2022 CEL Award Recipients

Awards will be presented at the Opening Session, Sunday, Nov. 20, 1:45–2:20 p.m. PT. California Ballroom A

CEL Kent Williamson Exemplary Leader Award This award is given annually to an NCTE member who is an outstanding English language arts educator and leader. It recognizes those who have had an ongoing impact on the profession through work that has focused on exceptional teaching and/ or leadership practices; contributions to the profession through involvement at the local, regional, and national levels; and/or presentations, workshops, and publications that have had an impact upon school leaders. The award is named in honor of Kent D. Williamson (1957–2015), who served as NCTE’s Executive Director from 2000 to 2015.

Cathy Fleischer recently retired from Eastern Michigan University after 32 years as an English education professor. A former high school teacher, Cathy continues to support teachers through workshops and collaborations about the teaching of writing and teacher action research at local, state, and national levels. Author and editor of numerous books and articles, her most recent work surrounds Everyday Advocacy, helping teachers learn strategic ways to change the public narrative on literacy education. Cathy has served as co-editor of the journal English Education; co-director of the Eastern Michigan Writing Project; and co-founder of YpsiWrites, a community writing center. She is also developmental editor for NCTE’s Principles in Practice imprint.

CEL Innovative Leadership Award This award recognizes an early- or mid-career leader and NCTE member who has shown innovative leadership at the local, regional, and/or national level or for innovative approaches to teaching and/or professional development through new and progressive methods and delivery models.

Jenelle Williams is a Literacy Consultant at Oakland Schools, an intermediate school district supporting 28 districts in Oakland County, Michigan. She joined the organization in 2017 following 18 years of experience in public schools at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She has served as a classroom teacher, International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme Coordinator, IB Educator and Examiner, and instructional coach. She holds an Education Specialist in Leadership and a Master’s degree in Reading and Language Arts. Jenelle works with teachers, building leaders, and central office administrators throughout Michigan as cochair of the statewide Disciplinary Literacy Task Force. CEL Teacher-Leader of Excellence Award This award recognizes a classroom educator who leads the way of literacy instruction by sharing their work with others at local and/or national levels.

Amy Salamone is a proud public school teacher of high school English for over 30 years and a committed member of the Capital District Writing Project in Albany, New York. Amy believes in the power of reading and writing to change the world and knows that teachers live in the possibilities and help dreams come true.

2022 CEL English Leadership Quarterly Best Article Award “Adventures in Gamification and Personalized Learning: A Case Study in Game-Based Course Design” (February 2021) by Robert D. Ford, North Branford Public Schools, CT

Robert Ford, the 6–12 ELA Department Leader for North Branford Public Schools in Connecticut, has taught high school English for 17 years. He has published articles in The English Journal, English Leadership Quarterly, and The Explicator, and also presented at numerous conferences on subjects ranging from educational technology to ELA design and instruction. He serves on the executive boards of the Connecticut Council of Teachers of English as well as the New England Association of Teachers of English, affiliates of NCTE. His research interests include game-based course design and its potential to reshape our understanding of assessment and achievement.

Honorable Mention: “Writing-Rich Workshops as Pathways for Transformative Teacher Learning” (August 2021) by Christine M. Dawson, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, and Nicole Sieben, SUNY Old Westbury, NY