SEEKING NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023 P. DAVID PEARSON SCHOLARLY INFLUENCE AWARD

LRA is seeking nominations for the P. David Pearson Scholarly Influence Award. The purpose of this annual award is to honor, in P. David Pearson’s name, the author(s) of an article, chapter, or book written at least 5 years prior to the nomination, which has positively and demonstrably influenced literacy practices and/or policies within district, school, and/or classroom contexts.

Nominators should demonstrate how the findings or implications of the article, chapter, or book have been used directly by educators or education personnel to craft influential policies and/or initiate and implement innovative classroom practices. Please read the following procedures for additional details regarding this award. Individuals are welcome to self-nominate.

The P. David Pearson Scholarly Influence Award is presented at the Annual Conference and recipients receive a plaque and monetary award.

Procedures for Nomination

Authors wishing to be considered for the P. David Pearson Scholarly Influence Award, or a person who wishes to nominate the author(s) of a piece of writing, are asked to submit the nominated piece, along with a letter of nomination laying out the case for the nomination and providing documentation regarding the influence of the piece on educators’ practices and/or curricula, and/or policy. Impact and influence can be measured both qualitatively (e.g., through testimonials from practitioners and policymakers) and quantitatively (e.g., through citation data).

The nomination materials should also include the CV(s) of the nominated author(s) which can be helpful to situating the nominated piece within a larger body of work and can provide further evidence of influence/impact.

Please note that nominations will be considered automatically for a period of three years and that nominators can revise and/or amend the nomination package for the subsequent years that the nomination is under consideration.

The nomination package should be sent to the co-chairs of the P. David Pearson Scholarly Influence Award Committee by September 5, 2023. The co-chairs are Miranda Fitzgerald (mfitzg21@uncc.edu) and Annemarie Palincsar (annemari@umich.edu).

Each nomination package will be reviewed and scored for evidence of depth, breadth, and duration of the influence, or potential for influence, over time. 

DEPTH: The influence of the article/chapter/book on literacy policy or practice has been deeply positive/substantial.

• • Clarification/evidence (for example): Nomination letter and/or other materials may speak to the depth of influence by describing/illustrating the (a) unique contribution of the piece (b) ways in which the piece ushered in a paradigm shift, (c) innovative/revolutionary findings and/or implications of the piece, etc.

BREADTH: The influence of the article/chapter/book on literacy policy or practice has been widespread.

• • Clarification/evidence (for example): Nomination letter and/or other materials may speak to the breadth of influence/impact by describing/illustrating the (a) influence of the piece within a broader program of research, (b) uptake of findings/implications of the piece by different authors/subsequent publications, (c) reach of the impact/influence on classrooms/schools/districts, etc.

ENDURANCE or POTENTIAL FOR LONG-TERM INFLUENCE: The influence of the article/chapter/book on literacy policy or practice has been sustained over time. 

• • Clarification/evidence (for example): The nomination letter and/or other materials may speak to the duration/endurance of influence by describing/illustrating the (a) influence of the piece over time on manuscripts that were published (by the nominated author/authors) following the publication of the nominated piece, (b) ways in which the findings/implications of the piece have been taken up in policy/instructional practice over a period of time, (c) how the influence/impact of the piece has grown over time, etc.