APPLICATION FOR THE 2009 LORNE H. WOOLLATT DISTINGUISHED PAPER AWARD

The award, now known as the Lorne H. Woollatt Distinguished Paper Award, is presented annually to a NERA member whose paper is deemed exemplary by the Award Committee. In 1990 NERA renamed its distinguished paper award to honor Lorne H. Woollatt, a distinguished New York State educator and an active member of NERA.

Any paper reviewed and accepted by the Program Committee and presented at the 2009 NERA Annual Conference may be submitted for consideration. Only one paper can be selected so the Committee is looking for an outstanding paper. We encourage submissions from those who received high marks or positive feedback from the Program Committee reviewers, your session's discussant or others. The winning paper will automatically be accepted for the 2010 AERA Annual Meeting as part of a session sponsored by the AERA/SIG: Consortium of State and Regional Educational Research Associations (SRERA). The award also includes a monetary stipend to help defray the recipient's travel expenses to AERA.

Check back in the fall for more information including the submission deadline. If you have questions, contact the 2009 Committee Chair, Craig Wells (cswells@educ.umass.edu)

NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2009 THOMAS F. DONLON MEMORIAL AWARD
FOR DISTINGUISHED MENTORING

The Thomas F. Donlon Award for Distinguished Mentoring was established in recognition of Tom Donlon's long and valued contributions to NERA, particularly as a mentor to so many colleagues. Generations of scholars at Educational Testing Service, at Thomas Edison State College, in NERA and in myriad professions are devoted to Tom for the guidance he provided them. Each year the award is presented at annual NERA conferences to recognize a member of NERA who has shown distinction as a mentor.

Nominations are sought for the annual award and nominees must be members of NERA and may be nominated by any member (or members) of NERA to whom they served as a mentor. If you would like to see a member of NERA who was your mentor be recognized for his/her contributions, nominations must be accompanied by documentation indicating the ways in which the nominee distinguished him/herself as a mentor. The award is presented at the Thursday luncheon at the annual conference.

if you are interested in nominating someone for this award or if you have questions about the award nomination process, contact the 2009 Committee Chair Samantha Feinman at sfeinman@pace.edu

Nominations for the 2009 TEACHER-AS-RESEARCHER AWARD

The Teacher-as-Researcher Award is presented annually by NERA. The award honors a teacher or a team that includes a teacher serving as a principle investigator, co-investigator, or collaborator who has conducted a classroom research project or applied research findings to inform his or her own teaching. The teacher should have primary responsibility for the research design that includes the application of a theory informingthe study or the development of a theory from the results of a study, but not necessarily be the sole person in its development. The setting of the study should be part of the nominees' regular professional responsibilities (not as a student teacher or part of a dissertation) and the results should result in a change in practice. Evidence of the resulting change in practice should be documented by data presented by the nominee and should show that the teacher has applied theory to practice and that practice has changed.

The candidate can self-nominate or be nominated by anyone who knows his or her work; NERA members, school administrators, faculty mentors, or others familiar with the teacher's work. All applications/nominations should follow the format of the Teacher-as-Researcher Award application form and be postmarked or e-mailed no later than June 15, 2009. Download application form (pdf)

The 2009 award recipient will be invited to speak about the research project at a special session at the annual NERA meeting in October 2009 and be presented with the award at that time. The award includes a plaque, NERA membership, $150 toward travel, and two full-days of meals and lodging at NERA's conference at the Hartford Marriott, Rocky Hill, CT.

Please send applications and address inquiries about the award to:
Dr. Dolores Burton
New York Institute of Technology
School of Education
336 Northern Blvd.
Old Westbury, New York 11568
Email: dburton@nyit.edu   Phone: 516 686 7582  Fax: 516 686 7655

LEO D. DOHERTY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO NERA

The Leo D. Doherty Memorial Award is given to a NERA member who exemplifies the qualities which Leo Doherty brought to NERA, as well as to his colleagues, friends and students. He encouraged others to commit themselves to goals that were personally meaningful, he personally demonstrated how staff should work honestly, and he dealt fairly and equitably and credited those who implemented activities. He supported professional associations, served in several capacities, and encouraged colleagues and staff to participate in professional association activities.

The recipient of this award is determined by a committee of former recipients rather than by nominations from the membership. The award, in the form of a plaque, is announced and presented at the annual conference.