Awards
Award Descriptions
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Best Research recognizes research that demonstrates the impact of professional development on student performance and contributes to the knowledge base of the field. |
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Best Evaluation of Professional Development is presented to an individual or organization for outstanding professional development evaluation. The award is 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. |
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Contribution to the Field Award celebrates a person who has made a significant contribution to the field of professional development as a thought leader. Given since 1989, this award acknowledges a person's research, writing, work, and teaching in the field of professional learning. |
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Susan Loucks-Horsley Award recognizes a member whose research, writing, and professional relationships improve the field's 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. |
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Learning Forward's Distinguished Service Award celebrates a person who has made a significant contribution to Learning Forward and its purpose. Given since 1984, this award acknowledges the power of one person and all that he or she contributes to this association. |
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The Shirley Hord Learning Team Award honors excellence in professional learning. Based on Learning Forward's definition of professional learning, the award recognizes a school team that successfully implements the cycle of continuous learning for professional learning that results in student achievement. |
Previous Award Winners
Best Research Award
- Bradley A. Ermeling - 2010
- Ronald Gallimore - 2010
- Claude N. Goldenberg - 2010
- William M. Saunders - 2010
- Mistilina Sato - 2009
- Ruth Chung Wei - 2009
- Linda Darling-Hammond - 2009
- 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
Best Evaluation of Professional Development
- Thomas R. Guskey, Marco A. Muñoz, and Jennifer Aberli - 2008
- Joseph Shields - 2005 (Texas Education Agency)
Contribution to the Field Award
- Andy Hargreaves - 2010
- Douglas Reeves - 2010
- Thomas Guskey - 2009
- Shirley Hord - 2009
- 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
Susan Loucks-Horsley Award
- Peg Smith - 2010
- Page Keeley - 2009
- Judy Mumme - 2008
- Francena Cummings - 2007
- Nancy Love - 2006
- Susan Mundry - 2006
- Harold Pratt - 2005
- Shirley Hord and Gene Hall - 2004
- Dennis Sparks - 2003
Learning Forward Distinguished Service Award
- Deborah Childs-Bowen - 2010
- Marti Richardson - 2009
- 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
Shirley Hord Learning Team Award
- Third-grade team at Clinton Elementary School - 2011
- Rocklin Academy - 2010
We no longer presents awards in the following categories:
Staff Development Book of the Year
- Building a Professional Learning Community at Work: A Guide to the First Year by Parry Graham and William M. Ferriter - 2010
- Change Wars by Michael Fullan and Andy Hargreaves (Editors) - 2009
- The Reflective Educator's Guide to Professional Development: Coaching Inquiry-Oriented Learning Communities by Nancy Fichtman Dana and Diane Yendol-Hoppey - 2008
- Leadership Coaching for Educators: Bringing Out the Best in School Administrators
by Karla Reiss - 2007
- Supporting and Sustaining Teachers' Professional Development: A Principal's Guide
by Marilyn Tallerico - 2006
- Courageous Conversations About Race
by Glenn E. Singleton and Curtis Linton - 2006
- Failure Is Not an Option
by Alan M. Blankstein - 2005
- Helping Teachers Learn
by Eleanor Drago-Severson - 2004
- Lessons Learned: Shaping Relationships and the Culture of the Workplace
by Roland Barth - 2003
- Leading Everyday
by Joyce Kaser, Susan Mundry, Katherine Stiles, and Susan Loucks-Horsley - 2003
- Leading in a Culture of Change
by Michael Fullan - 2002
- Schools That Learn
by Peter Senge, Nelda Cambron-McCabe, Timothy Lucas, Bryan Smith, Janis Dutton, Art Kleiner - 2001
- Evaluating Professional Development
by Thomas Guskey - 2000
- Teaching as the Learning Profession
by Linda Darling-Hammond and Gary Sykes - 2000
- The Adaptive School: A Sourcebook for Developing Collaborative Groups
by Robert Garmston and Bruce Wellman - 1999
- Inventing Better Schools
by Phillip Schlechty - 1998
- Achieving Your Vision of Professional Development
by David Collins - 1998
- Constructivist Leader
by Linda Lambert - 1998
- Professional Development in Education
by Thomas Guskey - 1996
Shirley Havens Support and Classified Staff Development
- DeKalb County School System, Atlanta, Ga. - 2009
- 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
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
Mentor of the Year
- Sue Showers - 2004
- Jerry Boyle - 2002
- Kathryn Blumsack - 2000
- Kay Shaw - 1998
- Shirley Hord - 1997
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
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
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 New Staff Developer
- Julie Blaine - 2003
- Kathleen Swann - 2002
- Steven Zickafoose - 2001
- Laura Gschwend - 2000
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
