2007 Richard W. Halle Award Winner

Akiko Morimoto is the recipient of the 2007 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. 

Akiko has been an English teacher for 29 years and is School Improvement Program Coordinator AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) at Washington Middle School in Vista, California.

Involved with NCTE for many years, Akiko has served in many roles within the Council including Membership Chair for the Assembly for National Board Certified Teachers, Middle Level Nominating Committee Chair 2004-05, Annual Convention General Co-chair 2003, Middle Level Rep-at-Large 2000-02, and Middle Level Advisory Commiteee 2000-02. 

Akiko is also active at the state level with her involvement in the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE), California Association of Teachers, the Greater San Diego Council of Teachers of English and the California Young Reader Medal Committee.

She has received many awards and recognitions including the Richard B. Wilson Award and Classroom Excellence Award given by the Old Globe Theatres and the Greater San Diego Council of Teachers of English, Early Adolescent/ELA Certification given by National Board of Professional Teaching Standards and PTA Annual Service Award.

In addition, her classroom was filmed by Annenberg Media and Thirteen/WNET, New York for a video titled "Teaching Multicultural Literature: A Workshop for Middle Grades," Workshop 2: Engagement and Dialogue with Judith Ortiz Cofer and Nikki Grimes. 

The Richard W. Halle Award presentation took place during the NCTE Annual Convention in New York City at the Middle Level Get-Together on Thursday, November 15 from 5:00-6:30 pm.