Awards

NCTE Richard W. Halle Award

for Outstanding Middle Level Educator

2025 Winner

Christopher Lehman, EdM, is the founding director of The Educator Collaborative, a K–12 literacy think tank and professional development organization. An over-20-year veteran of education, Lehman began his career teaching middle school. He is an international speaker, literacy consultant, and New York Times bestselling author. His books include Falling in Love with Close Reading and Energize Research Reading and Writing. He is Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Center for Families Learning and has previously served NCTE as Middle Level Section Chair, Executive Committee member, and column editor for Voices from the Middle.

Award Details

Nominations are not accepted for this award.

Purpose:
To honor a junior high/middle level educator who has worked to promote understanding of the developmental needs and characteristics of young adolescents, especially in the English language arts.

Eligibility:
A “middle level educator” is defined as anyone who has worked to improve schools and schooling for the middle level—teacher, principal, curriculum specialist, or supervisor as well as anyone at the university or college level—not necessarily a classroom teacher.

Award Criteria:

• Encouraging a spirit of inquiry and development of critical and creative thinking within the profession;
• Showing evidence of exemplary professional involvement, including participation in activities such as workshops, curriculum development, and association programs and projects;
• Connecting the classroom and the community;
• Fostering the development of literacy education at the middle level;
• Promoting research on the middle level student.

Award Specifics:
The award recipient is presented a plaque at the Middle Level Luncheon during the NCTE Annual Convention.

Established in 1996 by the Junior High/Middle School Assembly, this award honors Richard “Dick” Halle for his dedication to the Assembly and middle level education. The award became a Middle Level Section Award in February 2002 when the Assembly was dissolved.

Learn about the Junior High/Middle School Assembly, Halle Award, and the creation of the Middle Level Section in “Honoring the Past; Looking to the Future.”

Judging:
The Middle Level Section Steering Committee determines the winner based upon candidates meeting the criteria by June 1. Middle Level Section Steering Committee members are not eligible for this award during their tenure.