Dr. Ernest L. Boyer (1928-1995) had a remarkable career that spanned four decades as one of the most articulate and well-reasoned voices in the history of American education. He was highly regarded as an instructor, director, educator and, most influentially, a gifted leader whose impact on education has been formidable and lasting.

As United States Commissioner of Education, President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and Chancellor of the State University of New York, Dr. Boyer’s profound influence shaped and reformed national and international understanding of education.

His connection to New Jersey and NJASCD was a close one, as he resided in our state and was a keynote speaker at an NJASCD annual conference in the early 1990’s. As the “voice” of education, Dr. Boyer is profoundly missed.

In 1996, the New Jersey Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (NJASCD) dedicated its most prestigious annual outstanding educator award to the memory of Dr. Ernest L. Boyer. The award, known as The Dr. Ernest L. Boyer Outstanding Educator Award, is presented by NJASCD to an educator who has made a major contribution to the field of education and who has exemplified the vision, leadership qualities, and commitment to the improvement of education that characterized the career of Dr. Boyer.

The award bearing his name serves to recognize and honor Dr. Boyer’s accomplishments, inspire the recipients to embrace the qualities and characteristics required to advance our profession, and encourage other educators to aspire to make a difference in the education of youth to shape a better future.