The Richard W. Halle Award for Outstanding Middle Level Educator honors a junior high/middle level educator who has worked to promote understanding of the developmental needs and characteristics of young adolescents, especially in the English language arts. Established in 1996 by the Junior High/Middle School Assembly, the Richard W. Halle Award became a Middle Level Section Award in February 2002.
The award is presented at the Middle Level Get-together during the NCTE Annual Convention each year and includes an engraved plaque plus $100 monetary award.
Eligibility
A “middle level educator” is defined as anyone who has worked to improve schools and schooling for the middle level—teacher, principal, college person, curriculum specialist, or supervisors—not necessarily a classroom teacher.
Criteria
Nominees must meet the following criteria: Encouraging a spirit of inquiry and development of critical and creative thinking within the profession; Showing evidence of exemplary professional involvement, participation in activities such as workshops, curriculum development, and association programs and projects; Connecting the classroom and the community; Fostering the development of literacy education at the middle level; and Promoting research on the middle level student .
Howard Miller, Mercy College, Bronx, NY, 2008
Akiko Morimoto, Washington Middle School, Vista, CA, 2007
Karen Morgan Delbridge, Johnson Jr. High School, Cheyenne, WY, 2006
Kim Ford, Cypress Middle School, Memphis, TN, 2004
Sandra Hayes, Becker Middle School, Becker, MN, 2003
Karen Smith, Arizona State University, Tempe, 2002
Kylene Beers, University of Houston, TX, 2001
Martha Magner, MacArthur Barr Middle School, Nanuet, NY, 2000
Linda Rief, Oyster River Middle School, Durham, NH, 1999
Katherine Ramsey, Arnold Jr. High, Houston, TX, 1998
Lanny van Allen, Texas Education Agency, Austin, TX, 1997
Richard W. Halle, Marshfield, Jr. High, Marshfield, WI, 1996