About the Award
The EPLC Leadership Program Alumni Award is awarded annually to one or more individuals who have participated in an EPLC leadership program, including the Pennsylvania Education Policy Fellowship Program and the Parent and Community Leadership Institute. The honorees are selected by EPLC Board of Directors based on their exceptional leadership for significant education policy since participating in an EPLC leadership program.
Previous Awardees
2022
Corinne Brandt
Manager of Policy Information and Programs, The Education Policy and Leadership Center
2011-2012 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Bridget O’Connell
Superintendent, Palisades School District
2013-2024 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Michael Vuckovich
Principal / Vocational Director
2012-2013 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2019 & 2020 & 2021
Bonita Allen
President-Elect, Pennsylvania PTA
2015-2016 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Erica Frankenburg
Assistant Professor, Department of Education Policy Studies, Penn State University
2011-2012 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Mary Margaret Kerr
Associate Professor, Education and Child Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh
2004-2005 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Art Levinowitz
President, Board of Directors, Upper Dublin School District
2016-2017 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2018
Mark Stutz
Director of Visual and Performing Arts, Parkland School District
2012-2013 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Tina Viletto
Director of Community and Government Relations, Montgomery County IU
2009-2010 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2017
Nathan Mains
Executive Director, Pennsylvania School Boards Association
2009-2010 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Carmen Medina
Chief, Division of Student Services, Pennsylvania Department of Education
2009-2010 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2016
Eric C. Eshbach, Ed.D.
Superintendent, Northern York County School District
2003-2004 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Susan Gobreski
Director of Community Schools, Mayor’s Office of Education in Philadelphia
2008-2009 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2015
Joseph H. Clapper, Ed.D.
Assistant Executive Director, Pennsylvania Association of Elementary and Secondary School Principals
2008-2009 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Karen Molchanow
Executive Director, Pennsylvania State Board of Education
2007-2008 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2014
Brian D. Barnhart, Ed.D.
Executive Director, Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit
2001-2002 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Adam Schott
Director of Policy Research, Research for Action
2003-2004 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2013
Dr. Hector R. Ortiz
Director, Office of Health Equity, Pennsylvania Department of Health
Spring 2010 Parent and Community Leadership Institute
Dr. Lee Burket
Director, Bureau of Career and Technical Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education
2003-2004 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2012
Jacqueline Edmondson
Associate Dean for Undergraduate and Graduate Studies, College of Education, Penn State University
2003-2004 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Carol Obando-Derstine
Regional Manager for Berks, Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton Counties, U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr.
2009-2010 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2011
James Testerman
Chair, Pennsylvania State Education Association ESEA Reauthorization Task Force
Former President, Pennsylvania State Education Association
2005-2006 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Kristen Lewald
Statewide Project Director, Pennsylvania Value-Added Assessment System, Pennsylvania Department of Education
2007-2008 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Sylvia Simms
Founder and President, PARENT POWER: What Will You Do With Yours?
2009 Parent and Community Leadership Institute – Philadelphia
2010
Lynn M. Cromley
Director, Center for Schools and Communities
2004-2005 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Carey Harris
Executive Director, A+ Schools
2005-2006 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2009
James Buckheit
Executive Director, PA Association of School Administrators
Executive Director, PA State Board of Education, 2003 to September 2009
2004-2005 Education Policy Fellowship Program
Dr. Mary Frances Archey
Vice President for Learning and Student Development
Community College of Allegheny County
2002-2003 Education Policy Fellowship Program
2008
Laura E. Cowburn
President-Elect, PA Association of School Business Officials
Education Policy Fellowship Program, class of 2000-2001
Dr. A. Lee Williams
Member, Pennsylvania State Board of Education
Education Policy Fellowship Program, class of 2003-2004
2007
Chris Wakeley
Executive Director, House Education Committee
Education Policy Fellowship Program, class of 1999-2000
Elaine Harris-Fulton
Parent Advocate, Wilkinsburg Family Support Center
Institute for Community Leadership in Education, Pittsburgh class of 2001-2002
Jean Masiko
Staff Executive, Education 2010!
Institute for Community Leadership in Education, Lehigh Valley class of 2001-2002
2006
Diane Castelbuono
Deputy Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education,
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Education Policy Fellowship Program, class of 1999-2000
Dr. William R. Adams, Jr.
President, Board of Directors, Washington School District
Institute for Community Leadership in Education, Pittsburgh class of 2001-2002
Daniel Fogarty
Director of Salaried Personnel and Development, Specialty Alloys Operations Division, Carpenter Technology Corporation
Institute for Community Leadership in Education, Lehigh Valley class of 2002-2003
2005
Sylvester Pace
Executive Director of the NEED Scholarship Program
Institute for Community Leadership in Education, Pittsburgh class of 2000-2001
Jean Dexheimer
President, Board of Directors, Wilkinsburg School District
Education Policy Fellowship Program, class of 2001-2002
