Pearson Selects Online Learning Excellence Award Winners

Pearson has selected the recipients of its annual Online Learning Excellence Awards at its 16th annual Cite Online Learning Conference.

Pearson presented the awards to K-12 and higher education teachers and administrators "who are making significant contributions in online education," according to a news release from the company. There are two categories of awards: one for excellence in online administration and another for excellence in online teaching, with two awards for K-12 and two for higher education in each category. Pearson will donate $1,500 to the scholarship fund of each winner's choice.

Recipients of the Excellence in Online Administration Award include:

  • Seith Bedard, director of Peabody Learning Academy in Peabody, MA, who won for starting the alternative high school program for at-risk and dropout students that has been credited for reducing the dropout rate from 5 percent to 1.4 percent;
  • David Cline, principal of Hart-Ransom Academic Charter School in Modesto, CA, who won for promoting a schoolwide culture of online learning, internal professional development and community promotion;
  • Patricia James, executive director of California Community College Online Education Initiative in Sacramento, CA, who won for leading the development of online course design standards and related professional development programs; and
  • Bruce Kauss, e-learning coordinator of Blue Mountain Community College in Pendleton, OR, who won for leading the development of the Oregon Colleges Course Sharing Consortium.

Recipients of the Excellence in Online Teaching Award include:

  • Sarah Allen, first grade teacher at Indian Creek School in Crownsville, MD, who won for creating courses for the school's blended learning program;
  • Dianne Hardy, lead mathematics instructor at Mountain Education Charter High School in Cleveland, GA, who won for leading an initiative to align the school's online curriculum to Georgia state standards;
  • Darren Walsh, assistant VP of learning and academic support services at Excelsior College in Albany, NY, who won for developing and managing the college's open-source online writing lab, the Excelsior College OWL (EC OWL); and
  • Sean Nufer, e-larning specialist and adjunct professor at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, who won for researching and recommending industry best practices to improve student engagement.

More information about the Pearson Online Learning Excellence Awards can be found on Pearson's site.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • students using digital devices, surrounded by abstract AI motifs and soft geometric design

    Ed Tech Startup Kira Launches AI-Native Learning Platform

    A new K-12 learning platform aims to bring personalized education to every student. Kira, one of the latest ed tech ventures from Andrew Ng, former director of Stanford's AI Lab and co-founder of Coursera and DeepLearning.AI, "integrates artificial intelligence directly into every educational workflow — from lesson planning and instruction to grading, intervention, and reporting," according to a news announcement.

  • toolbox featuring a circuit-like AI symbol and containing a screwdriver, wrench, and hammer

    Microsoft Launches AI Tools for Educators

    Microsoft has introduced a variety of AI tools aimed at helping educators develop personalized learning experiences for their students, create content more efficiently, and increase student engagement.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • Two hands shaking in the center with subtle technology icons, graphs, binary code, and a padlock in the dark blue background

    Two Areas for K-12 Schools to Assess for When to Work with a Managed Services Provider

    The complexity of today’s IT network infrastructure and increased cybersecurity risk are quickly moving beyond many school districts’ ability to manage on their own. But a new technology model, a partnership with a managed services provider, offers a way forward for schools to overcome these challenges.