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 26, 2025. All nomination forms require a Google Account. Nominate today!!

Click here for a list of past PAMLE Award Winners

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 during the calendar year 2024 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

PAMLE Promising Practitioners Award: New Teacher Award

This award 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 PAMLE Promising Practitioners Award

Ann Moniot Outstanding Middle Level Teacher

Ann Moniot was a very dynamic educator from the city of Pittsburgh. She was one of the original Board Members of PAMLE. She was also the second president of the Association for Middle Level Education. This award is presented to a middle level educator that has made professional contributions that have positively influenced middle level education as well as middle level students. The Ann Moniot winner(s) will be recognized with an award plaque at the Monday luncheon at the PAMLE annual PDI.

Nominees for this award:

• 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 teacher:

• Name of the teacher being nominated

• Name of the school and district

• Name of the nominator

• 3 letters of recommendation

• • 1 letter written by the nominator

  • 2 additional letters of support (May be written by administrator, colleague, parent, or student) 

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

All information must be completed within the application for the educator to be considered for the award.

Link to nominate a teacher for the Ann Monoit Outstanding Middle Level Teacher (requires a Google Account)

Leonard R. Ference Outstanding Administrator Award

By establishing this award in 2004-05, PAMLE sought to honor administrators who value, understand and support middle level education practices that promote powerful learning for young adolescents. On February 29, 2020, the award was renamed honoring Leonard R. Ference. Mr. Ference served on the PAMLE board for 30 years and served as Executive Director for 17 years. His work exemplified the positive attributes listed as criteria for this award. Award winner(s) will be awarded a recognition plaque at the Monday luncheon of the PAMLE annual PDI.

Nominees for this award:

• value, understand and support middle level education

• promote powerful learning experiences for all 10-15 year-old students

• lead their school communities as they grow in dynamic and positive directions

The following information is required to nominate a administrator:

• Name of administrator being nominated

• Name of school and district

• Name of nominator

• 3 letters of recommendation

• • 1 letter written by the nominator

  • 2 additional letters of support (May be written by administrator, colleague, parent, or student) 

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

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

Link to nominate an administrator for the Leonard R. Ference Outstanding Administrator Award

Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education John H. Lounsbury Memorial Award

John H. Lounsbury was one of the five founding fathers of middle level education.  This award was established to recognize individuals whose scholarship, service, leadership, and contributions to the theory and practice of middle level education in Pennsylvania have been extraordinary. Exemplary contributions toward the education of middle level young adolescents either in practice or theory are primary considerations for the award. Service to the Pennsylvania Association for Middle Level Education is also a factor to be considered for this award.

Selection procedures include a committee review of received nominations. If a recommendation results from committee deliberations, it is submitted to the PAMLE Executive Board for a final decision. Award winner(s) will be awarded a recognition plaque at the Monday luncheon of the PAMLE annual PDI. 

Nominees for this award:

• have a minimum of fifteen (15) years of active distinguished service.

• are recognized as influential leaders and advocates for young adolescents.

• have experiences and activities as practitioners that reflect scholarship in professional writing, research, and/or dedicated service to middle level education.

• promote professional development of middle level educators

The following information is required to nominate an educator:

• Name of educator being nominated

• Name of school and district

• Name of nominator

• 3 letters of recommendation

• • 1 letter written by the nominator

  • 2 additional letters of support (May be written by administrator, colleague, parent, or student) 

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

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

Link to nominate an educator for the John H. Lounsbury Memorial Award

PAMLE State Board's Partnership Award

This award is presented, at the discretion of the PAMLE State Board, to an organization or business partner who supports and helps promote middle level education. The PAMLE State Board'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.

Link to Nominate an individual for the Advocate for Education Award