Dr. Sara Ahnell, Clinical Assistant Professor and Coordinator
Dr. Sara Ahnell is a Clinical Assistant Professor and the Program Coordinator for the Foreign Language Education Programs in the Department of Curriculum and Teaching. She previously served in the department as an instructor of classroom management mentoring both aspiring and veteran language teachers from 2013 to 2024. Dr. Ahnell teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in world language methods, assessment, literacy, and culture. Her areas of research interest include integrating high-leverage teaching practices for language acquisition into instruction for Novice learners, developing proficiency-based thematic curricula, and implementing effective classroom management strategies for secondary world language teaching. Dr. Ahnell’s work has been published in The French Review and ACTFL’s The Language Educator.
Before joining the faculty full-time at Auburn, Dr. Ahnell taught French and English Language Arts in Alabama schools for 14 years. In 2023, she was named 2023 AWLA World Language Teacher of the Year. She taught all levels of French (I, II, III, IV, V/AP/IB) at Auburn High School, and she taught previously at Opelika High School and Sylacauga High School. In 2018, she achieved National Board Certification in World Language for Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood in French and maintained certification in 2023. Dr. Ahnell is a passionate advocate for world language education. She currently serves on the Executive Board of the Alabama World Languages Association (AWLA) as Secretary. Dr. Ahnell is also a frequent presenter of workshops and presentations at state, regional, and national language education conferences. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three children.
Education- EdD, Curriculum and Instruction, Kansas State University
- MEd, Foreign Language Education-French, Auburn University
- BA, French, Auburn University
- Instructional Leadership Graduate Certificate, Auburn University
Certifications
- National Board Certification in World Languages for Young Adolescence-French (2018)
- National Board Maintenance of Certification (2023)
- Alabama Class A Certification-French, 6-12
- Alabama Class B Certification-Elementary French, PK-12
- Alabama Class B Certification-English Language Arts, 6-12
- Alabama Class A Certification-Instructional Leadership, PK-12
Ms. Cayla Baker, Guest Lecturer
Cayla Baker is originally from Montgomery, Alabama. She received her Bachelor’s in Art History and Spanish from UAB. The experiences she had with excellent teachers and professors inspired her to get a Master’s in Spanish Education from Auburn University. She had the opportunity to study abroad in Puerto Rico and Costa Rica. She previously served as the Spanish and ESL teacher at Tallassee High School, and has been teaching Spanish at Auburn High School since 2023. Cayla currently serves on the Alabama World Languages Association Executive Board as the Social Media Coordinator. She enjoys teaching language and culture and helping students discover and make connections to the Spanish-speaking world. When she is not teaching, she and her husband enjoy camping, backpacking and visiting state and national parks with their daughter.
Ms. Melyn Roberson, Guest Lecturer
Melyn Roberson is an educator at Campbell High School in Smyrna, Georgia, in the International Baccalaureate program for over two decades. Her pedagogical preparation is grounded in her pursuit of advanced learning as part of the Auburn University Language Education program with both a Master’s and a Specialist degree. She has developed and taught beginning and advanced learners in public and private institutes, universities and in public high schools. Melyn has earned National Board Certification and is a Fulbright scholar. As a life-long learner, she loves to travel for pleasure and to enhance her professional growth and development through summer institutes and ongoing professional learning. Melyn is a cosmopolitan patriot who strives to be a global citizen.
Ms. Andrea Wilkinson, Guest Lecturer
Andrea Wilkinson taught German in Auburn City Schools for over two decades. She has undergraduate degrees in German and English, and she completed her Masters degree in English Education in 2001. Andrea is a regular guest lecturer at our Fall weekend seminar providing demo lessons highlighting comprehensible input for a Novice level German classroom. She currently works in Madison City Schools as an ACCESS Instructional Support Specialist.
