Secondary level World Languages teacher Tana Luptak of Shepherd, Montana, has garnered a 2024 Outstanding Contributions Award from the Montana Association of Language Teachers (MALT). Photo Credit: Montana Association of Language Teachers
There are many fine educators who earn recognition for their tireless work in the classroom. One of these is Tana Luptak, a secondary level World Languages teacher from Montana. She has garnered a 2024 Outstanding Contributions Award from the Montana Association of Language Teachers (MALT).
Tana currently teaches Spanish at Shepherd Middle School and Shepherd High School, both located in Shepherd, Montana. She has been employed there for seven years. Tana has a reputation for fostering an exciting learning environment characterized by community, collaboration, and culture.
In addition to her work in the classroom, Tana has served for six years on the MALT Board, including terms as Vice President and President. During her tenure, she drove significant organizational changes and improvements. In fact, she is largely responsible for expanding the Spanish-language program in Shepherd schools, even introducing international travel experiences for students.
Tana earned her Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a Teaching Option from Montana State University, Billings, in May, 2013. While in college, Tana completed a study abroad program in Spain for a semester. She found that experience so enriching that, since she became a teacher, she has led two trips abroad with students: One to Spain in 2017, and the other to Costa Rica in 2018.
In 2018, Tana earned her Master’s degree in Education and World Language Instruction from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. She even presented her Master’s thesis, “Montana World Language Teachers’ Beliefs and Perspectives on Effective World Language Teaching Practices,” at a conference organized by the Wisconsin Association For Language Teachers and the Confederation in Oregon Foreign Language Teaching (WAFLT-COFLT) in Portland, Oregon. Her thesis, exploring Montana teachers’ beliefs in comparison to national recommendations, showcased her commitment to advancing language education.
