Archived: RILEY ANNOUNCES 1999 JOHN STANFORD EDUCATION HEROES AWARD WINNERS

A r c h i v e d I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE
November 18, 1999

Contact:
Sarah Staley
(202) 401-2571

RILEY ANNOUNCES 1999 JOHN STANFORD EDUCATION HEROES AWARD WINNERS

U. S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley presented the U. S. Department of Education's second annual John Stanford Education Heroes Awards at a ceremony today in Washington. The winners were selected for their extraordinary commitment to improving schools and communities and increasing learning opportunities for students. Riley named the awards in honor of John H. Stanford, the late Seattle schools superintendent who was well known for his efforts to inspire the entire community to get involved in efforts to improve local schools.

"There are many unsung heroes of education in America," Riley said. "Every day, millions of citizens work tirelessly to improve learning. We have selected twelve of them to receive the 1999 John Stanford Education Heroes Award. These twelve have made exceptional contributions to education in their communities. And more than that, they represent all the other education heroes in our nation."

"These outstanding citizens exemplify what all Americans can do when they are committed to our children and to better education. Whether it is their support for students in the face of adversity, or their leadership in bringing together parents, schools and communities to increase learning opportunities, I am proud to work with these citizens. Their efforts prove that all caring adults, including parents, educators, business people and community leaders can and do play a significant role in improving education." These heroes have used creative and innovative approaches to support education, such as:

engaging students in science, technology, the arts or nature to inspire them to learn;
involving parents and the community in establishing equitable and respectful learning environments for diverse student populations;
mobilizing parents to better communicate with and get involved in schools; and,
making their message for better education heard by the larger community.

The John Stanford Education Heroes competition was designed to honor parents, teachers, principals, members of community or religious organizations and employers from across the country who have undertaken exceptional activities to help improve education. Individuals who have excelled in their communities were nominated by the Secretary's ten Regional Representatives. Winners were selected by a committee representing national education associations and principal offices of the U.S. Department of Education.

CA	Oakland	Oral Lee Brown, college mentor
GA	Atlanta	Wendolyn Norris-Bouie, principal, Gresham Park Elementary School
IL	Chicago	Coretta Leona McFerren, founder, Westside Schools and Communities Organizing for Restructuring and Planning
MA	Boston	Rev. Wesley D. Williams, executive director, United Methodist Urban Services, Inc.
MO	Kansas City	John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil, chairman, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
NY	New York	Lisa Belzberg, president and founder, PENCIL (Public Education Needs Civic Involvement in Learning)
PA	North Huntingdon	Sandra L. Zelno, child advocate
TX	Houston	James Ketelsen, founder, Project GRAD (Graduation Really Achieves Dreams)
UT	Monument Valley	Mary Dorn, volunteer, Monument Valley High School
WA	Federal Way	Helen Henderson, Carolyn Patton and Diane Turner, founders, Federal Way African American Parent Support Group

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