Ladue Schools is proud to announce that Dr. Haydee Taylor-Arnold, a Spanish teacher at Ladue Horton Watkins High School (LHWHS), has been selected by the Foreign Language Association of Missouri (FLAM) as the recipient of the Distinguished World Language Educator Award.

This prestigious award recognizes an outstanding Missouri educator who has demonstrated a significant and positive impact on world language teaching and learning. As Missouri’s Distinguished Educator, Dr. Taylor-Arnold will now serve as the state’s official nominee for the Central States Teacher of the Year competition, held in Lansing, Michigan, in March 2027.

“Dr. Taylor-Arnold is a true leader in her field, and this recognition reflects the passion and expertise she brings to our classrooms every day,” said LHWHS Principal Brad Griffith. “Her ability to connect language learning with character education helps our students become not just bilingual, but globally-minded citizens. We are incredibly fortunate to have her on our team.”

Dr. Taylor-Arnold, who holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Saint Louis University, brings two decades of experience to Ladue Schools. In addition to her work at the high school, she serves as President of the Missouri Chapter of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP) and Director of the AATSP Sociedad Hispánica de Amistad (SHA). Last year, she received the Equitable Language Education Visionary Advocate with Transformative Effect (ELEVATE) Award for her outstanding commitment to advancing access and equity for language and culture learners both inside and outside the classroom.

“Our top priority at Ladue Schools is ensuring our students are future-ready and equipped with the skills to lead in a global society, and Dr. Taylor-Arnold is a true champion of that mission,” said Ladue Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke. “Her multiple recognitions are proof of the incredible impact she has on the world language department. She is a tireless advocate for her students, and we are so proud to have her representing Ladue Schools and the state of Missouri on the national stage.”

Dr. Taylor-Arnold will be formally presented with a commemorative plaque during the annual FLAM Conference in St. Louis on Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.

Please join the Ladue Schools community in congratulating Dr. Haydee Taylor-Arnold on this exceptional professional achievement and wishing her the best as she represents Missouri in the Central States competition!