Penn State's Hammel Family Human Rights Initiative recently won two separate research and school-university partnership awards from respected national organizations.
The initiative received the Distinguished Research Award from the Pennsylvania Association of College and Teacher Educators for "Leaning into Difficult Topics: Inquiry Communities as Teacher Professional Learning for Turbulent Times."
One of education's most highly regarded peer-reviewed publications, the Journal of Teacher Education, published the paper, which was written by Logan Rutten, an assistant professor at the University of North Dakota; Danielle Butville, the initiative's assistant director; and founding director Boaz Dvir.
"Prestigious awards such as the association's help us shine a light on the national need to transform the way we teach K-12 students in the 21st century," said Dvir, an associate professor of journalism in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications. "We must start giving children and adolescents the skills to navigate an increasingly complex and ever-changing landscape."
The paper explores how the initiative's approach, which includes practitioner inquiry and collaborative learning communities, can help educators handle complex and often challenging topics with their students. The research highlights how structured spaces for collaboration can strengthen professional learning and support teachers as they guide students through difficult conversations about history, human rights and contemporary issues.
The association's Distinguished Research Award recognizes scholarship that advances educator preparation through rigorous methodology and demonstrated impact.
The initiative's second award went to Butville, who received the Exemplary PK-20 Boundary Spanner Award at the annual conference of the National Association for School-University Partnerships. It highlights meaningful partnerships between universities and Pre K-12 schools.
"Receiving this honor this year is incredibly meaningful, as it reflects the true power of partnership," Butville said. "The most impactful work happens when educators, school leaders and university colleagues learn alongside one another."
Through her role with the initiative, Butville partners with educators and school districts to support professional learning that helps teachers engage students in examining difficult issues and topics. This recognition reflects her leadership and the initiative's collaborative approach to professional learning.
"Danielle does an incredible job day in and day out supporting teachers in meeting the needs of their students," Dvir said. "Along with our dedicated team of pedagogical experts and facilitators, she works on the frontlines of education - and our very future."
Penn State's Hammel Family Human Rights Education Initiative provides Pre K-12 students with the opportunities to develop critical thinking, fact finding and active listening skills, as well as empathy. The initiative trains educators around the Commonwealth and the country to effectively teach difficult topics through research-based, nonpartisan, trauma-informed professional development. Program participants learn to contextualize their lessons to the here and now, meet their students where they are and empower them to sharpen their perspectives while respecting others'. The initiative's programs greatly improve educators' practice and student success, uproot hate and give children and adolescents the skills they need.
