Driver Education Instructor Awards

Each year, ADTSEA recognizing excellence in driver education with the Richard Kaywood Memorial Award and the Teacher Excellence Award.

2024 Teacher Excellence Award Recipients: Deborah Fry, VA, Jennifer Brown, IL, and Gabriella Netsch, VT.

View more information on the recipients.

Teacher Excellence Award

ADTSEA's Teacher Excellence Award honors outstanding driver and traffic safety educators. The Teacher Excellence Award is sponsored by The National Road Safety Foundation, a strong supporter of driver education for more than 60 years and is in honor of Dr. Francis Kenel, a long time member of ADTSEA.

About

The National Road Safety Foundation produces and distributes, at no charge, educational films, teaching manuals, and public service campaigns for use by professionals in driver education, traffic safety, public health, and law enforcement. More than a million copies of the foundation's films and materials have been distributed nationwide. Based in New York City, NRSF was founded in 1962 by Fraydun Manocherian who, as a teen, lost two friends to a drunk driver.

Candidates are nominated for outstanding teaching and service to driver and traffic safety education by an ADTSEA state-affiliate or regional director. Nominees must be current ADTSEA members and active in their ADTSEA affiliated state or regional association for the past three years. Each ADTSEA state-affiliate may nominate one person for the TEA. ADTSEA members from states not affiliated with ADTSEA may be nominated by the regional director from the member's region. All nominees should be high quality teachers who are committed to excellence and deliver high quality driver education programs.

All TEA candidates will be recognized during the conference. Applications will be reviewed by the TEA committee, and those individuals who are determined to be TEA recipients will be recognized and honored by their peers and will receive a stipend and plaque from ADTSEA. In addition, TEA recipients will receive a special identification name badge to wear during the conference.

History

ADTSEA's Teacher Excellence Award honors outstanding driver and traffic safety educators. The Teacher Excellence Award is sponsored by The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF), a strong supporter of driver education for more than 60 years and is in honor of Dr. Francis Kenel, a long time member of ADTSEA.

Dr. Kenel taught at the University of Maryland at College Park, Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois and Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI. He also worked with the Illinois High School and College Driver Education Association. He was a Consultant for Brazil and Portugal, engineering their road systems, and traveled all over the United States as a Police Pursuit Instructor. The Teacher Excellence Award is sponsored by The National Road Safety Foundation (NRSF), a strong supporter of driver education for more than 60 years.

Submissions

Each nominee must complete and submit the form Nomination for Teacher Excellence Award as well as a resume', Power Point program demonstrating their innovation in teaching, and written responses to questions. Signatures by ADTSEA State or Regional affiliates officers are required. Submissions may be mailed electronically to Harold Fleming, hfresearch2007@hotmail.com. All materials are due March 15.

TEA award recipients are expected to present in one Secondary Division Session during the annual ADTSEA Conference by showcasing effective teaching strategies, skills development, and/or lesson ideas for classroom and/or in-car instruction that enhances the learner's knowledge and/or skills in driver and traffic safety education, promotes national standards in traffic safety, and/or promotes traffic safety within the school and community.

We hope many people will promote this activity and help showcase great teachers. For additional information please feel free to contact Harold Fleming, facilitator, at 704-995-7025 or hfresearch2007@hotmail.com.

Nominate a person for this award

Past Recipients

2024 — Deborah Fry, VA | Jennifer Brown, IL | Gabriella Netsch, VT
2023 — Gary Scott, KS | Sandra Dunbar, NC
2022 — Jennifer Sletten, MN | Richard Kearney, VT | Thomas Iffrig, MO | JoEllen Suter, VA | Alex Hansen, WA
2021 — Joell Kerr, HI | Karren Meyer, VT | Robert Suggs, NC
2020 — George Rooney, VT | Jorge Benitez, NC | Molly Kleiber, MO | Tim Beckham, OR | Wayne Hartmann, IL
2019 — Stanley Blicharz, VT | Darin Bardal, ND | Robert Droege, MO | Michael Jones, Sr., NC | Raymond Kroll, MN
2018 — Kel Hirohata, HI | Andrew Unsuth, MN | Susan Carney Lammerding, MT | Dale Ludwig, ND | Richard Ritter, VT
2017 — Cynthia Bagley, HI | Jonathon Dondoneau, ND | Allyn Workman, MO | Larry Fairclo, OR
2016 — Judy Weber–Jones, IL | Yusuf Quidwai, WA | Becky Hardy, ND
2015 — Greg Mangan, TN | Michael Pluta, VT | Rod Hull, NH | Carlos Stalcup, NC
2014 — Carol Hoormann, MO | Beatrice Kehr, MN | John Viau, VT
2013 — Christine Bergan, WI | Mark Hamilton, VT
2012 — Gerald Apple, WA | Kevin Masse, VT | Richard Salboro, HI | Rachel Wilson, MI
2011 — Barbara Brody, VT | Bobby Duque, HI
2010 — Gay Ching, HI | Gerald Dickinson, TX | Stanley Henderson, IN | Kevin Kirby, WI | William Powell, NC | Fred Schreiber, MN | Michael Shepard, WA | Charles Worrell, VT
2009 — Larry Fosness, MN | Sammy Lee, HI | John Lynch, VT | Charles Mason, NC
2008 — Joe Barch, VT | Joe Barch, VT | Donn Davidson, MI | Gary Davis, NC | Romona Maxim, TX | Warren Hisashi Miyasaki, HI | William "Bill" Warner, OR
2007 — Greg Brown, MI | Joseph Christensen, MN | John Duffy, VA | Gary L. Holobek, KY | William Mayville, VT
2006 — Richard Hanson, OR | Mark Lee, MN
2005 — Harold Lair, MT
2004 — John Knippel, CA
2003 — Debbie Cottonware, WA
2002 — Lindsay Townsend, VT
2001 — Chuck Filippini, WA
2000 — Duane L. "Dewey" Mettler, MN
1999 — Robin A. Bordner, MI

2024 Richard Kaywood Memorial Award Recipient: Mark Lee, St. Cloud State University

Mark has served on the board of directors for ADTSEA and was the ADTSEA President in 2019. His leadership is outstanding, and he is always willing to get involved when asked. He has helped plan the ADTSEA conference, been on the welcoming committee, and can be seen introducing himself to anyone new to make them feel welcomed and part of the ADTSEA family. He actively tries to get people involved in making traffic safety education better. Mark was awarded the Teacher of Excellence for ADTSEA in 2006 because of his outstanding dedication to traffic safety education. Mark is always looking for ways to improve education on a local, statewide, or national level. Congratulations Mark!

Richard Kaywood Memorial Award

Beginning in 1985, an award is presented at the annual ADTSEA conference to an individual for outstanding contributions to traffic safety. The award was established in memory of Dr. Richard Kaywood who served the Association and traffic safety education for many years. This award is sponsored cooperatively with AAA National Office who present the recipient an honorarium of $500.

History

Dr. Richard Kaywood had a long and productive career, beginning with his work in safety education as an assistant professor of health and physical education at the University of California at Santa Barbara. In 1955, he became the multi-school chairman of driver education in the Anaheim Union High School District. In 1965, he became an associate professor of driver and traffic safety education at California State University at Long Beach. He went on to become a full professor and coordinator of safety and driver education. During his last three years, he also served as interim chairperson of the health science department.

Dr. Kaywood was a charter member of the California Driver Education Association, later renamed the California Association for Safety Education, and an early member of ADTSEA. In 1959, Dick became editor of the California association's publication called the CALDEA Calendar. In succeeding years, he developed it into a nationally recognized publication, and, in 1970, it became ADTSEA's official journal called the Journal of Traffic Safety Education.

Throughout his life, Dick was a tireless worker and strong advocate for quality driver and traffic safety education programs. Dick Kaywood's life exemplifies the spirit of the words inscribed on the Richard Kaywood Award medallion: Outstanding Contribution — Driver and Traffic Safety Education.

The selection from among nominees is made by the ADTSEA Executive Committee and is announced at the annual conference banquet.

Submissions

To better assure that deserving individuals are given consideration, ADTSEA members are encouraged to submit names of persons they feel made substantial contributions to the field. Each submission must be accompanied by a summary of the candidate's professional background and contributions to traffic safety education. Following is a list of criteria for considering candidates.

Made a significant contribution to traffic safety education on the national and/or international level.
Must have served the traffic safety education profession for not less than 15 years.
Must have been an active member of ADTSEA for not less than 15 years.

The summary of the nominee's contributions to the field of traffic safety education may include, but are not limited to the following:

Scholarship — Masters or Doctorate degree
Leadership — Served ADTSEA in an elected or appointed position
Author or contributing author of a textbook(s) or Curriculum
Speaker/Presenter/Panel member at state/national conferences
Regional/local workshop leader/presenter
Researcher
Teacher
Authored research reports
Served on national committees or working groups

Nominations must be submitted to ADTSEA prior to December 31 and addressed to:
American Driver and Traffic Safety Education Association
Highway Safety Services, LLC
1434 Trim Tree Road
Indiana, PA 15705

Past Recipients

2024 – Mark Lee
2023 – Dr. William Van Tassel
2022 – Robin Bordner
2021 – Nina Jo Saint, PhD
2020 – Jerry Gaines
2019 — Richard Hanson
2018 — Connie Sessoms, Jr.
2017 — Frank J Gruber
2016 — Chuck Lehning
2015 — Gary Guzouskas
2014 — Lindsay Townsend
2013 — Carol Hardin
2012 — Randy Thiel
2011 — Janice Meeker
2010 — Dr. Dale Ritzel
2009 — Barbara Brody
2008 — "Micky" Johnson
2007 — Dr. Allen Robinson
2006 — Owen Crabb
2005 — John Harvey
2004 — Dr. Terry Kline
2003 — Dr. Maury Dennis
2002 — Fred Mottola
2001 — Dr. Bob Gustafson
2000 — Dick Tyson
1999 — Dr. Gary Bloomfield
1998 — Dr. John Palmer
1997 — Warren Quensel
1996 — Joe Intorre
1995 — "Doc" Whitworth
1994 — Carl Wenzinger
1993 — Arthur A. Opfer
1992 — Dr. James Aaron
1991 — Dr. Francis C. Kenel
1990 — Warren S. Hastings
1989 — Dr. Richard W. Bishop
1988 — Dr. Robert Marshall
1987 — Amos E. Neyhart
1986 — Dr. Norman Key
1985 — Dr. William Cushman