Educators in region to celebrate excellence

Staff report

boardman

The Eastern Ohio P-16 Partnership for Education is having its first “Excellence in Education – Celebrating our Schools” luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Antone’s Banquet Center, 8578 Market St.

Nearly 90 schools in Ashtabula, Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties will be acknowledged for their achievements. In addition, two schools, Youngstown Community School and East Palestine Middle School, will be recognized for moving up two levels on the 2009-10 Ohio Report Card. The Partnership will also recognize three area residents for their commitment to education. Tom Wronkovich of Harley-Davidson BikeTown, Austintown, is recognized as the Business Partner of the Year; Jayson Yeagley, a teacher at Columbiana High School, is Innovative Teacher of the Year; and philanthropist Anthony Lariccia of Boardman is honored as Community Education Advocate.

The speaker for the event is Valora Washington of Cambridge, Mass., founder and president, Community Advocates for Young Learners Institute. She is a recognized national authority in early childhood care and education.

The institute is an umbrella organization housing several well-known fellowships including the CAYL Schott Fellowship in Early Care and Education and the CAYL Principals Fellowship in Early Care and Education. Washington is a co-author or co-editor of more than 50 publications including “Children of 2010,” “Children of 2020,” “Ready or Not: Leadership Choices in Early Care and Education,” and “Role, Relevance and Reinvention: Higher Education and Early Care and Education.” Lead sponsor for the event is Kent State University’s Trumbull Campus. Other sponsors are Youngstown State University and Eastern Gateway Community College. The Eastern Ohio P-16 Partnership for Education is a coalition of educators, businesspersons, and civic and nonprofit leaders dedicated to fostering significantly better outcomes for students at each educational level.