Please review the awards and nominate the students, student teachers, new teachers, veteran teachers, and administrators who create a positive learning environment at your schools. Deadline for nominations to be completed and submitted - January 9, 2023. Nominate today!!  Click here for a list of past PAMLE Award Winners

Awards Descriptions

Joan Jarrett Student Award

The Joan Jarrett student award is designed to honor outstanding young adolescents who are in the “middle” and who generally don’t receive recognitions. To be eligible, the student should demonstrate leadership abilities, good citizenship, and should have made positive contributions to their school and community.  Two nominees will be chosen from each region to have a $50 donation made in their name to the charity of their choice.

The following information is required to nominate a student:

• Name of student being nominated

• School and district name

• Name of nominator

• Name and address of the charity to whom the student would want to receive the donation

*Either the nominator or the school must be a member of PAMLE

All information must be completed within the application for a student to be considered for an award.

Link to nominate a student for the Joan Jarrett Student Award

Learning to Teach & Teaching to Learn: Student Teacher Recognition

This recognition is presented to outstanding student teachers or interns. PAMLE wants to recognize teaching candidates who have student taught in a middle school and have demonstrated both a commitment to middle level teaching as well as an awareness of young adolescent development. Any student teacher or intern who has completed his/her student teaching in the Fall (deadline Dec. 15) or Spring (deadline Apr. 15) is eligible for this award. These novice teachers will be recognized at the PAMLE Professional Development Institute each Spring.  All nominees will receive a complimentary Monday registration as well as a certificate and a one-year PAMLE Individual membership.

Nominees for this award:

• A student teacher or intern who has completed his/her student teaching in the fall or preceding spring term in grades 4-8

• Enjoys teaching middle level students

• Makes a positive difference in the school

• The host school or the college/university or the supervisor must be a PAMLE member

The following information is required to nominate a student:

• Name of student teacher/intern being nominated

• Name of school and district

• Name of nominator

*Either the nominator or the school must be a member of PAMLE

All information must be completed within the application for a teacher to be considered for an award.

Link to nominate a Student Teacher for the Learning to Teach & Teaching to Learn Recognition

Lincoln Investment/PAMLE Promising Practitioners Award: New Teacher Award

This award is sponsored by Lincoln Investment INC and is presented to teachers who are just beginning their middle school careers. These beginning teachers have made a positive impact on both their school and community. They incorporate effective middle level practices in their everyday teaching. Each PAMLE member school has the opportunity to nominate up to three teachers yearly to receive this distinction. Each participant will receive a certificate at the Monday Luncheon at the PAMLE annual PDI.

Nominees for this award:

• One to three years of teaching experience

• Enjoys teaching middle level students

• Makes a positive difference in the school

• Seeks professional development and implements new ideas

• Meets the needs of individual students, using effective middle level practices such as:

• • Incorporating activity based learning

  • Integrating higher order thinking skills

  • Uses a variety of assessments tools

  • Develops lessons based upon the needs and talents of his/her students

The following information is required to nominate a student:

• Name of teacher being nominated

• Name of school and district

• Name of nominator

*Either the nominator or the school must be a member of PAMLE

All information must be completed within the application for a teacher to be considered for an award.

Link to Nominate a teacher for the Lincoln Investment/PAMLE Promising Practitioners Award

Executive Director's Partnership Award

This award is presented to an organization or business partner who supports and helps promote middle level education.  The Executive Director's Partnership Award winner(s) will be recognized with an award plaque at the Sunday banquet dinner at the PAMLE annual PDI.

William Alexander Award: Outstanding PAMLE Member

This award is presented, at the discretion of the PAMLE President, to an individual who has made a significant, positive contribution to middle level education in the state of Pennsylvania.  The William Alexander Award winner(s) will be recognized with an award plaque at the Sunday banquet dinner at the PAMLE annual PDI.

Schools to Watch

Pennsylvania middle grades schools build capacity and recognize schools achieving academic excellence, based on the rigorous 37 criteria established by the National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Reform.  Schools To Watch Criteria

Advocate for Middle Level Education Award

This award is for distinguished service to young adolescents. Past recipients have been state legislators, superintendents and representatives from other educational organizations.  The Advocate for Middle Level Education Award winner(s) will be recognized with an award plaque at the Sunday banquet dinner at the PAMLE annual PDI.