Awards and Nominations
Edmund J. Farrell - Distinguished Lifetime Service Award
Elizabeth (Liz) Stephens, PhD
Texas State University - San Marcos
For her outstanding work at the local, state, and national level, Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Stephens is the 2012 Edmund J. Farrell Award Recipient.
After earning her doctorate from the University of Houston, Dr. Stephens joined the
faculty of Texas State University, where she started a very successful National Writing
Project site—the Central Texas Writing Project—before becoming a leader in the
National Writing Project. As Director of National Writing Projects in Texas from 2008
to 2011, she coordinated state meetings and the activities of the various sites.
From those local and state leadership roles, Dr. Stephens moved to the national level.
She currently serves on the National Writing Project Board of Directors and on the
Advisory Panel to the National Commission on Writing for America’s Families, Schools,
and Colleges. Of course, the work of the National Writing Project goes hand-in-hand
with the mission of the National Council of Teachers of English and the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts.
In recognition of her exemplary teaching in undergraduate reading, writing, and educational technology courses, Dr. Stephens was nominated for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching by Texas State University’s College of Education in 2007. She also was a regular presenter at state and national conferences and at Texas high schools. Dr. Stephens also has served on the TAKS Content Validation Review Panel from 2000 to the present.
Dr. Stephens edited English in Texas, the professional journal of the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts, from 1999 – 2003. She was named Editor Emerita for her service to TCTELA. In 2000, during her tenure as editor, the journal was named the Best NCTE Affiliate Journal. Early in her career, Dr. Stephens served on the Review Committee for Reading Online, the electronic refereed journal of the International Reading Association; she was the editor for the newsletter of the AERA Literature Special Interest Group; and she also was the editor of the Texas Reading Report, the newsletter of the Texas State Reading Association.
Dr. Stephens has been a prolific scholarly writer as well. With three books, four book chapters, and numerous articles to her credit, she has become a national leader on writing and technology innovations. Her book, Using Technology to Improve Adolescent Writing: Digital Makeovers for Writing Lessons, currently is in press. Her articles have been published in Voice in the Middle, International Journal of Learning, the Journal for Technology and Teacher Education, and Research in Middle Level Education Online. Most of her writing and research is focused on the uses of technology in the classroom, so it should come as no surprise that Dr. Stephens was recognized for “best use of Instructional Technology” by the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education.
Obtaining funding for projects has been a major aspect of Dr. Stephens’ work. She has received numerous grants from the U.S. Department of Education, Texas State University, and Microsoft. With almost two million dollars in grant awards, Dr. Stephens has garnered financial support that Texas State University is using to develop innovations in technology and learning.
Under Dr. Stephens’ leadership, our state writing projects continue to flourish. Under Dr. Stephens’ leadership, the Texas Council of Teachers of English Language Arts developed an outstanding, award-winning journal, English in Texas. Under Dr. Stephens’ leadership and counseling, the high school TAKS and STAAR for English language arts is a better assessment system. Dr. Stephens is an innovator who advocates for the English educators of Texas, encouraging us to be more professional, more innovative, and more able to meet the digital natives we teach today in our schools.
Although Dr. Stephens certainly is not at the end of her career—or even at the end of her contributions to the English language arts teachers in Texas— she definitely is deserving of this lifetime service award.
University/College Teacher of the Year
Sharon O'Neal, PhD
Texas State University - Round Rock Campus
Over the years, Sharon O’Neal has contributed not only to the education of Texas public school children but also to the growth and professional development of English language arts teachers in many, many ways. Her leadership at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) during years of progress as well as years of turbulence was a great contribution. In
that role, she certainly educated teachers in a most essential way—helping to bridge that space between policy and practice. She helped make it possible to bring teachers to the policy table, enabling them to share their expertise in the development of statewide curricular decisions. Her deep and wide knowledge of research and theory, as well as her sincere empathy for teachers and her commitment to giving all students access to rich language and literacy experiences, combined in unique ways in her work at TEA.
More recently, Sharon has moved into another teacher-educator role at the Round Rock campus of Texas State University. There, she teaches both undergraduate and graduate classes and also leads the Central Texas Writing Project Summer Institute. She is committed to integrating theory and practice in the lives of these novice teachers. She works in classrooms, collaborating with the mentor teachers on her professional development school campus. Evidence of her collaborative spirit is expressed through her willingness to do demonstration lessons with children—an effort to show her undergraduate teacher-candidates what it means to implement their instructional plans with real students—and she says that the times when things don’t go so well are the best learning times for her students and for herself as a teacher/learner.
Sharon also serves as a leader of teacher-educators in Texas. Her service to TCTELA, to the Texas State Reading Association, and to the Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading attests to her generosity and leadership expertise.
Finally, Sharon also serves as a teacher-educator through her considerable consulting, presenting, writing, and editing activities. She is very active in these areas, and, most notably for TCTELA, has served as co-editor of English in Texas. At the 2011 NCTE Conference in Chicago, the session Sharon organized looked at using a particular children’s literature selection about civil rights. She invited the author of the book, a teacher who has used the book in her classroom, and a Texas educator to join her in presenting innovative and inspiring ways to engage children in the literature and in considering these challenging ideas.
Her colleagues at Texas State University and her many students over the years undoubtedly will agree that Sharon certainly is an outstanding teacher-educator who deserv es to be r ecognized as TCTELA’s College Teacher of the Year.
High School Teacher of the Year
Molly Adams
Longview ISD
In today’s twitch speed world where educational institutions are struggling to keep up, there is an ever present need for schools to make the learning relevant—all the while, meeting the expectations of state testing. Many have tried to create an all-in-one-box program to meet the needs of all students, but research confirms that more than any
other factor, it is the teacher in the classroom that makes the greatest impact on student achievement.
For the last 11 years, Molly Adams has utilized her bilingual and social work background, as well as her unique style and personality, to engage students in learning journeys they would not have taken willingly, had she not been the tour guide. Daily, Molly augments the required learning by creating authentic experiences, enhanced with technological pizzazz, in such a way that students easily make connections to the material and produce evidence of their learning.
Working in a STEM Academy and integrating problem-based learning (PBL) into her ELA curriculum, Molly builds the necessary bridges her students need to engineer their own learning, synthesizing the humanities with math and science. Her zeal for PBL is contagious, and she readily shares her lesson plans and project ideas with peers and conference attendees, representing her school and STEM programs with
professionalism and passion.
However, Molly’s greatest talent, and possibly what lends most to her effectiveness as an educator, stems from her ability to meet her students where they are. Molly’s interest in and knowledge of pop culture provide a springboard into the lives of the teenagers she meets in class each day. She talks about the things they love: music, movies, TV shows, and stars. This is a facet of Molly’s teaching that her colleagues envy and her students love.
Molly Adams epitomizes the definition of an excellent teacher. Her knowledge, her passion, and her savvy contributed to her selection as our High School Teacher of the Year.
Middle School Teacher of the Year
Heather Cato
Grapevine - Colleyville ISD
Heather Cato’s teaching philosophy is one to be emulated: In order for all students to learn, teachers must create a safe environment where students can explore the possibilities of knowledge. Only then will students be guided by well-crafted lessons, propelling them beyond their perceived limitations. The 21st-century classroom will continue to inspire students with the classics while engaging them through technology. Technology must be taught as a tool to be used to explore the past, present, and future of our world. Our future lies in connecting students to knowledge through technology—thus, creating a global community.
Heather currently guides Grapevine-Colleyville ISD as one of a handful of teachers piloting a digital classroom. Her middle school students learn daily via iPads that Heather carefully uploads to include educational apps that engage students at all levels of thinking and learning. She’s presented her ideas and action research at school board meetings and conferences for the past year, encouraging other educators to put a device in students’ hands instead of having them hide it in their pockets.
Heather also serves as Area Director of the Academic UIL and as the sixth grade Team Leader at Cross Timbers Middle School. One major contribution is her development of SMART (Studying, Mentoring, Activities, Re-teaching, Tutoring) time, which is held daily for the 850+ students at Cross Timbers Middle School—a program that would benefit other schools across the nation if adopted.
The name of Heather’s class wiki is Endless Questions. The title rings true for the students that Heather teaches. Many of her students have stated: “Mrs. Cato, you never answer our questions.” And Heather replies, “You’re right—because you can think and find the answer.” Heather Cato forces her students to think and to search and to grow as individuals and citizens in a global community. She is deserving of the honor of TCTELA’s Middle School T eacher of the Year.
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Donalyn Miller
Keller ISD
When Donalyn Miller joined the North Star of Texas Writing Project, she was teaching students who each read at least 40 books a year. And of course, Donalyn taught by example: While her students averaged 40 books, she read at least 100. Donalyn generated excitement among the members of the Writing Project when she shared with them how her students’ reading had improved simply by increasing their time engaged in reading quality, high-interest literature. This excitement about students’ reading led Donalyn to begin writing what would become The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child.
In 2009, Jossey-Bass published Donalyn’s book, and it was an instant hit. The way teachers would teach reading classes was going to change, and Donalyn became a rock star in the world of reading.
For Donalyn, The Book Whisperer represents a set of standards that she had developed for herself as a teacher: First, the teacher should be the most avid reader in the classroom, because good readers blossom in a culture that values literacy. The teacher also should work to match the right book to each student, helping to develop a lifelong reader. By adhering to these standards, Donalyn was able to connect socially with her students through the books they shared.
For the last couple of years, Donalyn, the Book Whisperer, has been traveling the country, sharing her experiences in the classroom with the nation. Still, as she continues to grow in her understanding of teaching reading, her students all read at least 40 books a year, and most students read even more, way more.
Beyond her classroom, Donalyn has ridden the waves of Twitter and organized a network of teachers around the country to bring the best new books to their classrooms. During the summer, Donalyn has led #bookaday. The participants of this Twitter group commit to reading one book a day, all summer. On Goodreads.com, Donalyn friends both students and peers, offering her recommendations of interesting titles.
Donalyn is an amazing elementary teacher, but she also is a great teacher of her peers. She humbly acknowledges her previous mistakes, so her process is transparent and the journey achievable. Donalyn has held nothing back as she has shared herself with her students and with the reading teacher community. We are proud to recognize Donalyn Miller as our Elementary Teacher of the Year.
Mercedes Bonner Leadership Award
Georgia Edwards
Northside ISD
Georgia Edwards deserves to win the Mercedes Bonner Award for many reasons. First and foremost, because of Georgia’s efforts, this award came to fruition. She felt strongly that Mercedes Bonner be honored for her tireless and diligent work for TCTELA.
Second, Georgia is dedicated to TCTELA! She has served in many of the board positions, including recording secretary, vice president-elect, and president. Georgia also stepped in as the chair of the Multi-Awareness Committee when Ms. Bonner passed away. Georgia’s efforts on the committee have resulted in several resolutions. She also was the local arrangements chair for the NCTE conference held in San Antonio in 2009.
Finally and most importantly, Georgia is a stellar woman. She is an outstanding educator; she is dedicated to the English profession; she is concerned with kids and their educational well-being; and she is a kind person, full of grace, and charm. Georgia knows everyone, and everyone knows her—just watch her at the NCTE and TCTELA conferences! Each person who comes in contact with Georgia is a better person. For all these reasons, and many more, Georgia Edwards deserves to be honored with the 2012 Mercedes Bonner Award.