PASR Announces Woodson Award

Each Year the PA Association of School Retires issues Lauretta Woodson Awards to two employees from Susquehanna County School Districts.  This year the award went to two deserving employees of the Blue Ridge SD.  This year's winners were..........................

Katie Brown (HS Social St and English Teacher)

Tonya Haley (ES Life Skills support professional)

Pictured Above (L-R): Ellen Holdredge, Tonya Haley, Robert McNamara

A primary goal of PASR is the support of public education. One way that the state association and many of PASR’s local chapters show support is by giving scholarships to assist students in need majoring in education. PASR’s educational support committee has developed the Lauretta Woodson Award program to help showcase our public schools in a positive manner.

Dr. Lauretta Woodson was born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania, and graduated from Chester High School. She attended West Chester Teacher’s College where she acquired a degree in Secondary Education in English. She received her master’s from Columbia and doctorate from Temple University. She began teaching at the Eddystone School District in the 1950s as an English teacher. She then became an instructor at Temple University and at this time received her doctorate. She then worked as an assistant professor at Temple University for more than 25 years. She retired around 1984.

Since joining the state association as a life member in 1988, Dr. Woodson rose through the ranks of PASR and assumed many esteemed positions within the organization, and was instrumental in helping PASR to become what it is today. She faithfully served the retired school employees in the Delaware Chapter and Region 1 for many years in numerous capacities. Upon her passing, she bequeathed a sum of money to PASR to be used for the support of public education.
The purpose of the Lauretta Woodson Recognition Program is to honor one educator and one support professional for doing an outstanding job within a district or school. Chapters select the award recipients and then present them with a medallion, certificate, and PASR pin.

Chapters may present the award in a variety of ways and are encouraged to utilize this opportunity to secure positive publicity for both the school and the Association. For example, the presentation could be done at a school board meeting, city council meeting, or even at an award or graduation ceremony. Each chapter is eligible to present the Lauretta Woodson Awards to one support professional and one teacher per fiscal year.