2017 Awardees Tom Schmidt, Bismarck Public Schools, Legacy High School, Bismarck, ND Deborah Piper, Baltimore Public Schools, Towson, MD Denise Augustine, School District #79, Cowichan Valley, Duncan, BC Janet Ciarrocca, North Brunswick Township PS, Livingston Park School, North Brunswick, NJ Juan Gutierrez, Chicago Public Schools, Patrick Henry School, Chicago, IL Tammy Bosley, Hartford Public Schools,…
Author: Learning Forward
2017 Learning Forward Foundation Team Grant
2017 Awardee: Christian County Public Schools The Learning Forward Foundation Team Grant supports teams (grade level, school, and district teams) in an effort to advance Learning Forward’s vision: Excellent teaching and learning every day. This year’s team is from Christian County Public Schools in Hopkinsville, KY under the leadership of Amy Wilcox, Chief Instructional Officer.
2017 The Principal as a Leader of Professional Learning Scholarship
2017 Awardee: Kimberly Honnick, Barringer Arts and Humanities High School The principal remains the central source of leadership and influence in a school. The Principal as a Leader of Professional Learning Scholarship will assist an already effective principal to strengthen their leadership knowledge, skills and dispositions to improve the outcomes of professional learning for staff…
2017 Patsy Hochman Academy Scholarship
2017 Awardee: Tammy Chambers, Los Fresnos ISD The Patsy Hochman Scholarship was established to honor Patsy Hochman, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2008. Mrs. Hochman’s husband established the scholarship to continue her legacy of kindness and giving. The scholarship provides funding to support participation in the Learning Forward Academy. Tammy Chambers, Curriculum…
2017 Learning Forward Foundation Academy Scholarship
2017 Awardees: Shannon Bogle, Hillsborough County Public Schools and Ronnie Edwards, Katy ISD The Learning Forward Foundation Academy Scholarship provides funding to support participation in the Learning Forward Academy for one school-based practitioner and one district-based practitioner. This year’s school-based recipient is Ronnie Edwards, Principal at Mayde Creek High School in Houston, TX. The district-based…
2016 Learning Forward Foundation System Grant
2016 Awardee: Hartford Public Schools The Learning Forward Foundation Grant is a partnership grant that will provide an opportunity for a district team to develop and implement a comprehensive learning system throughout the district. The work within the grant project will be based on strategies identified in the Learning Forward book, Becoming a Learning System. This…
2016 Learning Forward Foundation Affiliate Grant
2016 Awardee: Learning Forward Nebraska The Learning Forward Foundation Affiliate Grant provides an affiliate the opportunity to further their work in the area of professional learning within their respective state/region/province. This year recipient is Learning Forward Nebraska, under the direction of Chad Dumas.
2016 Learning Forward Foundation Team Grant
2016 Awardee: Northern Valley High School District The Learning Forward Foundation Team Grant supports teams (grade level, school, and district teams) in an effort to advance Learning Forward’s vision: Excellent teaching and learning every day. This year’s team is from the Northern Valley High School District in Demarest, New Jersey under the leadership of Kathleen O’Flynn, Supervisor…
2016 The Principal as a Leader of Professional Learning Scholarship
2016 Awardee: Kelly Hastings, Young Junior High School The principal remains the central source of leadership and influence in a school. The Principal as a Leader of Professional Learning Scholarship will assist an already effective principal to strengthen their leadership knowledge, skills and dispositions to improve the outcomes of professional learning for staff resulting in improved…
2016 Patsy Hochman Academy Scholarship
2016 Awardee: Shannon Terry, Arlington ISD The Patsy Hochman Scholarship was established to honor Patsy Hochman, who was killed by a drunk driver in 2008. Mrs. Hochman’s husband established the scholarship to continue her legacy of kindness and giving. The scholarship provides funding to support participation in the Learning Forward Academy. Shannon Terry, Director of Professional…
2016 Learning Forward Foundation Academy Scholarship
2016 Awardees: Andrea Von Biberstein, Ridgeville Charter Middle School and Anna Jackson, Lubbock ISD The Learning Forward Foundation Academy Scholarship provides funding to support participation in the Learning Forward Academy for one school-based practitioner and one district-based practitioner. This year’s school-based recipient is Andrea Von Biberstein, Instructional Specialist at Ridgeville Charter Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia. The…
Problem of Practice: Use recorded and/or live video to guide teachers in being more responsive to student needs

The intent of John Willis’ project is to have teachers put more focus on high-yield/impact activities through intentional, reflective conversations with peers. He worked with all levels across the district as a pilot to explore how to teach teachers to have reflective conversations. One principal gave him permission to implement at his K-5 school, but…
Explore how grit and growth impacts students of poverty

Vanessa Stuart finished reading two books, Mindset and Mindset in the Classroom and was finishing the book, How Children Succeed. During the summer, the staff divided into two groups to engage in a book study with the two books. She took six staff members in February to No Excuses University (NEU) Institute. In June she planned to send…
Developing close reading and written response routines with elementary students

During year one, a professional learning community was developed among four neighboring schools. A summative report was provided by Susan O’Neil, which included specific goals of the project and current status. Goal 1: Increase student scores on district reading comprehension and writing assessments as measured by assessment data that will show growth of at least…
Problem of Practice: Use of student voice to become more of a practice for teachers

Year one was a pilot year to let teachers decide what kind of student feedback they wanted. As a result, teachers were seeking different kinds of information for the first time (e.g. learning atmosphere). A student survey was developed as a means of trying to develop a standard process for students to give feedback on…
Previous award recipients
Chidley Fund Academy Scholarships Molly Cassidy, Nogales, Ariz. – 2014 John Willis, Sugar Hill, Ga. – 2014 Bethanne Augsbach, Monroe Township, N.J. – 2013 Amy McWhirter, Clarksville-Montgomery County, Tenn. – 2013 Adrienne Tedesco, Gwinnett County, Ga. – 2012 Tonio Verzone, Anchorage, Alaska – 2012 Jill Brady, Fort Wayne, Ind. – 2010 Karla McAdam, Decatur, Ill….