TALE’s Texas Education Leadership in Literacy Award
This award was established in 2016 by TALE’s Advocacy Development Committee. The purpose of this award is to recognize the efforts of a leader in Texas who promotes literacy for all students.
Recipients
2018
Recipients
2018

At the 2019 TALE Conference in Waco, the Advocacy Development Committee recognized Dr. Jodi Pilgrim for her work with pre-service teachers, service to TALE, and significant contributions in the field of literacy
2017

Dr. Carol Wickstrom
North Star of Texas Writing Project
From our newsletter:
Selected for her work with public school teachers through the North Star of Texas Writing Project, Dr. Carol Wickstrom upholds TALE’s mission of commitment to education and literacy. Wickstrom is a faculty member of the University of North Texas and teaches literacy courses at the graduate and undergraduate level in the Language, Literacy, Bilingual and ESL Program. As director of the North Star of Texas Writing Project, Wickstrom guides professional development for hundreds of participating teachers through summer writing institutes utilizing the writer’s workshop approach. Wickstrom believes this approach helps teachers to grow as educators and learners while providing a gateway to a larger community of writing professionals. The North Star of Texas Writing Project is part of the university-based sites of the National Writing Project.
North Star of Texas Writing Project
From our newsletter:
Selected for her work with public school teachers through the North Star of Texas Writing Project, Dr. Carol Wickstrom upholds TALE’s mission of commitment to education and literacy. Wickstrom is a faculty member of the University of North Texas and teaches literacy courses at the graduate and undergraduate level in the Language, Literacy, Bilingual and ESL Program. As director of the North Star of Texas Writing Project, Wickstrom guides professional development for hundreds of participating teachers through summer writing institutes utilizing the writer’s workshop approach. Wickstrom believes this approach helps teachers to grow as educators and learners while providing a gateway to a larger community of writing professionals. The North Star of Texas Writing Project is part of the university-based sites of the National Writing Project.

Letricia "Puff" Niegos
Certified Academic Language Specialist
From our newsletter:
Inspired by her son's challenges with dyslexia, Letricia “Puff” Niegos, a generous philanthropist, partnered with West Texas A&M University's College of Education and Social Sciences to establish the West Texas A&M University Center for Learning Disabilities. Recognized as a "center of excellence" for learning disabilities within the Texas A&M University system, the Center provides resources and support for parents of children with learning disabilities through monthly workshops. The Center also assists teachers in understanding learning disabilities so that they may help their students cope and learn in the classroom. Puff is a certified academic language therapist and has volunteered over 1,000 hours as a literacy interventionist with students who struggle with literacy.
Certified Academic Language Specialist
From our newsletter:
Inspired by her son's challenges with dyslexia, Letricia “Puff” Niegos, a generous philanthropist, partnered with West Texas A&M University's College of Education and Social Sciences to establish the West Texas A&M University Center for Learning Disabilities. Recognized as a "center of excellence" for learning disabilities within the Texas A&M University system, the Center provides resources and support for parents of children with learning disabilities through monthly workshops. The Center also assists teachers in understanding learning disabilities so that they may help their students cope and learn in the classroom. Puff is a certified academic language therapist and has volunteered over 1,000 hours as a literacy interventionist with students who struggle with literacy.
2016

Barbara Cargill
Texas State Board of Education Member, District 8
Texas State Board of Education Member, District 8

Patricia “Pat” Hardy
Texas State Board of Education Member, District 11
Texas State Board of Education Member, District 11
2017

Judge Joe Benavides
Justice of the Peace, Precinct One, Place One
Nueces County, TX
Justice of the Peace, Precinct One, Place One
Nueces County, TX