshops, conferences, journals, and research.
- AATSEEL – American Association of Teachers of Slavic and Eastern European Languages Partner — Advances teaching and study of Slavic and East European languages and cultures through conferences, awards, journals, and teacher resources.
- AATSP – American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Partner — Serves Spanish and Portuguese educators globally by promoting languages, literatures, and cultures.
- ACTFL Network — Board members are active participants in ACTFL, indicating organizational affiliation and alignment with national standards.
- ACTFL – American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Partner — Dedicated to improving and expanding the teaching and learning of all languages at all levels.
- Arlington Central School District Partner — Graduating senior from this district received the 2023 NYSAWLA Scholarship for Outstanding Academic Achievement in World Languages.
- CLASS – Chinese Language Association of Secondary-Elementary Schools Partner — Provides leadership, advocacy, and support for PreK–12 Chinese language and culture educators with resources focused on 21st-century world readiness.
- Commack School District Partner — World language teacher from this district was recognized with the 2023 Teacher Leadership Award.
- David Balsamo Partner — Point of contact for general NYSAWLA questions regarding meetings and policies.
- David Balsamo Partner — Point of contact for the NYSAWLA New Leaders Mentorship Program.
- FLACS Partner — Collaborates with FLACS, with multiple board members having held leadership roles in the organization.
- FLACS Partner — Liaison Officer supports Vice President with coordination of FLACS item writing and exam distribution.
- Foreign Language Association of Chairpersons and Supervisors (FLACS) Network — Predecessor organization primarily serving Long Island; NYSAWLA evolved from FLACS with a broader statewide focus.
- Kathy Greiche Partner — Point of contact for NYSAWLA membership, payment, purchase order questions, and W-9 requests.
- LILT – Long Island Language Teachers, Inc. Partner — Comprehensive organization of world language teachers serving Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
- Leo Rivera Government — Contact person for technical issues related to scholarship application submissions.
- Leo Rivera Partner — Point of contact for item workshops, FLACS exams, and website-related questions.
- NYSAFLT – New York State Association of Foreign Language Teachers Partner — Serves New York State world language teachers through professional development conferences, advocacy updates, and publications.
- NYSED Government — Aligns exam protocols with NYSED guidance for Regents exams and responds to NYSED policy changes regarding world language assessments.
- NYSED OBEWL Government — Provides guidance on Interpersonal Speaking point distribution used to update FLACS rubrics.
- NYSED Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages Government — Aligns FLACS exam rubrics and item-writing practices with guidance from NYSED.
- NYSED Office of Bilingual Education and World Languages Government — Provides official state guidance, standards, and professional development resources for world language educators.
- NYSED World Language Leadership Council Partner — Collaborates with NYSED through representation on the World Language Leadership Council.
- New York State Education Department Government — Follows NYSED guidance for local exam development and graduation requirements, including use of Checkpoint A and Checkpoint B exams.
- Vincenza Graham Partner — Point of contact for Exam Consortium questions and general NYSAWLA inquiries including meetings and policies.
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collaborative Item Development for Assessment Qualitymethodology: collaborative_item_developmentBy engaging educator-members in co-developing assessment items through workshops and shared expertise, we produce high-quality, standards-aligned assessments because collective professional judgment improves validity and classroom relevance.
- Language Education as a Pathway to Global Citizenshipmethodology: culturally-responsive_language_educationBy grounding language instruction in cultural responsiveness and intercultural understanding, we cultivate global citizens because learning language in context fosters empathy, equity, and engagement with diverse worldviews.
- Professional Learning Community to Drive Continuous Improvementmethodology: professional_learning_communityBy facilitating a professional learning community among members, we produce sustained improvement in world language education because ongoing collaboration fosters shared innovation, reflective practice, and collective capacity building.