LAKE ERIE COLLEGE FACULTY RECOGNIZED AS THE OHIO COUNCIL OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ELA EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

The Ohio Council of English Language Arts has recognized one of Lake Erie College’s faculty members, Dr. Beth Walsh-Moorman, with the ELA Educator of the Year Award, College Division.

Dr. Walsh-Moorman, assistant professor of literacy, accepted the award at the organization’s annual conference on Feb. 22. The award recognizes ELA educators who demonstrate “excellence inside and outside of the classroom through leadership and advocacy for the language arts and focused efforts to improve learning.” 

Walsh-Moorman, who joined Lake Erie College in 2018, coordinates the reading endorsement and M.Ed literacy programs and teaches undergraduate general education courses. She also serves as the editor of the award-winning Ohio Journal of English Language Arts, the state journal published by OCTELA. Before joining Lake Erie College, Walsh-Moorman worked as a high school classroom teacher for 20 years. She obtained her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Kent State University in 2018. 

Among the accomplishments the OCTELA board cited was Walsh-Moorman’s on-going work in the area of digital literacies. The board wrote, “Beth realizes that digital literacy is constantly changing and today’s teaching climate is demanding. Through her role in OCTELA, Beth is a strong advocate for all teachers, and her enthusiasm is infectious.” 

During the state conference, Walsh-Moorman presented in three sessions, including one with Sarah Dee, a Lake Erie alum who completed her M.Ed Literacy in the summer and serves as an intervention specialist at Suffield Elementary School in the Fields Local School district. The two presented on Dee’s work identifying how digital writing tools supported her students in their writing.

Walsh-Moorman shared that her work with OCTELA and Lake Erie College has helped her become a stronger educator. “I am so blessed to work with truly extraordinary educators and to help shape the conversation about ELA education in Ohio.” 

Walsh-Moorman’s work has been published by the National Council of Teachers of English, International Literacy Association, National Council of the Social Studies and the Association for the Middle Level Education. She has served on the Ohio Department of Education State Literacy Team and the Ohio Department of High Education Reading in the Content Area Standards Revision Team.