James Johnston is the recipient of the 2010 NCTE Richard W. Halle Award for Outstanding Middle Level Educator. This award 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.
Jim has been involved in English language arts education for over 35 years. He has taught grades 5-8 in several Connecticut Public Schools. He is currently an adjunct instructor in the Reading Department at Central Connecticut State University teaching both graduate and undergraduate classes.
Jim has been active in many langage related organizations during his teaching career including NCTE's SLATE, ALAN, and CEL, International Reading Association (IRA), National Middle School Association (NMSA), Connecticut Council of Teachers of English (CCTE), Connecticut Reading Association, and New England Reading Association.
Some offices Jim has held in these organizations include:
- Advisory Board for Central Connecticut Writing Project, 2008-present
- Executive Board for New England Reading Association, 2007-2010
- Connecticut State Coordinator of Promising Young Writers Program, 2007-2010
- NCTE Middle Level Section Steering Committee member, 2005-2008
- NCTE Middle Level Nominating Commitee member, 2004 and 2009
- Secondary Representative to the Board for the Connecticut Association for Reading Rsearch, 2003-2007
- Chair of the NCTE Promising Young Writers Program, 2002-2005
- Chair of the NCTE Junior High/Middle School Assembly, 1999-2001
- Connecticut Council Teachers of English Board member, 1994-2001
Jim has written in several journals and newsletters including Voices from the Middle, The New England Reading Association Journal, NELMS journal and CCTE journal.