Withrow Award for Educators

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The Withrow Award is named for Frank Withrow, a longtime pioneer and champion of the uses of technology in K-12 education. Frank's history in education is extensive. He has been a classroom teacher, early childhood educator, Director of Research and Clinical Services for the Department of Children and Family Services for the state of Illinois. He was a pioneer in creating single concept films for language for development in young deaf students. For thirty years he was the Senior Learning Technologist at the U.S. Department of Education. While with the Department of Ed., he was the program manager for 56 television series from "Sesame Street" to "The Voyages of Mimi." He was a Battelle Memorial Fellow studying the influence of technology on learning. He was the original director of the Stars Schools program. In the 1990's he was the Technology Policy Specialist for the Council of Chief State School Officers. Then after "Retiring" in the mid-90s he became the Director of Education development for the NASA Classroom of the Future in Wheeling West Virginia.

In addition, Frank was a long-standing member of the CoSN Board of Directors.

Purpose and Qualifications

To recognize an individual in a U.S. K-12 school district or consortium of school districts or education agencies who has been a true technology champion as the district's chief technologist or equivalent. This individual has provided opportunities for or accessibility to enhanced student learning by engaging in a wide application of community based activities that include parents, teachers, school board members, district management teams, instructional leaders, institutions of higher education, members of the business community and community entities such as museums and libraries and other technologists to build a significant use of technology within the school system.

Award Criteria

1. Leadership: Providing leadership in the application of information technologies to increase opportunities and accessibility for student learning.
   
   
2. Building Community: Creating communication vehicles that help parents, teachers and educational leaders form a partnership to engage students in the learning process.
   
   
3. Innovation: Using technology to provide solutions that are based on best practices and can be replicated to meet such challenges as:
   • Using data to improve decision making
   • Providing increased access to education through such media as online learning
   • Linking homes to schools and to the broader community
   • Providing access and solutions for all segments of learners in order to bridge the digital divide that separates the affluent from the poor.
   
   
4. Impact: Making a difference by creating major change in the district or agencies.
   
   
5. Public/Private Partnerships: Developing important effective public and/or private sector partnerships and policies that provide connectivity to learners in schools.
   
   

Past Winners

2007 Award Winner

Dr. Michael Burke

2006 Award Winner

Vijay Sonty

2005 Award Winner

Darryl LaGace

Honorable Mention: Katherine Clark

2004 Award Winner

Dennis Bruno

2003 Award Winner

Dr. Rudy Castruita

2002 Award Winner

Herman Gaither

2001 Award Winner

Joe Kitchens

2000 Award Winner

Carol Bird Kaunzner