For the 12th consecutive year, Berrien Regional Education Service Agency (Berrien RESA) recognized a select group of community organizations as Berrien RESA Partners in Education for their longstanding commitment to fostering relationships that encourage student development and achievement.
To commemorate their status into this elite group of awardees, winners were celebrated with special gift boxes that included a plaque and commemorative thank you note. The awardees then took videos of themselves opening their package to share with Berrien RESA and the community. The award video can be seen here: https://bit.ly/3E3e1UK
This year’s Partners in Education include:
· Bosch Community Fund
· Culver’s of Niles
· Women’s Service League
· Rachel Reynolds of the St. Joseph,
Partners were nominated by Berrien RESA staff.
Bosch Community Fund was nominated by Emily Brumbaugh, Physical Education Teacher at Lighthouse Education Center.
“They have invited us every year to apply for a STEM/Environment grant and have graciously funded our projects each year. The projects have not only given our students exposure to STEM but also regulation strategies and social emotional learning (SEL) skills, such as empathy by caring for the fish (Salmon in the Classroom Project). We look forward to continuing this partnership and can’t thank them enough for bringing out students and building together, through STEM/environmental projects each year.”
Delynn Williams, teacher for Blossomland Learning Center’s Niles offsite program nominated Culver’s of Niles.
“Katie Rose is the owner/operator of Culver’s in Niles. She allowed the Niles Offsite students to partner with them from their opening day! Our first day she met us at the door and welcomed us by name to Culver’s and told all of us she was excited to have us on her crew. Since that day, she has allowed us to learn all positions at Culver’s. Just this past month, she hired one of our students at $12 an hour to work her dream job in the drive thru. This job site has become one of the favorites among the students, even though it is hard work. The entire staff at Culver’s is warm and accepting.
The Woman’s Service League was nominated by Ashley Rodriguez, Secretary at Lighthouse Education Center (LEC).
“Women’s Service League has provided needed items to LEC. One year they provided coats, this year socks, shoes, and staff goodies. We have also talked about needed items for next year and they are very excited to help.”
Cheryl Lattak, Teacher at Blossomland Learning’s Center St. Joseph offsite program and Tyler Park, Teacher at Lighthouse Education Center, nominated Rachel Reynolds at the St. Joe/Benton Harbor YMCA.
“The YMCA has supported our community-based work experience programs by welcoming students to volunteer and gain experience working in the custodial departments. In addition, they donated exercise equipment to our classroom and have welcomed our students for physical fitness experiences in the pool and in the gym. Rachel works directly with our students and strives to connect with the students when she sees them. She remembers them and students appreciate that.”
In addition to the plaques, the winners’ names will be engraved on a perpetual Partnership Tree sculpture that can be seen in the Berrien RESA Administrative Conference Center.
“The Partner in Education Awards give us a chance to showcase and appreciate just a few of the wonderful organizations that support education throughout Berrien County,” said Berrien RESA Superintendent Eric Hoppstock. “These organizations have provided our students, staff, parents and families with resources and opportunities they may not have received otherwise. For that, we are truly thankful to call them partners in education.”
Berrien RESA congratulates all the 2021 Partners in Education and looks forward to many more opportunities to work together to support the needs of the education community.
