The International Reading Association (IRA) offers over four dozen awards for teachers and research professionals. All nominees must be IRA members. Applications for the following nine awards are due Tuesday, November 15, 2011. 

IRA Arbuthnot Award 
The Arbuthnot Award is an $800 award to honor an outstanding college or university teacher of children’s and young adults’ literature. Nominees must be IRA members, affiliated with a college or university, and engaged in teacher and/or librarian preparation at the undergraduate and/or graduate level. 

IRA Award for Technology and Reading
The IRA Award for Technology and Reading honors educators in grades K–12 who are making an outstanding and innovative contribution to the use of technology in reading education. There will be one grand-prize winner, seven U.S. regional winners, one Canadian, and one international winner. All entrants must be educators who work directly with students ages 5–18 for all or part of the working day. 

IRA Erwin Zolt Curriculum Excellence Award
This award, established in memory of Erwin Zolt, who inspired in others a “zest for knowledge,” may be given annually to support exceptional design and execution of a curriculum unit based on In2Books and the Common Core State Standards, inspiring students to transform knowledge into creative action. This award is for $2,500 (sponsored by Nina Zolt and Miles Gilburne). 

IRA William S. Gray Citation of Merit
The William S. Gray Citation of Merit is awarded to a nationally or internationally known person for outstanding contributions to the field of reading. 

IRA Maryann Manning Outstanding Volunteer Service Award
The IRA Maryann Manning Outstanding Volunteer Service Award is a nonmonetary award given annually to four dedicated volunteers within North America and one dedicated volunteer outside of North America. 

IRA/Weekly Reader Eleanor M. Johnson Award
The IRA/Weekly Reader Eleanor M. Johnson Award recognizes an outstanding elementary classroom teacher of reading/language arts. The award honors Eleanor M. Johnson, founder and editor-in-chief of Weekly Reader, who died in 1987. It carries a $1,000 prize supported by a grant from Weekly Reader Corporation. 

IRA Jerry Johns Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award
The IRA Jerry Johns Outstanding Teacher Educator in Reading Award is a $1,000 award supported by Jerry Johns. This award honors an outstanding college or university teacher of reading methods or reading-related courses. Nominees must be IRA members, affiliated with a college or a university, and engaged in teacher preparation in reading at the undergraduate and/or graduate levels. 

IRA Nila Banton Smith Award
IRA will present the IRA Nila Banton Smith Award to a teacher who shows outstanding leadership in translating theory and current research into practice in developing content area literacy. 

IRA Paul A. Witty Short Story Award
The IRA Paul A. Witty Short Story Award is given to the author of an original short story published for the first time during 2011 in a periodical for children. The award carries a $1,000 stipend. The short story should serve as a literary standard that encourages young readers to read periodicals. 

IRA Regie Routman Teacher Recognition Grant
IRA will honor an outstanding mainstream, elementary classroom teacher dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of reading and writing, across the curriculum in real world contexts in grades K–6 (ages 5–12). At least 60% of the school's students must be eligible for free or reduced lunch. The grant may not be used for purchase of commercial programs. The $2,500 award is supported by a grant from Regie Routman. 

Exemplary Reading Program Award
The Exemplary Reading Program Award recognizes outstanding reading and language arts programs at all grade levels (elementary, middle, and high school). Its purpose is to call the public’s attention to outstanding programs in schools throughout Canada and the United States. Each participating state and province can choose one winning school a year. At least one faculty or staff member of the applying school must be a current IRA member. 

Click here for more information about IRA awards and grants.