EDUCATOR-AS-RESEARCHER AWARD
The Educator-as-Researcher Award is presented annually to an educator who has conducted a self-initiated classroom research project or applied research findings to inform their own practice. Candidates may nominate themselves or be nominated by a NERA member or other professional who knows about their research. The award recipient will be invited to attend the NERA conference to present the research to a NERA audience and receive the award.
The nominee must be a PK-12 educator who conducted a school-related research project with their students, faculty, local community partners, or constituents to improve educational practices. The project must be conceptualized, developed, and implemented as part of the nominee’s context and practices and have had at least one cycle of trial and evaluation. The project should also be related to a clearly defined theoretical focus and represent an innovation that has led to concrete change in educational practice. The research, conducted during the past two years, could be part of a thesis or dissertation if the educator is primarily responsible for the development and implementation of the project. Research topics may vary but should have some importance in the nominee’s branch of education. The theory underlying the research, as well as methods of instruction or implementation, data collection, and analysis, should be well articulated and documented by the nominee.
Send the application cover sheet in the Winter 2024 NERA Researcher page 29, and narrative as a Word document to Dr. Marcia A. B. Delcourt, Chair, Educator-as-Researcher Award Committee (delcourtm@wcsu.edu) no later than June 1, 2024.
THOMAS F. DONLON MEMORIAL AWARD FOR DISTINGUISHED MENTORING
The Thomas F. Donlon Memorial Award for Distinguished Mentoring was established in 2000 in recognition of Tom’s long and valued contributions to NERA, particularly as a mentor to so many colleagues. Since then, the award has been presented annually to NERA members who have demonstrated distinction as mentors of colleagues by guiding them and helping them find productive paths toward developing their careers as educational researchers.
Mentoring in education has been going on for centuries, and most of us can name a person who helped us move our careers along by being more than just a friend or colleague. That person may have been an advisor in developing your research agenda, or perhaps brought you to NERA for the first time after suggesting that you might be ready for a conference presentation.
Nominations are again being sought for this annual award. Nominees must be NERA members and may be nominated by any member(s) of NERA to whom they served as mentors. If you would like to see a member of NERA who was your mentor be recognized for their contributions to your success, send your nomination, including:
a. A nomination letter
b. Three to five letters of support indicating how the nominee distinguished themself as a mentor.
The award will be presented at the annual NERA conference. Please contact the committee Chair if you have any questions about the Donlon Award or the nomination process. Send all nomination materials to Dr. Marcia A. B. Delcourt via email at delcourtm@wcsu.edu by June 30, 2024.
LEO D. DOHERTY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO NERA
The Leo D. Doherty Memorial Award is presented to a longstanding NERA member who exemplifies the qualities that Leo Doherty brought to NERA members, his colleagues, and students throughout his career. The award, instituted by the NERA Board of Directors in 1981, honors the memory of Leo Doherty. He was instrumental in developing and growing NERA as a professional association for educational research.
His leadership qualities, both ethical and humane, encouraged others to pursue and achieve their goals. Thus, it is awarded to NERA members who have exhibited outstanding leadership and service to our organization.
Please nominate a NERA member exemplifying these qualities.
Send a nomination letter in Word or PDF format as an attachment via email to Thanos Patelis (tpatelis@yahoo.com) by June 30, 2024. The nomination letter should indicate the name of the nominee, the nominee’s e-mail and mailing address, and a concise, compelling indication of the nominee’s leadership and service to NERA. Please include input from at least three other NERA members about the nominee’s leadership and service either in the nomination letter or separate ones.
LORNE H. WOOLLATT DISTINGUISHED PAPER AWARD
TBD