EdCircuit Staff 
Novato, CA (June 27, 2024) – The Buck Institute for Education (dba PBLWorks), a national provider of professional development for high quality Project Based Learning (PBL), has revealed the winners of its 2024 PBL Champions award program, as well as the three educators selected for its John Larmer “JL” Lifelong Learning Award. The winners, which were announced at the non-profit organization’s 2024 PBL World conference in Napa Valley, were selected for their commitment to PBL.
The 2024 PBL Champions:
The PBL Champions awards program recognizes an individual, a school and a school district that have demonstrated a commitment to PBL; have done quality, lasting work; and have shown evidence of impact on students. The 2024 recipients are:
- District PBL Champion: University Prep Schools (Detroit, Michigan)
- School PBL Champion: Paul Culley Elementary School (Clark County School District, Las Vegas, Nevada)
- Individual PBL Champion: Keisha Tyson-Johnson, district math and science coach (Atlanta Public Schools, Georgia)
John Larmer “JL” Lifelong Learning Award
The John Larmer “JL” Lifelong Learning Award is named after PBLWorks’ former director of publications and editor-in-chief, John “JL” Larmer. The award acknowledges educators who are impacting and expanding the work of Project Based Learning. The 2024 recipients are:
- Katrice Dixon, Lake Worth Community Middle School (School District of Palm Beach County, Florida)
- Jeromy Payne, John P. Freeman Optional School (Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Tennessee)
- Marivi Hardy, Mission Achievement Success Charter School (Albuquerque, NM)
The winners were highlighted at PBLWorks’ 2024 PBL World conference, a multi-day Project Based Learning conference bringing together K-12 teachers, instructional coaches, and school and district leaders who want to begin or advance their Project Based Learning practice and connect with a community of their peers.
“Project Based Learning is transforming classrooms, schools and districts across the country thanks to the commitment and dedication of passionate educators and administrators,” said PBLWorks CEO Bob Lenz. “We created these awards programs to recognize these individuals, as well as the schools and districts, that have embraced PBL and are leading the way in implementing it with students. Congratulations to all of the recipients, this honor is well deserved.”
To learn more about the awards programs visit:
PBL Champions: https://www.pblworks.org/pbl-world-pbl-champions-awards.
John Larmer “JL” Lifelong Learning Award: https://www.pblworks.org/pbl-world-jl-lifelong-learning-award.
About PBLWorks
The Buck Institute for Education/PBLWorks believes that all students, especially Black and Brown students, should have access to high quality Project Based Learning to deepen their learning and achieve success in college, career, and life. Its focus is on building the capacity of teachers to design and facilitate quality Project Based Learning, and on supporting school and system leaders in creating the conditions for these teachers to succeed with all students.
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