National Dropout Prevention Network Announces 2016 Crystal Star Award Recipients

National Dropout Prevention Network Announces 2016 Crystal Star Award Recipients
Award Recognizes Significant Contributions to Dropout Prevention, Recovery and Reentry

CLEMSON, S.C. (October 19, 2016) – The National Dropout Prevention Network (NDPN) is pleased to announce the 2016 National Dropout Prevention Network Crystal Star Awards of Excellence in Dropout Recovery, Intervention, and Prevention individual and program winners. These annual awards identify and bring national recognition to outstanding individuals and programs that have made significant contributions to the advancement of dropout prevention, intervention, recovery and reentry and that represent best practices in the field.

Individual Crystal Star Award recipients accepted their awards at the National Dropout Prevention Network Conference in Detroit and include Mr. Terry Pickeral, President of Cascade Educational Consultants in Bellingham, Washington, who received the Distinguished Leadership and Service Crystal Star Award; and Dr. Lateshia Woodley, Principal of McClarin Success Academy in College Park, Georgia, who received the Crystal Star Individual Award of Excellence.

Pickeral was recognized for his research and policy leadership in the areas of student engagement and service-learning and for challenging education leaders and community leaders to establish a team approach to engaging youth and fostering student success.

Woodley is a transformational leader in previously low-performing schools and has established a successful track record of collaboration among stakeholders to assist students in overcoming barriers to completing high school. She was honored for her efforts in leading a team to improve McClarin Success Academy, raising the graduation rate there from 19% to 80% in three years.

Program Award of Excellence winners include buildOn, an organization that empowers youth from under-resourced neighborhoods to positively impact developing countries by helping the countries’ citizens increase their self-reliance through education.

Oakland Opportunity Academy, which provides over 200 at-risk students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma, also received a Program Award of Excellence. The Academy is located in Oakland, Michigan, and integrates career and technical programs with academic classes to create a personalized instructional model in a positive school culture.

A third Program Award of Excellence winner is the Hart County School System in Georgia for integrating multiple strategies to change the culture and graduation expectations of the schools and of the community. Hart County’s graduation rate improved from 56% in 2005 to 94% in 2015.

The mission of the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network is to serve as a research center and resource network for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers to reshape school and community environments to meet the needs of youth in at-risk situations so these students receive the quality education and services necessary to succeed academically and graduate from high school.

About the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (NDPC/N)

Established in 1986 with a mission to reduce dropout rates, the NDPC/N shares solutions for student success and dropout prevention through its clearinghouse function, active research and evaluation projects, publications and a variety of professional development activities and conferences. The organization’s website—www.dropoutprevention.org—is the nation’s leading resource in providing effective, research-based solutions to engaging students and reducing dropout. The NDPC/N is housed in the College of Education at Clemson University in Clemson, South Carolina.

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Photo Caption: Dr. Sandy Addis (left) with 2016 Crystal Star Award Recipients (l to r) Kevin Gaines, Principal, Hart County High School, Hart County, Georgia; Dr. Lateshia Woodley, Principal, McClarin Success Academy, College Park, Georgia; Terry Pickeral, President, Cascade Educational Consultants, Bellingham, Washington; Dr. Marlana Krolicki, Dean, Oakland Opportunity Academy, Oakland, Michigan; and Jim Ziolkowski, Founder and CEO, buildOn, Stamford, Connecticut.

For Additional Information Contact:

Lynn Dunlap, Public Information Director
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network
Phone: 864-656-2678
Email: ldunlap@clemson.edu

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