NSDC Awards Program

The nomination deadline for awards each year is April 1. Please have your materials postmarked by that date. Click here for the Awards brochure and form in PDF.

During the nomination period (January 1-April 1 each year), please submit five copies of the nomination application, letters of nomination, and materials to:

Information about NSDC Awards

• Most Recent Award Recipients
• Award Descriptions
• Detailed Criteria for Nomination
• Previous Award Winners

2007 Awards Presented at NSDC Annual Conference in Dallas

The winners for this year are:

• Contribution to Staff Development
  Karen Seashore Louis
  Rodney Wallace Professorship for the Advancement of Teaching and Learning, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn.
• Susan Loucks-Horsley Awards:
  Francena Cummings
  Director of technical assistance, Regional Educational Laboratory-Southeast, Tallahassee, Fla.
• Distinguished Service to NSDC:
  Audrey Hobbs Johnson
  North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
  Senior Consultant, British Columbia Educational Leadership Council
• Distinguished Staff Developer
  Julie Blaine
  Director, RPDC Professional Development Schools Operations, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, Mo.
• Shirley Havens Support and Classified Staff Development:
  Reesa Fickett
  Classified Specialist, Office of Professional Learning, Tucson (Ariz.) Unified School District
• Staff Development Book of the Year:
  Leadership Coaching for Educators: Bringing Out the Best in School Administrators by Karla Reiss, published by Corwin Press, 2006
  

Award Descriptions

Best Research recognizes research that demonstrates the impact of staff development on student performance and contributes to the knowledge base of the field.

Best Evaluation of Staff Development recognizes rigorous assessments conducted of staff learning initiatives.

Staff Development Book recognizes a book that makes a significant contribution to the field of staff development.

Shirley Havens Support and Classified Staff Development recognizes an individual or organization that has made a significant commitment toward the development of support and classified staff members.

Criteria for Nomination

Recognizes an NSDC member whose research, writing, and professional relationships improve our understanding of change and promote high quality professional learning, particularly in the areas of mathematics and science. The Susan Loucks-Horsley Award honors the contribution Susan made to the field of professional development and remembers the many ways in which she nurtured and supported the work of numerous colleagues and friends.

Criteria for Nomination:

• Discussion of the work of the individual in letter of nomination that addresses how the individual has built bridges between organizations; mentored others in research and writing; instilled in others sense of possibility; grounded work in practice, and contributed to fields of science and mathematics.
• Submission must include resume of nominee.
• Submit five copies of the nomination letter that addresses the criteria and resume.
• You may nominate yourself for awards.
• Include five different professionally printed high-resolution candid photos of the nominee(s). Indicate the names of the people on the back of the photos.

Criteria for Nomination:

• Research projects should address the relationship between staff development and student learning and may also address staff development theory, evaluation of staff development, and creating/implementing staff development programs.
• Research is judged according to relevance to staff development field, quality of writing, clarity of problem statement and rationale, appropriateness of research method(s) to the question(s) addressed, valid use of research methods, and appropriateness of conclusions/recommendations.
• Submission must include short resumé of nominee (not to exceed 5 pages), abstract addressing statement of the problem or research question, design and method, results, and major conclusions (not to exceed 600 words).
• Dissertation submissions must have been completed within two years of the submission deadline.
• Submit five copies of the application form, resumé, abstract, and research report or dissertation.
• Include five different professionally printed high-resolution candid photos of the nominee(s). Indicate the names of the people on the back of the photos.

Criteria for Nomination:

• Evidence of a design that provided ongoing examination of the effects of staff development on professional practice and student learning.
• Use of appropriate evaluation methodologies to answer the question(s) posed in the design and to measure results.
• Use of multiple sources of appropriate and reliable data .
• A clearly organized evaluation report written in accessible language that includes well-supported findings and recommendations for improvement.
• Evidence of usefulness to policymakers, practitioners, and/or other appropriate audiences.
• Adherence to the Joint Committee for Program Evaluation Standards and AEA’s Guiding Principles for Evaluators.
• Submission must include resumé for nominee and other appropriate researchers.
• Submit five copies of the application form, resumés, and report on the evaluation.
• Include five different professionally printed high-resolution candid photos of the nominee(s). Indicate the names of the people on the back of the photos.

Recognizes a book that makes a significant contribution to the field of staff development.

Criteria for Nomination:

• Viewed as significant and useful by practitioners.
• Presents research and/or recommendations that are relevant to staff developers.
• Design is clean and of high quality with appropriate references and reliable research methods (if appropriate).
• Must have been published within one year of submission deadline.
• Include five copies of the application form and nomination letter.
• Include five different professionally printed high-resolution candid photos of the nominee(s). Indicate the names of the people on the back of the photos.

Recognizes an individual or organization that has made a significant commitment toward the staff development of support and classified staff members.

Criteria for Nomination:

• Viewed as valuable by the intended audience.
• Demonstration of impact on the intended audience.
• Discussion of the alignment of the programs/services with NSDC’s Standards for Staff Development
• Letter of submission or portfolio that addresses how the individual or organization addresses criteria listed above.
• Submit five copies of application form, nomination letter, and any accompanying material.
• Include five different professionally printed high-resolution candid photos of the nominee(s). Indicate the names of the people on the back of the photos.

Previous Award Winners

• Francena Cummings - 2007
• Nancy Love - 2006
• Susan Mundry - 2006
• Harold Pratt - 2005
• Shirley Hord and Gene Hall - 2004
• Dennis Sparks - 2003

Best Research Award

• Brad W. Kose - 2006
• Judith L. Slinger - 2005
• Christine Lowden - 2004
• Nancy Iverson - 2003
• Julie Giardino - 2002
• Dana Suzanne Leeper Selzer - 2001
• Patricia Rose Roy - 2000
• Joseph Senese - 1999
• Jay Paredes Scribner - 1998
• Karen L. Hayes - 1997
• Carole Schmidt - 1996
• Susan M. Tauer - 1995
• RoseAnn O'Brien Vojtek - 1994
• Henry Kiernan - 1993
• Pam Robbins - 1992
• Mary E. Schroff - 1991
• Ranny Singiser - 1990

Outstanding Staff Development Book

• Karla Reiss - 2007 (Leadership Coaching for Educators: Bringing Out the Best in School Administrators)
• Marilyn Tallerico - 2006 (Supporting and Sustaining Teachers' Professional Development: A Principal's Guide)
• Glenn E. Singleton and Curtis Linton - 2006 (Courageous Conversations About Race )
• Alan M. Blankstein - 2005 (Failure Is Not an Option)
• Eleanor Drago-Severson - 2004 (Helping Teachers Learn)
• Roland Barth - 2003 (Lessons Learned: Shaping Relationships and the Culture of the Workplace)
• Joyce Kaser, Susan Mundry, Katherine Stiles, and Susan Loucks-Horsley - 2003 (Leading Everyday)
• Michael Fullan - 2002 (Leading in a Culture of Change)
• Peter Senge, Nelda Cambron-McCabe, Timothy Lucas, Bryan Smith, Janis Dutton, Art Kleiner - 2001 (Schools That Learn)
• Thomas Guskey - 2000 (Evaluating Professional Development)
• Linda Darling-Hammond and Gary Sykes - 2000 (Teaching as the Learning Profession)
• Robert Garmston and Bruce Wellman - 1999 (The Adaptive School: A Sourcebook for Developing Collaborative Groups)
• Phillip Schlechty - 1998 (Inventing Better Schools)
• David Collins - 1998 (Achieving Your Vision of Professional Development)
• Linda Lambert - 1998 ( Constructivist Leader)
• Thomas Guskey - 1996 (Professional Development in Education)

Shirley Havens Support and Classified Staff Development

• Reesa Fickett - 2007
• Northbrook School District 27, Northbrook, Ill. - 2006
• Jan Nobuto - 2005
• Peggy Mueller - 2003
• Marsha Owen - 2002

Best Evaluation of Staff Development

• Joseph Shields - 2005 (Texas Education Agency)

Past Winners for Additional Awards

• Karen Seashore Louis - 2007
• Dennis Sparks - 2006
• Beverly Daniel Tatum - 2005
• Theodore Sizer, Coalition of Essential Schools - 2003
• Peter Senge - 2002
• Hayes Mizell - 2000
• Kati Haycock - 2000
• Robert Garmston - 1999
• Linda Darling Hammond - 1998
• Ron Brandt - 1997
• Judy-Arin Krupp - 1995
• Michael Fullan - 1995
• Susan Loucks-Horsley - 1993
• Carlene Murphy - 1991
• Madeline Hunter - 1989
• Arthur Costa - 1989

Distinguished Service Award

• Audrey Hobbs Johnson - 2007
• Diana Raney Williams - 2005
• Rick DuFour - 2004
• Sandee Crowther - 2003
• Dale Hair - 2003
• Gayle Moller - 2002
• Kathryn Blumsack - 2002
• Cathy Berlinger-Gustafson - 2001
• Thomas Swenson - 2000
• Shirley Hord - 1999
• Ann Delehant - 1996
• Sybil Yastrow - 1994
• Jim Henkelman - 1992
• Susan Ellis - 1990
• Sue Schiff - 1989
• Sarah Caldwell - 1988
• Shirley Havens - 1987
• Fred Wood - 1986
• Jim Metzdorf - 1986
• Steve Wlodarczyk - 1985
• Lynne Chidley - 1985
• Pat Zigarmi - 1984
• Betty Dillon-Peterson - 1984

Ambassadors for High-Quality Professional Learning Award

• Blanch & John Linton, School Improvement Network - 2006

NSDC no longer presents awards in the following categories.

Best Non-Dissertation Research Award

• Thomas Guskey - 2003
• Linda Munger and Laurie Stevahn - 2001
• Cathy Caro-Bruce, Ken Zelchner, Robin Marion - 1998
• Maryanne Roesch/Dr. Jane White - 1994
• James Donovan, David Sousa - 1990

Outstanding NSDC Affiliate Newsletter

• Staff Development Council of British Columbia - 2004
• Kansas Staff Development Council - 2003
• Texas Staff Development Council - 2002
• Staff Development Council of Ontario - 2001
• Pennsylvania Staff Development Council - 2000
• Texas Staff Development Council - 1999
• Florida Association of Staff Development - 1998
• Georgia Staff Development Council - 1997
• Staff Development Council of Ontario - 1996
• Florida Association for Staff Development Newsletter - 1995
• Kansas Staff Development Council Newsletter - 1994
• Washington State Staff Development Council Newsletter - 1993

Outstanding Department/Staff Development Newsletter

• Independence School District Independence, Missouri - 2004
• Thompson R2-J School District, Loveland, Colo. - 2003
• Center for Innovations in Special Education - 2002
• Indiana Principal Leadership Academy - 2001
• South Central Regional Professional Development Center - 2000
• Broward County Public Schools HRD/Nova Center - 1999
• UFT Teachers Center Professional Development Support Program - 1998
• York Region Board of Education, Staff Development Center - 1996
• Howard County (MD) Staff Development Center - 1994
• UFT Special Educator Support Program - 1993

Outstanding Staff Development Article

• Jon Marshall and Ruie Pritchard - 2003(Professional development in 'healthy' vs 'unhealthy' districts)
• Thomas Guskey - 2002 (Does It Make a Difference)
• Thomas Guskey - 1999 (The Age of Our Accountability)
• Thomas Guskey - 1996 (Results-Oriented Professional Development: In Search of an Optimal Mix of Effective Practices)

Outstanding Achievement in Professional Development (In Collaboration with AASA)

• Hattiesburg Public School District - 1991
• The Network for Educational Development - 1990
• Richmond County Public Schools - 1990
• Deer Valley Unified School District - 1989
• Ft. Knox Community Schools - 1989
• Montgomery County Public Schools - 1989
• South Windsor Public Schools - 1989
• West Orange Public Schools - 1989

Mentor of the Year

• Sue Showers - 2004
• Jerry Boyle - 2002
• Kathryn Blumsack - 2000
• Kay Shaw - 1998
• Shirley Hord - 1997

Outstanding New Staff Developer

• Julie Blaine - 2003
• Kathleen Swann - 2002
• Steven Zickafoose - 2001
• Laura Gschwend - 2000

Exemplary Use of Technology

• TELUS Learning Connection Project Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - 2004
• Learning Connection Online - 2003 (Joseph Felix and Michael White)
• Teacher Leadership Project - 2002
• Active Learning with Technology - 2001
• Inspiration Software, Inc. - 2000