CVEDC’s Innovative Leadership Award
in honor of Ned Kirsch
Meet Autumn Bangoura
Equity Instructional Leader - Burlington Schools
CVEDC Innovative Educational Leader 2024
Autumn is the most recent recipient of the Ned Kirsch Innovative Leadership Award. Autumn stood out for her design and implementation of Burlington’s Summer Racial Justice Academy, which is being used as a model for other Vermont school districts. She promotes student leadership, which has been accelerated in Burlington thanks to Autumn’s efforts. She and her students have presented at conferences and shared their work with other district leaders. The equity webinar series is truly impressive and comprehensive, showing the level of student leadership shown by these talented Burlington students.
CVEDC President Gwen Carmolli congratulating Autumn Bangoura (recipient of the award), Jamilah Vogel (the nominator) and Tom Flanagan, Burlington Schools Superintendent . Tammy Boone, CVEDC Treasurer is in background. Click the photo for more information.
Who’s your Vermont innovative leader?
We are looking for educational leaders that are a step ahead of most of us, those who innovate to improve learning for students or educators. Rather than the implementation of strategies used throughout the region, they are seeing that the next step to improving learning for students or educators needs a shift in thinking. Do you have an example you can share for this nominee? Please answer these questions as part of the nomination process for the 2023-24 CVEDC Innovative Leadership Award.
Meet Gabe Hamilton
Director of Learning, Addison NW School District
Innovative Educational Leader 2022
Gabe was honored with the Ned Kirsch Innovative Leadership Award. Gabe is known in the region for his commitment to proficiency-based learning and grading, personalized education and student-led experiences. MTSS (Multi-tiered Systems of Support) for Gabe, means keeping equity at the forefront of all his decisions and looking at processes at various levels through that equity lens. His goal and commitment is for all learners to have access to varied academic opportunities, enhanced targeted instruction and incorporate those extended year learning opportunities that look at the whole experience a student has - Governor’s Institute, boys/girls state, work-based learning, etc.
Click the photo to watch Gabe talk about how this award inspired his work as an innovative leader in education.
Meet Peter Wyndorf
Innovative Educational Leader 2020
Peter was the first recent recipient of the Ned Kirsch Innovation Award. Pete’s commitment to student voice, inclusion and diversity, technology integration and building strong networks stood out for the committee. Pete helped to start the Milton Inclusion and Diversity Initiative (promotes dialogue and change regarding race). In addition, he started the Students for Social Justice at Milton High School, the first online news show produced 100% by students, and the Rock Project - blending music and food donations to the Milton food shelf.
Peter Wyndorf talks about receiving the award and his work as an innovative educator in VT.
Award Timeline and Details
$3000 award
Nominations Open November 2025
Nominations close - nominees are reviewed & referenced March 29, 2025
Committee reviews nominees and makes a selection April 19, 2026
Recipient announced/award given May 14, 2026
Examples of Innovative Leadership Qualities
Breaking down barriers and shifting mindsets to move innovation forward
Engages beyond Vermont and beyond today
Inspires change through courageous vision, innovative actions, and a belief in what’s possible both within their system and others
Scans environments for new opportunities
Challenges the status quo by design thinking
Articulates a vision for World Class Education with both global and local perspective and actions
Honoring the Work of Vermont Educator and Superintendent Ned Kirsch
About the Award
Ned Kirsch was a valued member of the CVEDC Advisory Board and guided CVEDC in bringing innovative leaders like George Couros, Devin Vodicka, Bea McGarvey, Pam Moran and Ira Socol to Vermont. His national presence among innovative networks made other innovators aware of Vermont’s work and eager to be part of it.
In honor of Ned, CVEDC has created the Innovative Leadership Award. We ask Vermont educators to use the Nomination Form to nominate a Vermont Educational Leader who exemplifies the qualities that were part of Ned’s inspirational and forward-looking leadership.
Ned pictured with Devin Vodicka at a CVEDC Dine & Discuss event.
“We want our learning for students to be authentic...we’re all the same but different. We can learn from each other.”
— Ned Kirsch