Dr. Rashad Ahmed Named 2026 TESOL Teacher of the Year
02/23/2026
Jacksonville State University’s Dr. Rashad Ahmed has been named the TESOL International Association (TESOL) 2026 TESOL Teacher of the Year, the highest international recognition in the field of English language teaching.
Presented annually by TESOL International Association, the award recognizes exceptional English language teaching at all levels and honors one educator each year from among members representing more than 150 countries worldwide. Dr. Ahmed will be formally recognized at the TESOL 2026 International Convention & Expo, taking place from March 24 to 27 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dr. Ahmed serves as Associate Professor of TESOL and Linguistics in Jax State’s Department of English. A Fulbright alumnus, he earned his doctorate in Applied Linguistics from the University of Memphis. His teaching, research, and professional development leadership have earned recognition at local, regional, and international levels.
“I am honored beyond words. This award belongs to my students, whose resilience continually reshapes my understanding of language and humanity, and to the teachers who quietly change lives by believing in voices the world too often overlooks,” Dr. Ahmed said.
Beyond the classroom, Dr. Ahmed contributes to the global TESOL profession through extensive editorial and scholarly service. He serves as senior editor of the International Journal of Language and Literary Studies, has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, and authored a scholarly volume on ICT-based informal language learning.
His teaching is marked by innovation and applied research. Dr. Ahmed reimagined traditional composition pedagogy through a multimodal argumentation project that integrates collaborative digital planning, ethical technology use, and culturally responsive assessment into a cohesive learning experience. In one example, students analyze published opinion pieces to identify audience awareness strategies and evidence selection techniques before using collaborative digital tools to develop visual blueprints for their own arguments.
The TESOL Teacher of the Year Award selection process includes a rigorous, multi-stage international review evaluating teaching excellence, professional leadership, and sustained impact on the field.
As part of the honor, Dr. Ahmed will present as an invited speaker at the 2026 TESOL International Convention, joining educators from around the world to share research and best practices in English language teaching.
Dr. Ahmed’s selection reflects the caliber of faculty scholarship and teaching excellence at Jax State and highlights the university’s engagement in global academic communities.