• Awards

    VERA presents several awards each year to recognize the work of doctoral students, educational researchers or evaluators who have made a significant contribution to the field, as well as a distinguished paper award.

Awards and Recipients

For consideration for 2025 Awards, please submit nomination by August 1, 2025.

Charles Clear Research Award

The Charles Clear Research Award is given annually to the individual, group, or organization that has made a sustained contribution to educational research or evaluation in the Commonwealth of Virginia or the nation. Dr. Charles Clear was a prominent educator in Virginia who contributed to the early development of the Virginia Educational Research Association.

He promoted educational research and evaluation through his position in the Virginia Department of Education. Dr. Clear died in the late 1970s, and the Virginia Educational Research Association created the Charles Clear Research Award as a memorial.

Recent recipients include:

2025

Dr. Tracy Walker, Professor of Education of Virginia State University

2023

Dr. Jodie L Brinkmann, Virginia Tech

Dr. Carol S. Cash, Virginia Tech

2016

Dr. Carol A. Mullen, Virginia Tech

2013

Dr. James McMillan, Virginia Commonwealth University

2011

Dr. Christopher Gareis, The College of William and Mary

2010

Commonwealth’s Special Education Endorsement Programs, Old Dominion University

Considering Submitting a Nomination?

Submit a Nomination for The Charles Clear Research Award

Brenda Loyd Outstanding Dissertation

The Brenda Loyd Outstanding Dissertation Award is awarded annually to the individual who has produced a dissertation that makes an outstanding contribution to the education literature. Brenda Loyd was a prominent educator in Virginia who contributed to the early development of the Virginia Educational Research Association. The Association created this award as a memorial for her achievements.

Recent recipients include:

2025

Dr. Danielle Colucci, Chief Academic Officer, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

2024

Dr. Annmarie Noonan, Shenandoah University

Teacher and Principal Perceptions of Collective Teacher Efficacy and Its Enabling Conditions

Dr. Latrese Younger, Virginia Tech

Next in Line: How to Build Effective Assistant Principals through Mentorship

2023

Dr. Kristin Rankin, Virginia Tech

Alternatively Certified K-12 Teachers: Their Preparedness to Teach and Their Administrative Needs for Retention

2016

Dr. India M. Harris

The Achievement Gap and Students Living in Poverty: The Role of Core Self-Evaluation and Transformational Leadership in Teachers

2015

Dr. Katina Otey, Virginia Tech

Perceived Factors that Affect the Performance of Refugee Student in Central Virginia

2014

Dr. Emily Ely, University of Virginia

Use of Instructional Technology to Improve Teacher Candidate Knowledge of Vocabulary Instruction

2013

Dr. Laura M. Martinez-Hicks, The George Washington University

A Exploration of How Elementary School Principals Approach the Student Retention Decision Process

2012

Dr. Joseph Salmon, Virginia Tech

A Case Student of Grade-Level Meetings and Coaching Conversations

2011

Dr. Kimberly Erwin, Virginia Tech

The Experiences and Perceptions of African American Males and Their Elementary Teachers

2010

Dr. Randy Bachmeier, Regent University

Breaking the Discrepancy Code: A Meta-analysis of the SLD Literature

Considering Submitting a Nomination?

Submit a Nomination for The Brenda Loyd Outstanding Dissertation Award

The Distinguished Paper Award

The Distinguished Paper Award is given annually to the outstanding paper presented at the annual conference. Paper submissions are reviewed by the Research Awards Committee. The award winner(s) has an opportunity to present their paper at the State and Regional Educational Research Association’s sessions at the annual American Educational Research Association conference.

Recent awardees include:

2025

Dr. Fallon Graham, Director of Planning, Policy, and Research in Chesapeake City Public Schools

2024

Dr. Connie Balkcom, Virginia Tech

Millennial School Leaders: Why They Come, Why They Stay, and Why They Leave

2023

Dr. Amy L. Reynolds, University of Virginia,
Dr. Rachel S. White, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Examining Established and Emerging Teacher Working Conditions that Influence Teacher Retention

2022

Dr. Marya Runkle, Virginia Tech

Case Study of the Factors Contributing to Graduation From a Secondary Dropout Prevention Program

2015

Dr. Gail McEachron

Unemployment, and Homelessness: What Do the Textbooks Say?

2013

Dr. Tracy Walker and Dr. Justina Osa, Virginia State University

Development of a Science of Pedagogical Content Knowledge and Confidence (PCKC) Survey for Use with Pre-Service Elementary Teachers.

2012

Ms. Eileen Merritt, University of Virginia

The Contributions of Standards-Based Teaching Practices to Fourth Grade Mathematics Achievement for High- and Low-Achieving Classes

2011

Dr. Lisa Abrams and Dr. James McMillan, Virginia Commonwealth University

Teachers’ Views on Benchmark Testing Practices

2010

Ms. Faiza Jamil, University of Virginia

Associations of Pre-service Teachers’ Performance, Personality, and Beliefs with Teacher Self-Efficacy at Program Completion

2009

Dr. Samuel Smith and Dr. John Pantana, Liberty University

Second-Career Teachers in a Blended Online-Residential Preparation Program: Profiling Characteristics and Motivations

Considering Submitting a Nomination?

Submit a Nomination for The VERA Distinguished Paper Award