The National Institute for Direct Instruction was pleased to present several recognitions on the evening of July 28. The Siegfried Engelmann Excellence in Education Award was given to 4 recipients this year. The first recognition went to Marita Morones, Aim High Lead Teacher at Mt. Helix Academy in La Mesa, California. Ms. Morones has been an instructor for over 20 years, beginning as a substitute teacher. In addition to her abilities as a model DI teacher, her principal, Michael Collins notes "She does not hesitate to use her prep time and after-school time to work with students that need a little extra help."
Engelmann Excellence in Education awards were also presented to Nicole Lefrancois, Mallory Davis and Mindy Cipriano, a team of Pre-K teachers at City Springs Elementary in Baltimore, Maryland. These three teachers have served their careers at City Springs. Fifty-nine percent (59%) of their most recent group of students were in the high risk category at the beginning of the year. By the end of the year, only 23% remained in that category. In math, 83% of the students were at risk for failure at the beginning of last year. By the end of the year the number had decreased to 32%. Laura Doherty, President and CEO of the Baltimore Curriculum Project writes, "These three teachers exemplify the skill and intensity in instruction which is critical to helping students at risk of academic failure compete with their middle class peers. They also exemplify the warm, nurturing, positive environment all students deserve."
The final recognition given on this special evening was a Lifetime Achievement Award given to Karen Davis. Karen is someone who is very close to many of us in the DI community, a person who has made an outstanding contribution to children and Direct Instruction throughout her educational career.
She began her career with Direct Instruction over 40 years ago in Champaign, Illinois, and was one of the original teacher trainers during Project Follow Through. Karen has been a co-author of several Direct Instruction programs, and is an inspiring and dedicated teacher.
The testimonials we have received for her came not only from Zig Engelmann, but from a principal, a University of Oregon faculty member, several parents of children who were in her class and a student she taught.
