Educational Support

Our goal is to support public school employees by recognizing exemplary professionals currently in the field and future professional educators.

The Lauretta Woodson Award recognizes excellence in education.  Two awards are presented annually to an outstanding educator and a support professional.  Our 2025 recipients come from the Harrisburg City School District.  Each of them was received a framed certificate along with a pin from PASR as well as a modest monetary gift from the Dauphin County Chapter of PASR.  These awards were presented by our Chapter's past president and current education committee chair, Robert J. Hamera at a spring school board meeting.

Educator:  Susan Johnson, Educator/Instructional Coach

Superintendent Henry says “Ms. Johnson arrives at Camp Curtin Academy every day ready to teach and collaborate with fellow teachers and staff to support the success of our students.  As an Instructional Coach and mentor, she avails herself to mentees, but also any employee in need of educational coaching, guidance, reassurance, and/or support.  She listens intently to teachers and does her level best to address their concerns and/or find answers to their questions.  Her commitment to our students, families, and teaching team goes beyond words.  She strives to provide sound advice and effective solutions that help support positive student behavior, improved classroom management, and the overall culture and climate of our school building.  We are grateful to have Ms. Johnson!”

Support Paraprofessional:  Susan Dellock, Special Education Instructional Aide

Superintendent Henry recognized Ms. Dellock "as a deeply dedicated aide in our special education classrooms.  She is the first to ask who needs help and jump in wherever she can.  Her students feel connected to her and that helps them feel safe in school and grow in their learning.  Ms. Dellock cares about her students and does her best to be present and supportive of them.  She is friendly, inviting, and helpful.  She is thoughtful and remembers things about all of her coworkers and students which helps her to connect.  Her kindness, positivity, and thoughtfulness resonate throughout our classrooms and school.  Ms. Dellock is a tremendous and positive force at Foose Elementary School.

We also administer the Educational Support Grant.  This is a $400  competitive grant awarded to one school employee to be used for an innovative program to enhance the school's curriculum.

Bob Hamera attended the Derry Township School Board Meeting on February 10 to present the 2024-2025 DCPASR Education Grant to this year’s recipient, Miriam Collins.  She  is an American History Teacher at Hershey High School and advises The Random Acts of Kindness Club. 

Each year the club hosts a “Lemon Aid Stand”.   In Miriam’s words, “Students come up to our booth and pick up half a lemon where they are instructed to write an issue or problem on the lemon rind.  Then they are to place the lemon in the juicer and squeeze away their problems, at the same time making a delicious glass of lemonade.  Once done, the student ‘throws the problem away’, and hence, no more problem!

We see smiles on students who do not often smile.  With the uptick of violence, suicide, and truancy, we think that this event helps to bridge the gap and allow students to learn to problem solve in a positive manner.”

Congratulations to Miriam and the Random Acts of Kindness Club!

Chapter scholarships are awarded annually to public high school seniors planning to major in the field of education.  The 2024-25 recipient, Ms. Cordasha Peterson, graduated from Harrisburg City School District in May and is currently attending Lincoln University where she is majoring in Elementary Education.  She plans to pursue her master's degree as well before entering her chosen career.  According to her guidance counselor and her references, she is enthusiastic, motivated, and dedicated to academic excellence.  She is an exceptional leader while maintaining exemplary interpersonal skills with an expressed goal of returning to Harrisburg to teach.