Learning Forward Texas recognizes groups and individuals who use high-quality professional learning to impact student achievement with annual awards in the following categories:
2019 Award Application: Learning Forward Texas Excellence in Professional Learning Awards Form
Campus Excellence in Professional Learning – This award focuses on campus professional learning programs which are results-driven and designed to show an impact on student achievement. Recipients of this award will share information about their program at the annual state conference and on the website.
Team Excellence in Professional Learning – This award focuses on team or department professional learning programs which are results-driven and designed to show an impact on student achievement. Recipients of this award will share information about their program at the annual state conference and on the website.
District Excellence in Professional Learning – This award focused on district-wide professional learning programs which are results-driven and designed to show an impact on student achievement. Recipients of this award will share information about their program at the annual state conference and on the website.
Superintendent Excellence in Professional Learning– This award is for a superintendent who has demonstrated support for professional learning by adoption of standards, implementation of initiatives, and statements of support through written publications, explanations to the Board of Trustees, and conversations with legislative representatives and/or to the media. Recipients of this award will share information about their program at the annual state conference and on the website.
Award recipients will be recognized during a program at the TASA Mid-Winter Conference in January, the Learning Forward Texas Annual Conference Unlocking the Learning in June, announced on the Learning Forward Texas website, and advertised via other methods of electronic communication.
2018 Learning Forward Texas Professional Learning Award Winners
Team Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Ashley Murray, Johanna Ullrich, and Marlie Shepperd of the Huntsville Intermediate Coaching Team for their work to improve classroom best practice teaching for student achievement.
Campus Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Vanessa Stuart and Degan Elementary in Lewisville ISD for their work to improve teaching and learning for all children through the implementation of the Design and Advisory Council teams.
District Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Keller ISD Professional Development for their work to build a district learning community through their Keller University.(Jennifer Love, Sarra Smith and Kristie Herrald)
Plano ISD Professional Learning for their work to develop Commission for Professional Learning, Extern Program and Coaching Learning Labs. (Ashley Helms, Edna Phythian, Marcus Miller and Michelle Ribeiro)
2017 Learning Forward Texas Professional Learning Award Winners
Team Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Barry Fox and Marcus Miller for their work with the Coaching and Arlington ISD Instructional Technology Department.
Campus Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Garry Gorman and Baker Elementary in Prosper ISD for their work to improve achievement for ELL students.
Superintendent Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Dr. Brian T. Woods for his support of professional learning systems in Northside ISD, San Antonio
District Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Chris Summers and Conrado Garcia from West Oso ISD for their BEAR Tips: New Teacher Induction Program and its impact on student success.
2016 Learning Forward Texas Professional Learning Award Winners
Superintendent Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Holly Hughes, Superintendent of Clear Creek ISD
Throughout her career, Ms. Hughes has demonstrated her belief in the critical importance of high-quality professional learning as a vehicle to improved student achievement. The Learning Forward Professional Learning Standards serve as important guidelines in Ms. Hughes’s advocacy for results-driven professional learning and her leadership work in Clear Creek Independent School District.
District Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Allen ISD and Lisa Casto for their commitment to life-long learning and their impact on student success. Allen ISD has set non-negotiables with regards to the learning culture. These are:
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Student learning will occur.
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Improvement will come through participation in high quality professional learning.
Campus Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Denton High School and Principal Dan Ford for their Instructional Coaching for Teacher and Student Success program.
Denton HS has worked to create a culture of student achievement through Instructional Coaching. They believe that by providing teachers time to grow and learn together, they will impact student success.
2015 Learning Forward Texas Professional Learning Award Winners
District Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Mesquite ISD has always been an advocate for continuous learning at every level, as evidenced by many programs such as our Pay for Knowledge program available to all employees and the Masters Tuition Reimbursement program. The PFK program pays employees for after contract learning. The Masters & Doctorate Tuition Reimbursement program reimburses teachers for college/university tuition up to $6500 for a masters and $10,000 for a doctorate.
Most recently, a process was implemented that facilitates the planning of the professional learning for campuses so that the learning is purposeful, data driven, and includes support and followup to ensure implementation and instructional change. Each principal meets with me in the spring to begin looking at their data and determining the campus learning goals for the upcoming school year. Plans are submitted to me at the end of June and each plan is returned to the principal in July with comments that celebrate the parts of the plan that support data-driven, job-embedded learning and suggest ways that the plan might be strengthened to better ensure success
2013 Learning Forward Texas Professional Learning Award Winners
Superintendent Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Steve Chapman, Superintendent of H.E.B. ISD
District Excellence in Professional Learning Award
Eanes Independent School District
In the fall of 2009, the Eanes ISD Strategic Planning Committee created a mission statement to guide the work of the district. The committee established five student objectives it wanted to achieve. Seven Strategic Action Teams comprised of staff members, community members and students worked to create Action Plans to lead the way. One of the action plans stated: “We will provide time and support for relevant and innovative professional learning to ensure ongoing improvements in teaching and student learning.”
Campus Excellence in Professional Learning Award
McWhirter Elementary Professional Development Laboratory School Clear Creek ISD
The school’s mission is to “provide exemplary professional development based upon sound educational research and practice throughout the school community, which results in improved student achievement.” Professional learning is woven into its daily school activities.