Katie Wilford
The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) - Europe South District proudly announces that Ms. Katie Wilford, a Special Education Teacher at Rota Middle/High School, Spain, has been selected as the 2025 South District Teacher of the Year.
“I am thrilled to share that Katie Wilford has been selected as the South District Teacher of the Year. She is an exceptional and talented teacher who is making a real difference in the lives of students. Her teaching style is creative and engaging, which has helped students develop a deep understanding of the material. Her dedication and hard work have made her an inspiration to her colleagues and students alike. I am incredibly proud of her, and I know that she will continue to excel in her profession,” said Dr. Jeff Arrington, South District Superintendent.
Wilford currently works as a teacher for Learning Impaired Mild-Moderate (LIMM) students at Rota Middle/High School (RMHS) in the Europe South District for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). She co-teaches Math and English courses to students in grades 6-9. Wilford has been a part of DoDEA for 18 years and has served students with disabilities in various roles across all grade levels.
She is passionate about building collaborative relationships with colleagues, students, and families to create a school culture that promotes academic equity for all students. Wilford received a Bachelor of Science in Education in 2004 and a Master of Science in Special Education in 2006 from the University of Kansas. She began her DoDEA career in 2006 at Shirley Lanham Elementary School (Japan) as a Teacher for Learning Impaired Moderate-Severe (LIMS) students before transferring to Vicenza Elementary School (Italy) as a Teacher for LIMS and a Preschool for Children with Disabilities (PSCD) Teacher. After that, Wilford became an Instructional Systems Specialist (ISS) for Special Education and Autism for eight years, serving in the Pacific South District Office and the Europe South District Office. As an ISS, she advocated for all students with disabilities by consulting with leaders, teachers, parents, community members, and students. In 2022, Wilford returned to the RMHS classrooms, where she continues to support U.S. Military families abroad as a caring educational leader. She is supported by her loving family and is dedicated to providing quality education to her students.
“Katie is a highly skilled and respected teacher who collaborates with her peers and uses a variety of teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of her students. She promotes a caring and encouraging student-centered learning environment that helps guide students to success,” said Ms. Stephanie El Sayed, South District Community Superintendent.
