Pennsylvania Education Innovation Awards
The Pennsylvania Education Innovation Awards, initiated in 2017, recognize innovative leadership in public school board governance, administration and teaching.
Presented annually at the PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference, these awards seek to recognize innovative leadership in public schools through three categories:
- Innovative School Board Award – recognizes a school board that has adopted an innovative approach to its responsibilities and led the district to exceptional performance.
- Innovative School Leader Award – recognizes a school superintendent, assistant superintendent, curriculum supervisor or building-level administrator who has demonstrated an innovative approach to leading their district, building or program.
- Innovative Teacher Award – recognizes a teacher for their innovative approach to teaching and classroom leadership.
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Innovation Award Recipients
2026 Honorees
- Innovative School Board Award: Forest Hills School District Board of Directors
- Innovative Teacher Award: Erin Loch, environmental science teacher, Upper Dublin School District
- Innovative School Leader Award: Julien Drennan, assistant superintendent, Upper Dublin School District
2025 Honorees
- Innovative School Board Award: School Board of the City of Erie
- Innovative Teacher Award: Chris Buckner, high school technology education teacher, Oley Valley School District
- Innovative School Leader Award: Dr. Matthew Friedman, superintendent, Quakertown Community School District
2024 Honorees
- Innovative Teacher Award: Scott Tuffiash, high school english teacher, Avonworth School District
- Innovative Teacher Award: Joy Crouch, elementary educator, Freedom Area School District
- Innovative School Leader Award: Dr. Charles Lentz, superintendent, New Hope-Solebury School District
2023 Honorees
- Innovative School Board Award: Baldwin-Whitehall School District
- Innovative School Leader Award: Dr. Randal Lutz, superintendent, Baldwin-Whitehall School District
- Innovative Teacher Award: Brett Wandler, Electricity and electronics teacher, Allentown School District
2022 Honorees
- Innovative School Board Award: Quaker Valley School District
- Innovative School Leader Award: Dr. Chris Sefcheck, superintendent, New Kensington-Arnold School District
- Innovative Teacher Award: Ignacio Jayo and Steve Beal, William Tennet High, School Centennial School District
2021 Honorees
- Innovative School Board Award: Moniteau School Board
- Innovative School Leader Award: Dr. Chuck Herring, director of diversity, equity and inclusion, South Fayette School District
- Innovative Teacher Award: Jeanine Ging, Freedom Area Middle School, Freedom Area School District
2019 Honorees
- Innovative School Board Award: Pine-Richland Board of School Directors
- Innovative School Leader Award: Scott Martin, superintendent, Bentworth School District
- Innovative Teacher Award: Sarah Abercrombie, adapted physical education coordinator; Dawn Gallagher, autistic support teacher; and Erika Schwanbeck, physical education teacher, all of Keith Valley Middle School in Hatboro-Horsham School District
2018 Honorees
- Innovative School Board Award: Cumberland Valley Board of School Directors
- Innovative School Leader Award: Khalid N. Mumin, Ed.D., superintendent, Reading School District
- Innovative Teacher Award: Timothy Heffernan, high school gifted support teacher, Franklin Area High School
2017 Honorees
- Innovative School Board Award: Derry Township School Board
- Innovative School Leader Award: Rob Caroselli, Fox Chase Elementary School, School District of Philadelphia
- Innovative Teacher Award: Kristen Albright, library media specialist, gifted support teacher and technology coach, Penns Valley Elementary and Intermediate School, Penns Valley Area School District