Sehome teacher earns 2025 State Language Teacher of the Year award

Congratulations are in order! – or, rather, ¡Felicidades bien merecidas! for Sehome High School teacher Mary Hooker.

Ms. Hooker has been awarded the 2025 State Language Teacher of the Year by the Washington Association for Language Teaching (WAFLT). WAFLT president Catherine Ousselin surprised Ms. Hooker at a Sehome back-to-school training in August, and the award was formalized at the organization’s fall conference on Oct. 18.

Mary teaches Spanish and Teacher Academy at Sehome, and has taught in Bellingham Public Schools since 2004, teaching at Whatcom Middle School, Bellingham High School and Sehome High School.

“Mary is an incredible collaborator, innovator, leader and nationally-board-certified colleague,” colleague Ashleigh Bobovski said in her nomination for Ms. Hooker. 

 “WAFLT certainly got it right!” Sonia Cole, Sehome principal, said. “Ms. Hooker is always looking to improve her practice. She thinks deeply about instruction and the student experience. She is leading work here at Sehome and across the state of Washington. I am so thankful for all her work and appreciate WAFLT for recognizing her for this great work.”

BPS colleagues Ashleigh Bobovski (Spanish teacher at Sehome High School) and Lori French (Spanish teacher at Bellingham High School) presented the award to Mary at the conference. She will be one of six state finalists for the Pacific Northwest Council for Languages (PNCFL) Regional Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at the April 2026 Spring Regional Conference in Portland.  

“I am honored and humbled by the WALFT Teacher of the Year Award,” Mary said in her award autobiography, “because I feel that none of what I do is just me. My amazing colleagues, both present and past, far and wide, have taught, mentored, and shaped my teaching, and I would not be who I am today without their kindness, love, and support.”

As an award-winner, Mary’s goal is to bring more attention to World Readiness Standards and the impact that language learning can have for students and our communities.

“World Readiness Standards are 21st century skills and as such, should be a central part of the mission of our schools,” Ms. Hooker said.

Learn more about WAFLT and this award at WAFLT’s press release. WAFLT photo credits: Ms. Zoe Jiang.