Oscar S. Causey Award

Abstract

Association), was the chair of the Executive Committee for several years and served as the president from 1952 to 1959. Individuals who are honored with this prestigious award have conducted and published research that generates new knowledge and is deemed substantial, significant, and original. The individual is also recognized as a leader in the conduct and promotion of literacy research. For almost 40 years, Dr. Elfrieda (Freddy) H. Hiebert, the 2015 recipient of the Oscar S. Causey Award, has conducted research that has one foot in theory, influencing the ways we think about fundamental constructs of text, task, and reader, and one foot in policy and practice, forging new pathways through stubborn issues of curriculum and pedagogy. Her work speaks truth to power when it comes to initiatives that are ill conceived and poorly executed. Dr. Hiebert's most recent professional role has been as president and CEO of TextProject, a nonprofit organization she created to support dissemination of research and tools designed to bring beginning and struggling readers to high levels of literacy achievement. As part of TextProject, Freddy has managed a website that supports the translation of research to practice. With unusual deftness, she has continually employed new communication mechanisms (e.g., blogs, webinars, and podcasts) to support teachers in putting the right books in the hands of readers.