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Recognitions

Recognitions

Here, you can find videos of Direct Instruction Hall of Fame honorees, Excellence in Education Award winners, and Silver Star School recipients.

The Direct Instruction Hall of Fame honors those who have dedicated themselves to educational success through DI. 

Hall of Fame

7 Videos
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2026 Direct Instruction Hall of Fame Induction
Geoff Colvin

From NIFDI President Kurt Engelmann: 

I HIGHLY recommend watching Geoff Colvin’s acceptance speech for induction into the Direct Instruction Hall of Fame at the 52nd annual National Direct Instruction Conference. Geoff’s receipt of this honor is as unique as it is well deserved.  In contrast to virtually all other DI Hall of Fame inductees, Geoff wasn’t involved in authoring the DI programs or implementing the DI approach. Instead, Geoff applied the principles of Direct Instruction design to behavior management and in so doing laid the foundation for what later became Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS).

Click here to read Kurt’s full LinkedIn article about the video.

This award is named after Siegfried “Zig” Engelmann, co-creator of Direct Instruction, senior author of the DI programs, and founder of NIFDI. The recipient of this award can be anyone – a teacher, paraprofessional, administrator, college professor, etc. – who has provided a significant contribution to the field of education and/or student achievement.

Siegfried Engelmann Excellence in Education Award

7 Videos
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2026 Siegfried Engelmann Excellence in Education Award
Navine Rizvi
City of London Trust, London, England

This award is named after Wesley Becker, co-creator of Direct Instruction and longtime Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Oregon. This award is given to a school for exemplary implementation of Direct Instruction.

Wesley Becker Excellent School Award

5 Videos
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2026 Wesley Becker Excellent School Award
Broadbeach State School, Australia

This award is named in memory of Doug and Linda Carnine’s parents. It is given to a student who has demonstrated remarkable academic success with DI. Teachers submit nominations. 

Carnine-McRoberts Student Improvement Award

3 Videos
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2026 Carnine-McRoberts Student Improvement Award
Ever Pedersen
Mastery Schools Australia

The Silver Star School Awards recognize schools or networks that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to implementing Direct Instruction programs with fidelity.

Silver Star School Awards

3 Videos
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2025 Silver Star School Award
Mystic Valley Regional Charter
Malden, Massachusetts

Which best describes your role?

Curriculum Decision Maker
School and District Leader

Interested in learning how to implement Direct Instruction in your district, school, or home? NIFDI can help. Click a button below to learn more. 

Leaders
Coaches
Teachers
Parents
What is a Peer Coach?

Peer coaches play a critical role in sustaining strong implementation of Direct Instruction (DI) at the school level. Selected during the first year of implementation, peer coaches are classroom teachers who demonstrate strong instructional practice, effective communication with colleagues, and a willingness to support others. Because they teach the same programs as their peers, they bring practical expertise and shared experience that help build trust and collaboration across the school.

As implementation progresses, peer coaches extend the impact of NIFDI consultants by providing ongoing, school-based support when consultants are not on-site. Their coaching is non-evaluative and focused on improving student outcomes. Peer coaches reinforce effective teaching practices and guide colleagues to make targeted adjustments that directly impact student performance and behavior.

Peer coaches participate in a structured, multi-year training sequence through NIFDI. Over the course of two to three years, they are trained to analyze student performance data, conduct both brief and extended classroom observations, and support data-driven problem solving. Advanced training prepares them to lead grade-level meetings and contribute to broader instructional planning with school leadership.

By developing peer coaches, schools build internal capacity to maintain and strengthen DI implementation over time—ensuring continuity, supporting new staff, and driving sustained student achievement.