A champion for all students

Central Michigan University alumnus Jason Westra-Hall, '18, is being recognized as an advocate for marginalized youth through young adult literature as a 2024 recipient of the Bill Konigsberg Award for Acts and Activism for Equity and Inclusion through Literature.

Westra-Hall is an English teacher at Grand Ledge High School and a graduate of the CMU English Education Program. Through his work both in and out of the classroom, he supports his students through academics and extracurriculars, giving his students a safe space in which to feel that they belong.

Established in 2018 by the Assembly for Literature for Adolescents of the National Council of Teachers of English, the Bill Konigsberg award is presented annually to an individual who has acted in selfless advocacy of marginalized youth through the creation, teaching, funding or other form of promotion of young adult literature.

Westra-Hall says he is elated and honored to receive the Bill Konigsberg award and to be nominated by a CMU aspiring teacher. 

“At times, education can feel difficult, especially as a queer person, so when recognitions like this award happen, it’s so nice to know I am doing the right thing. At the same time, I also am in awe of being awarded because my instruction is informed by just trying to reach students and support them every step of the way. To fight for students and to support them is just an everyday thing that I aim to do," said Westra-Hall.

 "It’s amazing to know that I’m having an impact that is far beyond the classroom in ways that I don’t always think about.”

He says CMU’s teacher education program not only provided consistent, robust, and immersive pedagogy that prepared him to work with all students, but also allowed him to be creative in his craft.

“I felt like I had my footing as a teacher before I even stepped into student teaching. The professors and courses at CMU have made it so much easier for me to succeed in this profession.”

Congratulations to Jason Westra-Hall for this honor; he is a shining example of a CMU alumnus who is using his skills to serve young people as an educator, and to be a model for future teachers.