Barbara Ort Smith Award

Each year, the MIWLA Executive Board nominates candidates for the Barbara Ort-Smith Award. This is the most prestigious award a professional in the field of world languages can receive in the state of Michigan. The award honors those who have shown a strong commitment to the profession, manifesting itself in leadership and the promotion of excellence in world language education. The first recipient of this award was Barbara Ort-Smith in 1988. She served as the first Foreign Language consultant in the state of Michigan.

Congratulations to our 2024 Barbara Ort-Smith Award Recipient, Daryl Biallas!

Daryl Biallas is a retired high school Spanish teacher at Clarkston High School in Clarkston, Michigan. He spent 25 years teaching all levels of Spanish, from middle school exploratory courses through senior level IB courses, retiring in June of 2023.  Daryl served as the K-12 World Language Subject Area Coordinator for the district, working with world language teachers across the district to support them with curriculum and professional development. Daryl was instrumental in starting and developing the curriculum for the elementary Spanish program in Clarkston, which is still going strong today. He also worked to develop a heritage Spanish course at Clarkston High. Daryl also served on the Oakland County World Language Advisory Council. 


In addition, he was the President of the Clarkston Education Association during his last 8 years of teaching and has held numerous other positions in that organization over the previous 15 years. Daryl holds a B.A. with a double major in Spanish and Mathematics from Eastern Michigan University as well as a M.A. in Foreign Languages with a concentration in Spanish from Eastern Michigan University. 


Daryl has been active in the Michigan World Language Association since 1998, working on the exhibits committee and presenting at numerous conferences over the years. He served as the MIWLA Executive Treasurer for 15 years, from 2008-2023. He currently serves the organization behind the scenes as the Website Administrator. Daryl served as the Treasurer for the National Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations (NFMLTA) from 2015-2019. He currently works as the Executive Director of the Central States Conference and continues to support world language educators with professional development across the midwest region.

Past Recipients of the Barbara Ort-Smith Award

2023 Michael Vrooman 2010 Irma Torres 1997 Anne Nerenz

2022 Marci Harris 2009 Margrit Zinggeler 1996 Charles H. Ahnert

2021 Viviana Muriel de Bonafede 2008 Robert Lee Bowbeer 1996 Barbette Kitchen

2020 Melissa Dalton 2007 Flora Maria Ciccone Quintanilla 1995 Ruth Moltz

2019 Angelika Kraemer 2006 Cindy Kendall 1994 Dianne Mahalak

2018 Joyce Smetanka Campbell 2005 Marge Mandl 1994 Alice Herman

2017 Michael Braun 2004 John Sanford “Sandy” Dugan 1993 Sarah Juntune

2016 Laura Nork Bradshaw 2003 Susan Knight 1992 Claude-Marie Baldwin

2015 Anne Violin-Wigent 2002 Emily Serafa Manschot 1991 JoAnne Wilson

2014 Bill VanPatten 2001 Jackie Moase-Burke 1990 Emily Spinelli

2013 Susan Buffa 2000 Donald Riddering 1989 George Mansour

2012 Norma Richardson 1999 Tom Lovik 1988 Barbara Ort-Smith

2011 Jennie Frazier 1998 Gisela Moffit