NNELL AWARDS

The NNELL Award for Outstanding Support of Early Language Teaching & Learning recognizes individuals or groups of individuals whose primary job responsibilities are not in second language education, but who, nonetheless, have demonstrated unique support for the early teaching & learning of languages other than English.

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS – Deadline extended! Applications due August 22.

NNELL Awards Committee 2025

Chair – Danyelle Quincy Davis
presidentelect@nnell.org

Awards Committee Members – TBA

If you would like to serve on the Awards Committee, reach out to Danyelle Quincy Davis, presidentelect@nnell.org.

NNELL Award Guidelines - Click here!

2024 NNELL Award for Outstanding Support of Early Language Learning

CONGRATULATIONS

Dr. Shawn A. Smith, Ph.D

Superintendent

Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township

Indianapolis, IN

Dr. Smith is a native of Indianapolis, IN. He received his formal education from the Indianapolis Public School system (IPS) where he graduated from Broad Ripple High School. He received his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education and Master’s Degree in Education from Indiana University – Bloomington. Dr. Smith completed an Ed.S. and a Ph.D. from Indiana State University in Educational Leadership. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science degree program, he taught in the Indianapolis Public Schools as well as the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township’s school system.

In 1995, he began his administrative career in Washington Township. He served as an Assistant Principal and Principal. While serving as Principal at Eastwood Middle School from 1998 to 2003, the school was awarded the coveted Four Star School Award by the State of Indiana while under his leadership. Dr. Smith was named District Principal of the Year in 2003 by the Indiana Principals Association. He served as President of the Indiana Association of School Principals – District 7 (Indianapolis) from 2006 to 2008.

In 2003, he left Washington Township to join the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township to be the Principal of Pike High School Freshman Center, opening the new Center in the Fall of 2004 serving 850 students. During his time at Pike Township, he has served as a Principal, Director of Student and Community Services and as the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Education. In 2014, he was selected as Superintendent for the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township. The MSD of Lawrence Township has over 16,500 students and is the 8th largest School District in the state of Indiana. He has also served on numerous district committees. Dr. Smith has 35 years of experience in the field of education and today, he is still a passionate educator whose first love is teaching Social Studies.

Dr. Smith has served on several community Boards. American Heart Association, Communities in Schools, Connor Prairie, YMCA Ft. Benjamin Harrison and The Northeast Indianapolis Rotary Club. Currently, he is the President of the Indiana Urban Schools Association. He also served as President of the Indiana University School of Education Alumni Board from 2009 to 2011 and sat on the Indiana University-Purdue University of Indianapolis Library Board. In addition, he is a Indiana University Tobias Fellow and member of the Tobias Leadership Network. He is also a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

He is not only committed to educating students and serving the community, he is dedicated to his family. He is the proud father of three adult children, Olivia, Maya and Jordan.

Past Recipients

2024 – Dr. Shawn A Smith, Superintendent, Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township, Indianapolis, IN. Click here to see more.

2023 – Dr. Tracy Vik, Principal, Sonia Sotomayor Elementary School, Sioux Falls, SD. Click here to see more.

2022 – Dr. Kate Carter, Superintendent, South Windsor CT Public Schools. Click here to see more.

2021 – Nicole Leach, English Learner and Dual Language specialist at the Indiana Dept. of Education. Click here to see more.

2020 – Dr. Vesna Dimitrieska, Coordinator of Global Education Initiatives, Indiana University-Bloomington’s School of Education and the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies. Click here to see more.

2019 – Ms. Krissy Brown, Principal, Mount Rose K-8 School of Languages, Washoe County School District, Reno, Nevada. Click here to see more.

2018 – Dr. Steven Garcia, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction & Personnel for Pelham Public Schools, New York. Click here to see more.

2017 – Rep. Peggy Mayfield, Assistant Majority Floor Leader, House of Representatives in the Indiana General Assembly. Click here to see more.

2016 – Dr. Renee Foose, Superintendent, Howard County Public Schools . Click here to see more.

Click here for earlier recipients.