WERA Research Awards:
April 2021 to Dr. Randi Freeman for research on the use of the Danielson Framework to evaluate teachers in EL programs
December 2017 to Dr. Johnny Lupinacci
December 2016 to Dr. Marcus Poppen for research on supporting career development and employment outcomes for young adults with disabilities
March 2012 to Washington State Board of Education for the development of the State Achievement Index
March 2007 to SESRC Center – Olympia for the body of work related to college preparation and post-secondary outcomes
March 2006 Steve Hirsch for research correlating oral reading fluency with WASL performance
March 2005 to Michael Riley for the body of research on math and science standards
March 2004 to Jeff Fouts for the body of research on Educational Reform
March 2003 to Debbie McGhee for the study of the “WASL and Higher Education Indicators”
March 2003 to Cathy Taylor for contributions to the research literature on student assessment in Washington State
March 1999 to Carl Hauser for research on “Scaling Running Records Passages for Precise Reading Assessment”
WERA Product Awards: These awards recognize outstanding professional products related to assessment, evaluation, or research.
April 2021 to Cultivate Learning at University of Washington College of Education for the Implementation Development Map (IDM)
December 2019 to Puyallup School District for "Math Quick Checks"
December 2018 to CSTP and Educator Effectiveness Office at OSPI for student surveys aligned with instructional frameworks; and to Brian Gabele for his peer school analysis and data visualization tool.
December 2016 to Greg Lobdell, Center for Educational Effectiveness, for the statewide accountability and improvement data base to recognize schools making substantial growth
December 2015 to Education Research and Data Center (ERDC) for creating a data system/warehouse.
December 2014 to OSPI Report Card Development Team for Leadership in the Development of the Washington State Report Card
December 2012 to Scott Poirier and Dana Anderson for leadership in the development of eVAL Washington
March 2012 to Kieran Edmundson for proctor training PowerPoint wor
March 2007 to Mike Knapp and Mike Copland for the series entitled “Improving Leadership for Learning”
March 2006 to Lesley Klenk, Nikki Elliott-Schuman, and Bev Neitzel for outstanding professional products related to statewide assessments
March 2005 to Cathy Grimes for her series of newspaper articles in Walla Walla on “No Child Left Behind”
March 2005 to Sue Shannon for the document “Characteristics of Improved School District: Themes for Research”
March 2002 to Geoff Praeger for development of the “Assessment Coordinator’s Notebook”
March 1999 to the Bethel School District for materials on WASL and norm-referenced testing practices
March 1999 to the Washington Forest Protection Association for its environmental education materials
WERA Gordon B. Ensign Jr. Service Award:
April 2021 to Greg Lobdell
December 2019 to Marge Plecki
December 2018 to Nancy Herzog, Brian Loffer, Brian Rick and Dawn Wakeley
December 2017 to Dr. Gail E. Joseph
December 2016 to Chuck Salina
December 2015 to Pete Bylsma
December 2014 to Cathy Fromme
December 2013 to Ric Williams
December 2012 to Bob Silverman
March 2008 to Joe Willhoft
March 2007 to Peter Hendrickson
March 2004 to Ken Sirotnik
March 2003 to Terry Bergeson
March 1999 initial award to Gordon B. Ensign
Art Maser Service Awards:
April 2023 to Min-Anh Hodge
April 2021 to Paul Stern
December 2018 to Pete Bylsma
December 2018 to Christopher Hanczrik
December 2017 to Dr. Fengyi Hung
December 2016 to Karen Banks
December 2015 to Jodi Bongard
December 2014 to Kathryn Sprigg
December 2013 to Nancy Katims
December 2012 to Andrea Meld
March 2012 to Phil Dommes
March 2009 to Peter Hendrickson
March 2008 to Michael Power
March 2007 to Sylvia Dean
March 2006 to Joe Kinney
March 2005 to Ric Williams
March 2004 to Linda Elman
March 2003 to Bob Silverman
March 2002 to Jim Nelson
Outstanding Dissertation Awards:
December 2023 to Dr. Wayne Smolinsky, for his dissertation entitled, "Place-Based Education: A Qualitative Study of Definitions, Opportunities, and Barriers in a Small K-12 School District"
December 2019 to Dr. James Crawford, for his dissertation entitled, "A Qualitative Study of Principal Professional Relationships and Professional Learning"
December 2018 to Jill Heiney-Smith, doctorate from Seattle Pacific University for dissertation entitled “Design, Implementation and Perceptions of a Preservice Mentor Development Program”
December 2017 to Gabriel W. Mast, doctorate from University of Washington, for his dissertation entitled, "Institutional Effects on Community College Completion: An Analysis of Washington State’s Community College System"
December 2016 to Dr. Rita Chaudhuri, doctorate from UW Tacoma, for her dissertation entitled, “The Principal’s Voice: Supports Critical to School Principal Effectiveness.”
March 2016 to Jennifer Bethman, doctorate from Washington State University, for her dissertation entitled, “The Principal Evaluation Process: Principal’s Learning as a Result of the Evaluation Process.”
April 2013 to Glenn Malone, doctorate from Washington State University, for his dissertation entitled, “Washington State Superintendents and K-12 Online Learning: Leadership Perceptions, Challenges, and Opportunities.”
April 2011 to David W. Denton, doctorate from Seattle Pacific University, for his dissertation entitled “The Effects of Reflective Thinking on Middle School Students’ Academic Achievement and Perceptions of Related Instructional Practices: A Mixed Methods Study.”
March 2008 to Hilary Loeb for her University of Washington dissertation entitled, “National Board Certification as a Support for Work with Historically Underserved Students: A Case Study of Washington State Teachers.”
March 2007 to Jack Monpas-Huber, doctorate from University of Washington, for his dissertation entitled “School Context and Motivation to Use State Assessment Data as Resource for Improving Classroom Instruction: A Multilevel Study of High School Teachers in Washington State”
Assessment Directors’ Network Award:
Winter 2023 to Dawn Wakeley, Tahoma School District (Retired)
2017 to Patrick Cummings, Tacoma Public Schools
2016 to Robin Munson, OSPI
2012 to Jeff Katims, Lance Sisco, Lucas Snider, OSPI
2010 to Kimberly DeRousie, OSPI
2007 to Robin Munson, OSPI
2006 to Razak Garoui, OSPI
2005 to Pete Bylsma, OSPI
Distinguished Paper Award:
April 2021 to Soojin Oh Park and Nail Hassairi
December 2019 to Gail Joseph, Janet Soderberg, Sara Stull, Kevin Cummings, Deborah McCutchen, and Rachel Han
December 2017 to Dr. Hannah Gbenro and Marie Verhaar
December 2016 to Dr. Teresa Ohrt
December 2014 to Allison Hintz
March 2014 to Pete Bylsma