Dr. Fern Dallas to be honored with Morlan Award, April 4

Abilene Christian University's Department of Curriculum and Instruction will honor Dr. Fern Dallas, superintendent of Providence Christian School in North Carolina, with the 37th annual Morlan Award on April 4.

"Dr. Dallas is an exceptional educator and master," said Dr. Dana Hood, chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at ACU. "She is the kind of teacher who can teach at any level, and she has. Her teaching experience spans kindergarten through graduate level and her credentials are many. We are thrilled to honor her with this award."

Dallas earned a degree in secondary education and certification in English and physical education in 1982 and a master's degree in reading in 1984, both from ACU. She also received a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2003.

Her teaching career began in 1982 in Abilene, and she has taught in Wolfforth, Texas, Charlotte and Hickory, N.C. Currently she is serving as superintendent of Providence Christian School, where she is developing a new middle school program.

The Morlan Award honors the memory of Dr. Grover C. Morlan, who established the Teacher Education program at ACU. Each year, an alumnus of ACU's education program is chosen on the basis of making significant contributions to the field.

Two other awards will be presented at the dinner. The Bob Hunter Friend of Education Award, which is awarded to a person who is not in the education field, but has made a significant contribution to education, will be given to ACU alumnus Tim Yandell. Yandell established the Rotary Reads initiative while serving as president of the local Rotary Club. This program promotes literacy by providing an avenue for adults to read to and with children.

The Lucy Hatch Mentor award, presented to someone in the field of education who provides exceptional mentoring to teacher candidates, will be awarded to Jody Reese. Reese is a kindergarten teacher in the Abilene Independent School District.

If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact ACU's Public Relations Office or call (325) 674-2696.