Awards
The Reading League honors outstanding contributions to literacy education with the Benita A. Blachman Award for Advancing Evidence Into Practice and the Meaningful Impact in Education Award.
Benita A. Blachman Award for Advancing Evidence Into Practice
Benita A. Blachman Award for Advancing Evidence Into Practice
The Benita A. Blachman Award for Advancing Evidence Into Practice was developed in honor of Dr. Benita Blachman, Professor Emeritus, Syracuse University. Beginning her career as a special education teacher and reading specialist, Dr. Blachman was dedicated to studying the science of reading, including the educational and neurophysiological impact of evidence-based interventions. Her research focused on factors that predict reading achievement and on early intervention to prevent reading failure. Her work was widely cited in the National Reading Panel Report (2000) that helped to establish an evidence-based model for early reading intervention.
As a professor in the School of Education at Syracuse University for 35 years, Dr. Blachman influenced the next generation of educators through her research and frequently recruited graduate and post-graduate students to serve in roles necessary for executing her studies. Many founding members of The Reading League had the privilege to study under and work alongside her. It is no small coincidence that we remained in touch and ultimately joined together. Where we were once striving to make a difference in our respective work environments, reuniting to advance the knowledge and passion we gained from Benita’s tutelage was the inspiration for The Reading League. It is for this reason that we conceived of the idea for the Benita A. Blachman Award.
2026 Award Winner
Linda Farrell, M.Ed.
Volunteering to teach adult struggling readers was a natural for Linda, who is a former English teacher, school counselor, and lifelong bookworm. Linda met her mentor, Dr. Louisa Moats, while she was volunteering to teach adults to read. She has since coauthored the Teaching Reading Essentials Program Guide and Coaches Guide with Dr. Moats. Linda is also coauthor, with Michael Hunter, of Phonics Blitz™ (1st Edition), Phonics Boost™, and the Diagnostic Decoding Surveys. Linda was a National LETRS Trainer with Dr. Moats for seven years. She has been presenting workshops, giving speeches, authoring publications, and developing reading assessment and instructional materials for more than 10 years. To keep her skills fresh and innovative, Linda works with struggling readers of all ages whenever she gets the chance to do so.
Previous Award Winners
The Reading League’s Meaningful Impact in Education Award
This award is presented to an organization whose contributions have made a significant impact, nationally or globally, in the field of reading education. Awardees have a proven track record of dedication to the science of reading and fully align with the mission of The Reading League.
2026 Award Winner
Society for the Scientific Study of Reading (SSSR)
Since its founding in 1993, the Society for the Scientific Study of Reading (SSSR) has had a significant impact on both education and research by advancing the scientific understanding of how reading develops and how it can be effectively taught. Through its conferences and publications, SSSR has fostered collaboration among researchers, helping to translate cognitive science and literacy research into evidence-based instructional practices. This has influenced teacher preparation, curriculum design, and policy by emphasizing the importance of systematic, evidence based approaches to reading instruction. As a result, SSSR has played a key role in bridging the gap between research and classroom practice, ultimately contributing to improved literacy outcomes.
