Pocopson Teacher Mrs Bakes - 2017 Citadel Heart of Learning Finalist

"A genuine, kind-hearted, and extremely caring person that you can absolutely tell lives and breathes being a teacher for her kids."

"Each and every student is special and she incorporates each child's 'uniqueness' into her curriculum."

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The Citadel Heart of Learning Award was created in 2001 by Citadel and the Chester County Intermediate Unit. Now in its 16th year, the program honors and thanks teachers who show excellence in the classroom and have made a difference in the lives of students, their families, and the community. Thousands of nominations are submitted each year for teachers throughout Chester County.

“Every day teachers show tireless dedication to enhancing the lives of our students, and these nominations reaffirm that,” said Michael Schnably, Senior Vice-President at Citadel and Co-Chair for the Citadel Heart of Learning Award. “Teachers are an essential part of what makes our communities stronger, and we are proud to celebrate them with the Citadel Heart of Learning Award.”

Each year 15 finalists are selected from the nominations; one finalist from each of the 13 public school districts in Chester County, one from the Chester County Intermediate Unit, and one from a Chester County non-public school, which includes charter and home schools. All finalists receive $500 to use in their classroom and are honored at the Citadel Heart of Learning Awards banquet in May. Three winners are selected from the 15 finalists – one high school, one middle school, and one elementary school teacher – and each receives an additional $1,500 to use in their classroom.

Patton Teacher Brian Kelly gets Published!

Congratulations to 8th grade Creative Writing teacher, Brian Kelley! His article, "Developing as a Writer, Growing as a Teacher" has been published in the January 2017 issue of the NCTE's award-winning English Journal.

To read Brian's article visit - NCTE's English Journal

Board Member, Michael Rock’s new book, Dictators, Democrats, and Development in Southeast Asia: Implications for the Rest, is published

Michael Rock’s new book, Dictators, Democrats, and Development in Southeast Asia: Implications for the Rest, was published by Oxford University Press this past September, but the Samuel and Etta Wexler Professor of Economic History says he’s been wrestling with the ideas in it for more than 20 years.

Since 1995, Rock says, he’s been thinking and writing about how Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand managed to succeed at both development and democracy.

Read more about it

UHS Coach Clark Reaches 100th Career Victory

A very special CONGRATULATIONS to Coach Pat Clark on his 100th Career victory at UHS. Thanks Coach Clark for all that you have done for the entire UHS Family! Here's to the next 100!

Be inspired - follow @coachclarkuhs

Joe Ahart - UHS Educator of the Year

Joe Ahart

UHS Educator of the Year

Watch/Listen to Joe's UHS Commencement Ceremony remarks

Scott Litzenberg Named to Cavalcade of Bands Hall of Fame

Cavalcade of Bands

Education through musical involvement

Scott Litzenberg - this year's inductee into the Cavalcade of Bands Hall of Fame

A graduate of West Chester University with a Bachelor of Science degree in music education, Scott has been a high school band director for over 32 years. Starting with four years at Wilson HS, followed by 11 years at Upper Darby HS and currently in his 16th year as band director and music department chair at Unionville HS of Kennett Square, PA.

Throughout his career, his marching and jazz bands along with indoor units have continually participated and supported Cavalcade. In 2008 he became the president of Cavalcade, a position he holds to this day. During his tenure he has restructured and added to the administrative team, supported all administrators and coordinators and moved the association forward with technology. Primarily with the use of digital recorders for all judging areas, which was a first with any circuit in our region, and Competition Suite, a tabulation and digital file transfer cloud based service for marching arts activities.

As president he handles many director, staff and parent inquires and situations in a constantly calm and professional manner. Throughout it all, he has always had both his students and all the students of Cavalcade, at the forefront of his approach to the activity. This was most noticeable as he was the co-director, and musical leader of the 2015 Cavalcade Tournament of Roses Honor Band. Using all his teaching experiences, and mass resources and connections, he lead the way for a truly memorable experience for students, staff and parents on this once and a life time musical opportunity.