KUDOS

My two posts this week have dealt with Community and family as important components of educating our children, and of course the local school system is of upmost importance in preparing our children for the 21st century workplace. I want to offer kudos to two efforts on opposite sides of the county.

Recently, WorkplaceDynamics, a consulting group in Exton was enlisted to survey employees of 1,505 companies of at least 50 employees in the Tri-State Delaware Valley to rate their companies and their bosses. The objective of the survey was to identify the area’s top 100 workplaces, and it was an extensive effort to uncover the best employers in the Philadelphia region from the point of view of employee themselves. I offer warm congratulations to the Upper Darby School District for not only making the list, but also for being the only school district to be named. Successfully educating such a diverse student population, and having the faculty feel so positive about their workplace is a testament to the work of Lou DeVlieger and his administration.

One of the topics I’ll be writing about from time to time are opportunities for collaboration between the three systems in the education of Delaware County’s children, and I’d want to offer kudos for an community - school collaboration which just celebrated its 40 year anniversary. In 1969 Dr. Alonzo Cavin founded Project Prepare as a partnership between Widener University and the Chester Upland School District to help students successfully transition to college. Hundreds of students from Chester and neighboring boroughs were helped and were able to complete college through this program. Kudos to Dr Cavin, founding Director, and its current Director, Tim Cairy, two men who have done much to foster the very best educationally for some economically disadvantaged students, and with virtually very little fanfare. Thank you!

Monday – Collaborations