NSDC Awards Program
Sponsored by the School Improvement Network, this annual awards program recognizes and rewards the exemplary work of professionals in the field of professional learning. This page offers information about the types of awards given, application deadlines, and past winners.
| 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:
Elaine Gilbert
17330 Preston Rd., Suite 106-D
Dallas, Texas 75252
972-421-0900
Fax: 972-421-0899
elaine.gilbert@nsdc.org
Information about NSDC Awards
2009 Awards Presented at NSDC's 41st Annual Conference
The winners
for this year are:
- Contribution to the Field:
Thomas Guskey, professor of educational psychology, University of Kentucky
Shirley Hord, NSDC scholar laureate
- Susan Loucks-Horsley Awards:
Page Keeley, Senior Science Program Director, Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance, Augusta, Maine
- Distinguished Service to NSDC:
Marti Richardson, former NSDC president, Knoxville, Tenn.
- Shirley Havens Support and Classified Staff Development:
DeKalb County School System
Atlanta, Ga.
- Best Research:
“Improving Teachers’ Assessment Practices Through Professional Development: The Case of National Board Certification”
Mistilina Sato,
assistant professor of teacher development and science education,
University of Minnesota
Ruth Chung Wei,
postdoctoral scholar,
School of Education,
Stanford University
Linda Darling-Hammond,
Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education,
Stanford University
- Staff Development Book of the Year:
Change Wars by Michael Fullan and Andy Hargreaves (Editors), published by
Solution Tree, 2008
Award Descriptions
Susan Loucks-Horsley Award 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.
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
Susan Loucks-Horsley Award
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.
Best Research
Recognizes research that demonstrates the
impact of staff development on student performance
and contributes to the knowledge
base of the field.
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.
Best Evaluation of Staff Development
May be given to
an individual or organization for outstanding staff development evaluation.
The award will be given based on the quality of the evaluation design, clarity
of communication, and usefulness of the findings rather than on whether the
evaluation demonstrates the value or impact of professional development.
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.
Staff Development Book of the Year
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.
Shirley Havens Support and
Classified Staff Development
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
Susan Loucks-Horsley Award
- Judy Mumme - 2008
- Francena Cummings - 2007
- Nancy Love - 2006
- Susan Mundry - 2006
- Harold Pratt - 2005
- Shirley Hord and Gene Hall - 2004
-
Dennis Sparks - 2003
Best Research Award
- Charles M. Achilles - 2008
- Christopher H. Tienken - 2008
- 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
- Nancy Fichtman Dana and Diane Yendol-Hoppey - 2008 (The Reflective Educator's Guide to Professional Development: Coaching Inquiry-Oriented Learning Communities)
- 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
- St. Vrain Valley School District, Longmont, CO - 2008
- Reesa Fickett - 2007
- Northbrook School District 27, Northbrook, Ill. - 2006
- Jan Nobuto - 2005
- Peggy Mueller - 2003
- Marsha Owen - 2002
Best Evaluation of Staff Development
- Marco A. Muñoz, Thomas R. Guskey, and Jennifer Aberli - 2008
- Joseph Shields - 2005 (Texas Education Agency)
Past Winners for Additional Awards
Contribution to Staff Development Award
- Ellen Moir - 2008
- 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
- Rob and Kathy Bocchino - 2008
- 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
Policy Maker of the Year
- Sen. Jack Reed, Rhode Island - 2008
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
