Dr. Standerford, left, pictured here with MRA leaders Julia Reynolds, President, Lynn Bigelman, President-Elect, and Patricia Gallant, Vice-President, received her award on March 15, 2008, at the MRA Past-Presidents’ Dinner hosted at the Detroit Athletic Club.

This description of her work is quoted from the MRA website:

As educators we can all look back and think of one teacher that inspired us to make a difference. This year’s recipient of the MRA Teacher Educator Award is one of these people. Dr. Suzanne Standerford, teacher and mentor at Northern Michigan University has made a difference in many students’ lives. She played a key role in helping educators in the Upper Peninsula become active in reviewing the Michigan curriculum standards. She also led the production of videos featuring writing workshops in order to create community awareness about reading and writing. As founder and director of the Upper Peninsula Writing Project; she developed a summer institutes, Saturday seminars, and a fall writing marathon. Dr. Standerford lives the phrase “teacher educator.”

Congratulations, Dr. Standerford, from your colleagues in the National Writing Projects of Michigan!

Photo by Troy Hicks