D219’s Assyrian Program has been named the 2026 recipient of the Languages for All Award by the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (CSCTFL). The award honors educators who support student engagement and cultural understanding through indigenous and less commonly taught languages.

Christine Kochou Yousif, Ramina Samuel, and William Sargool developed the nation’s first accredited high school Assyrian Language and Culture program. The four-year course sequence allows students to study Assyrian as a world language alongside other high school language offerings. The program’s curriculum has also helped other districts begin offering Assyrian instruction, with expansion already underway beyond Illinois.

The Assyrian Program will be formally recognized at the 2026 Central States Conference in March. For additional information about the award and the conference, visit the CSCTFL website.