Midwestern Intermediate Unit IV was honored recently to host an important award presentation. As part of its annual conference, the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) presents a Friend of Education award. This award is for a person or entity that makes a difference for children or for education, even if they don’t work directly in K-12 education.
A 2020 Friend of Education award winner was chosen, and it was the Highmark Caring Place. Unfortunately, the conference was canceled, so the presentation of the award was postponed until the 2021 conference… which was also canceled! Dr. John George, PAIU executive director, asked if MIU IV could help to make the presentation of the 2020 award to the Highmark Caring Place locally, in some meaningful way.
Because MIU IV is a partner with the Highmark Caring Place in many ways, we arranged to present the award at our recent meeting of the IU’s Superintendent’s Advisory Council. With 23 superintendents in attendance, in person and by zoom, Terese LaVallee, CEO of the Highmark Caring Place, accepted the 2020 Friend of Education award from PAIU. We are happy and honored to be a partner in the important work of the Highmark Caring Place, as they help grieving children and families to deal with the loss of a loved one.
