Bloomington, IL (April 17, 2017) – The Education Research & Development Institute (ERDI) presented its Inspiration Leadership Award to Jeff Patterson, Founder & CEO of Gaggle, during the ERDI III Spring Conference 2017 held earlier this month in Chicago.

Only the third-ever recipient of the award, Patterson helped ERDI launch a conference specifically for school district curriculum leaders. Past award recipients include Dr. John Barry, former superintendent of the Aurora Public Schools in Colorado, and Project SEED for 50 years working to improve the success rate of all students, particularly those disadvantaged by poverty and racism.

"Jeff developed the concept of ERDI III and personally helped bring it to fruition by supporting the development of the conference since its inception in 2013," said Dr. Paul Dulle, ERDI President & CEO. "As a result of Jeff’s commitment, ERDI III’s consulting educational leaders, in dialogue with ERDI’s corporate partner leaders, have been able to help shape the products, goods and services that positively impact school districts and the lives of all learners."

In addition to the Inspiration Leadership Award, ERDI also annually presents the Mike Kneale Excellence in Educational Leadership award to a superintendent at the conclusion of the organization’s ERDI (I & II) Summer Conference.

"I’m honored to receive the ERDI Inspirational Leadership Award," said Patterson. "The fact that this award has been given out only three times is very humbling. However, I believe that the real inspirational leaders are the ERDI educators who are in the trenches, working with kids, and getting things done. I’m proud to call many of them Gaggle customers and my friends."

About ERDI
The mission of the ​​​Education Research & Development Institute (ERDI) is to provide a forum for dialogue between outstanding educational leaders and committed corporate partners to shape products, goods and services that will inspire excellence in education and enrich the achievement of all learners. For more information, contact ERDI at (815) 588-1112, via email at erdi@erdius.com, or on the web at www.erdius.com.