The Bill Ellis Award is presented annually to a general education teacher or other professional who demonstrates excellence in practice and a commitment to all students, including those with learning disabilities.

Established in 1996, the award honors Bill Ellis, a great humanitarian, educator and visionary who served as NCLDrsquos director of professional services from 1991 until his death in 1995.

It was Billrsquos vision in the field of learning disabilities that framed much of what NCLD has become. He led the organization by collaborating with other learning disabilities organizations and establishing a growing presence on a national level he recognized the importance of early intervention for children with learning disabilities he valued the roles that general educators play in the lives of children with learning disabilities and he helped create the first of NCLDrsquos highly respected national summits: The 1994 summit, an event that presented learning disabilities to the highest levels of government.

In May 1996, Billrsquos last great undertaking was realizing NCLDrsquos National Summit on Teacher Preparation. Although sadly, Bill was not able to attend the summit, it was his idea and dream to establish a forum where general and special educators could join together to shape the future of teaching.

Bill saw beyond the world of learning disabilities and recognized the need to reach all educators.