Hampton High School teacher awarded national travel scholarship

Deon Garner Sr., a Spanish teacher at Hampton High School, has been selected to receive the 2026 Latino Schools Teacher Travel Scholarship from the Southern Conference on Language Teaching (SCOLT). The prestigious scholarship recognizes outstanding world language educators and supports immersive professional learning experiences abroad.

 

As a scholarship recipient, Mr. Garner will participate in a two-week program in Cuzco, Perú, in July 2026. The experience includes Spanish language immersion, coursework in Indigenous Andean culture. The program is designed to deepen cultural understanding and strengthen language instruction, with opportunities for participants to earn graduate credit through New Mexico State University.

 

SCOLT officials praised Garner as an exemplary educator and highlighted the honor as a reflection of the high caliber of teachers in Hampton City Schools. He will be formally recognized for the award on March 20, 2026, at the SCOLT annual conference in Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

In addition to his participation in the program, Garner will share his learning with educators nationwide by authoring an article for the fall edition of SCOLTTalk magazine and creating a short video documenting his experience. His work will benefit world language educators and students alike by bringing global perspectives into the classroom.

 

The award underscores Garner’s commitment to professional growth and excellence in language education.