Notre Dame’s Ernest Morrell Honored with James R. Squire Award for Transformative Impact on Literacy, Equity, and Education
The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has named Ernest Morrell, Coyle Professor of Literacy Education; associate dean for the humanities and faculty development in the College of Arts and Letters; and director of the Notre Dame Center for Literacy Education in the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI), as the recipient of the 2025 James R. Squire Award, one of the most prestigious honors in English language arts education.
This award recognizes individuals whose service and scholarship have had a transforming influence on the profession and made a lasting intellectual contribution to English language arts education — not only advancing the stature and development of NCTE, but also shaping the field of education both nationally and internationally.
“This recognition is deeply humbling,” said Morrell. “At Notre Dame, we believe education is a powerful force for elevating human dignity and social transformation. To receive this award is a tremendous honor and affirms that our shared mission of advancing literacy, equity, and hope truly matters — for students, teachers, and communities everywhere.”
Morrell will be honored at the NCTE Awards Session at the 115th NCTE Annual Convention in Denver on Saturday, November 22.
“Ernest has transformed the field of English Language Arts education. As a scholar, mentor, and leader, he has brought the literacies of young people—their languages, cultures, and lived realities—into the heart of rigorous research and practice,” said Matt Kloser, Hackett Family Director of the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI). “Through his scholarship, mentoring, leadership, and advocacy, he has made literacy a vehicle for equity and empowerment, inspiring a generation of educators to see English classrooms as spaces where all students can flourish as readers, writers, and thinkers. We are proud to celebrate this well-deserved honor.”
Morrell is an internationally recognized scholar whose research explores how literacy, popular culture, and critical pedagogy can engage youth and advance educational equity. He holds appointments in the Departments of English and Africana Studies, directs the Center for Literacy Education, and leads the NCTE James R. Squire Office for Policy Research.
He is an elected member of the National Academy of Education and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association, and a past president of NCTE. He is the author or editor of more than a dozen books, including Best Practices in Literacy Instruction (7th Ed.), Educating Harlem: A Century of Schooling and Resistance in a Black Community, and Every Child a Super Reader.
About the James R. Squire Award
Established in 1967 as the NCTE Executive Committee Award and renamed in 1999 to honor former executive secretary James R. Squire, this award is presented by the NCTE Executive Committee in recognition of outstanding service to the organization, the discipline of English language arts, and the education profession at large. The award, presented only 31 times since its inception in 1967, is one of NCTE’s highest honors.
About the Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI)
The University of Notre Dame’s Institute for Educational Initiatives (IEI) strengthens PK–12 education, particularly for students in underserved communities, through research, teaching, direct partnerships, and policy work. IEI is home to signature programs including the Center for STEM Education, the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), and the Center for Literacy Education. Learn more at iei.nd.edu.
