The School District of Philadelphia established the Family Leadership Award to recognize outstanding family leaders in our schools who, by their actions, inspire others to volunteer and assume leadership positions that have made an important difference in the lives of our students and school communities.
To be considered for the Award, the nominee had to 1) be a parent, guardian, or family member of a student in the School District of Philadelphia, 2) Be nominated by a School District of Philadelphia staff member of the school in which their child attends, and 3) not be an employee of the School District.
From Left to Right: Robert Smith of Comcast, Arts Academy @ Benjamin Rush Principal Lori DeFields, Award Winner Joseph Santore, and Superintendent William Hite.
- That the nominee exemplifies leadership and dedication to impacting family engagement in education,
- That the nominee actively participates in their child’s education at home and in school, sending the message that education is important, and
- That the nominee has had a significant impact on education at the school, district, or state level while serving as a volunteer.
The Office of Family and Community Engagement (FACE) accepted nominations for the Family Leadership Awards during the month of October. A panel made up of District staff served as judges. Winners were determined solely by nominations. When reading nomination essays, our judges considered the following necessary qualities:
Judges reviewed all completed nominations and selected family leadership winners in each of the following categories:
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- High School
High School Level: Joseph Santore, Arts Academy at Benjamin Rush High School
Nominator: Lori DeFields, Principal
Nomination Essay: Joe Santore is our wonderful Home and School President. Mr. Santore has worked with our school community to enhance communication, to increase parent engagement, and to raise funds for technology and other important items that have strongly impacted the success of our students. Mr. Santore is not only committed to ensuring the success of his own children, but is committed to ensuring the success of all students in our school. Additionally, Mr. Santore has a great rapport with every member of our staff and has brought new traditions to our school. For example, the designer Bag Bingo Fundraiser for adults has raised over $10,000 dollars for our students every year for the last 3 years. The 9th and 10th grade formal, which is totally run and supported by parents, has been another fantastic tradition that started with Mr. Santore. Our school cannot function without the support and engagement of our parents. Under Mr. Santore’s leadership, the Home and School Association is strong and an integral component of our school community.
