Ascension Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Patrice Pujol and Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. James P. McIntyre, Jr., accept TAP Awards of Distinction from NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken (far left) and NIET President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gary Stark (far right). The award comes with a financial prize of $10,000.

Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. James P. McIntyre accepts the TAP Award of Distinction from NIET Chairman and TAP Founder Lowell Milken (far right) and NIET President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gary Stark (far left). The award comes with a financial prize of $10,000

TAP Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken moderates the panel "The TAP System: Advancing Educator Effectiveness in Practice" at the 2013 TAP Conference in Washington D.C. He shares the stage with distinguished educators from across the country who share their experiences implementing TAP at the classroom, district and state level. From left to right: TAP Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken, Lady’s Island Middle School Principal in Beaufort County Schools, South Carolina, Mona Lise Dickson; Judkins Middle School Master Teacher at Judkins Middle School in the Lucia Mar Unified School District, California, Alyssa Labrado; Tennessee Superintendent of Knox County Schools James P. McIntyre Jr.; East Iberville Elementary School Master Teacher in Iberville Parish Schools, Louisiana, Larry Minor; Constitution Elementary School Principal in Deer Valley Unified School District, Arizona, Mark Oesterle; Superintendent of Ascension Parish Schools, Louisiana, Patrice Pujol and NIET President and CEO Dr. Gary Stark.

NIET Chairman and TAP Founder Lowell Milken presents the 2013 TAP Founder's Award to North DeSoto Middle School, located in Stonewall, Louisiana. The award comes with a financial prize of $50,000. Pictured from left to right are NIET Chairman and TAP Founder Lowell Milken, Louisiana District-Based State Executive Master Teacher Nicole Bolen, DeSoto Parish Schools Director of Student Learning Kathy Noel, U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA), North DeSoto Middle School TAP Master Teacher Vicki Cabra, North DeSoto Middle School TAP Master Teacher Deania McMillian, North DeSoto Middle School Principal Keith Simmons, Louisiana TAP Executive Director Sheila Talamo, DeSoto Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley, and NIET President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gary Stark.

TAP Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken stands with panelists from the State Education Reform and Role of Teacher Effectiveness Panel, for which he served as moderator on Friday, March 8 during the 2013 National TAP Conference in Washington, D.C. From left to right: South Carolina State Superintendent of Education Dr. Mitchell Zais, U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development Carmel Martin, Tennessee Assistant Commissioner of Teachers and Leaders Dr. Sara Heyburn, TAP Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken, Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. James Guthrie, Director at the Iowa Department of Education Dr. James Glass and NIET President and CEO Dr. Gary Stark.

Principals accept the TAP Ambassador Award for 2013, which comes with a financial prize of $5,000. Pictured from left to right are NIET Chairman and TAP Founder Lowell Milken; Principal Ed Burnes from Battery Creek High School in Beaufort County School District, South Carolina; Principal Danny Mendez from Southport Elementary School in the Metropolitan School District of Perry Township, Indiana; Principal Mary Ann Spears from Lincoln High School in the Lincoln Consolidated School District, Arkansas; Principal Julie Fahey from Queen Palmer Elementary School in Colorado Springs School District 11, Colorado; Principal Dr. Esrom Pitre from Donaldsonville High School in Ascension Parish Schools, Louisiana; Principal Dr. Mark Oesterle from Constitution Elementary School in Deer Valley School District, Arizona; and NIET President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gary Stark.