I don’t know if you know this… but I have a shirtless man-crush on the National Education Policy Center (NEPC). I really do. It is embarrassing. Perhaps I mention their/our work in every single public talk that I do? I learned today about some great news that was announced at the 2014 American Educational Research Association (AERA) conference. Congratulations to NEPC on winning the Society of Professors of Education Wisniewski Award!!!!

Dear Dr. Welner,

I am pleased to inform you that the Society of Professors of Education has selected NEPC as this year’s winner of the Wisniewski Award. The award is given annually to an institution which has made a significant contribution to the theory and practice of teacher education.

As professors of education we in the SPE are well aware of the need for change in teacher preparation, but we are dismayed at the direction that some alternative routes have taken. While we believe all of NEPC’s work addresses concerns of the the Society, we see recent NEPC publications such as those by Milner (2013) and Heilig and Jez (2014) as exemplifying critical contributions to the field of teacher education. We consider the work of the Center to be vitally important, and we have chosen to formally recognize it by the presentation of this award at our meeting in conjunction with AERA in April.

The Society of Professors of Education was founded in 1902 by members such as John Dewey and Charles De Garmo. If you are not already familiar with the Society, information is available at our website:  http://societyofprofessorsofeducation.wordpress.com

If at all possible, we would like for you or another representative of NEPC to be present to receive the award. The ceremony will be Saturday, April 5 between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m. at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, Independence III, Third Level.

Please let us know if you or another will be able to attend, and do not hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.

All the best,

Nancy Brooks
SPE Wisniewski Award Chair, 2014
Director, PhD in Educational Studies
Adviser, Director of C&I License
Department of Educational Studies
Ball State University

If you don’t already follow NEPC’s work, I highly recommend you subscribed to their timely and informative updates here. Also follow @NEPCtweet on Twitter.