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Tuesday,April 18, 2017 Comcast Center 1701 5:30-7:30 John F. Kennedy p.m. Blvd. Philadelphia, PA 19103 A Night at the Roundtable • April 18, 2017 A Night at the Roundtable • April 18, 2017 AWARD HONOREES AWARD HONOREES Honorable K. Leroy Irvis Honorable K. Leroy Irvis (continued) K. Leroy Irvis was a dedicated public servant His legislative efforts also considered the efficiency and accountability of and as such he worked tirelessly to enrich the The House. Such reforms include creation of the House Ethics Committee, lives of Pennsylvania citizens. the Lobbyist Registration Act, Legislative Audit Advisory Committee, and From the beginning of his political career the House Bipartisan Management Committee. until he retired, he received the firm support Representative Irvis graduated summa cum laude with degrees in History and earned the trust of his constituents. and English from New York State Teacher’s College. In 1939 he received a Representative Irvis was first elected to Master’s degree of English Literature from University of New York at Albany. represent the 19th Legislative District of His desire to learn persisted and he pursued another advanced degree. Irvis Pittsburgh, PA in 1958 and was re-elected to attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. In 1969 his law degree this seat for fifteen consecutive terms. His was converted into a Juris Doctorate. colleagues within the House of Representatives (The House) also bestowed Irvis was married to the former Cathryn L. Edwards. Speaker and Mrs. Irvis several noteworthy honors on him. The first honor occurred during his third are the parents of a son, Reginald D. Irvis, and a daughter, Sherri L. Irvis- term. He was elected Democratic Caucus Chairman, making him the first Hill. They have a son-in-law, Common Pleas Judge Glynnis D. Hill, and four African American elected to a leadership position. Later, he served as the grandchildren: Danae Lee Irvis, Elyse Irvis, Glenn Alexander Irvis-Hill, and Majority Caucus Chairman, Minority Whip and Majority Leader. Alyssa Hill. On May 23, 1977, Representative Irvis earned his most prestigious distinction; he was elected to serve as Speaker of The House, initially for one term. His election was unanimous. An honor he shared with Benjamin Dr. Constance Clayton Franklin who was also elected unanimously to Speaker during the From 1955 to 1964, Clayton worked as a fourth Revolutionary War period. He regained the Speaker position on January 4, grade teacher in the Philadelphia Public 1983 and remained in this position until he retired on November 30, 1988. School System, at the William H. Harrison Fulfilling the obligations of his leadership roles did not hamper Irvis’ School in North Philadelphia. From 1964 to ability to promote key pieces of legislation. He sponsored over 1,600 pieces 1969, she designed social studies curricula of legislation addressing his concerns for education, civil rights, health, for elementary grades. From 1969 to 1971, consumer protection, prison reform, housing and governmental reform. His she was the head of a new African and Afro- most noted achievements include the sponsorship and passage of legislation American Studies program, addressing issues creating the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the Pennsylvania for students of all ages. Higher Education Equal Opportunity Program; the Pennsylvania Higher From 1973 to 1983, she was the first director and then the associate Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), and the Minority Business superintendent of the Early Childhood Program for the Philadelphia school Development Authority. Irvis also introduced on the floor of The House the system. Under her direction, the program was seen as a national model. idea of a Community College System in the Commonwealth. His fellow During this time she also went back to school, earning her Ph.D. in 1974 and representatives credited him with being the “father” of the Community her EdD in educational administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s College System. Graduate School of Education in 1981. A Night at the Roundtable • April 18, 2017 A Night at the Roundtable • April 18, 2017 AWARD HONOREES AWARD HONOREES Dr. Constance Clayton (continued) Debra Weiner In 1983, Constance Clayton defeated 83 other candidates to become An advocate for public education since 1970, the superintendent of the Philadelphia Public School system. She was Debra Weiner initially worked in Philadelphia Philadelphia’s first African American woman superintendent. She served as a policy and school district budget in the position from 1983 to 1993. She also became president-elect of the analyst for several non-profits organizations national Council of Great City Schools. The Philadelphia school system before being named Special Assistant to the was the sixth largest school system in the United States, employing Pennsylvania Secretary of Education and approximately 24,500 teachers, administrators, and support staff at over subsequently Assistant Dean of the Temple 250 locations. University School of Law, where she developed programs about the law for K-12 students and Clayton set a number of goals for the city’s schools, including balancing the senior citizens. budget, standardizing the curriculum, and attracting private sector support. At the end of her first 8 years as superintendent, the school system had been After earning her doctorate in urban education at Temple University, she largely successful in meeting those goals. taught in the human services undergraduate program at Antioch University’s Philadelphia campus, advised the president of Community College of Clayton was a moral voice in support of children in the education system, Philadelphia and the Vice Dean of the College of General Studies at Penn emphasizing that “Somebody had better step forward and be the advocate for on partnerships with Philadelphia high schools, and became one of the kids.” She emphasized the need for federal, state, and city governments to all founding staff members of Philadelphia Futures, where she helped to design make a “concrete investment” in education. She recognized the difficulties the Sponsor-A-Scholar college prep program, performed data analysis of faced by many children, and promoted programs to address their needs, the progress of students, designed the academic enrichment and college including the Homeless Student Initiative, America 2000, a broader sexual retention components, and later served as a consultant to the school district education program, and acceptance of pregnant students who wish to on college guidance standards. While at Futures, she also co-founded graduate. “We must educate the kids born into poverty and despair. We must the Philadelphia College Prep Roundtable and created and co-directed value all kids and not just a select few. “We have enormously talented kids Youthworks College Bound, a summer academic enrichment program which who have a great deal of potential, children who are aspiring.” served 900 Philadelphia neighborhood high school students, marking the Since her retirement, Dr. Constance Clayton has continued to be active in first time that academic enrichment was recognized as a youth workforce the community and to serve on the boards of a number of institutions. The development strategy in the nation. Constance E. Clayton Professorship in Urban Education was established at While at Futures and subsequently at the After School Activities the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education in 1992. It Partnerships, Debbie consulted with the school district on teacher received support from the William Penn Foundation, Cigna, Vanguard and recruitment and retention and school climate, then advised the United Way PNC Bank. Dr. Constance Clayton was the first African American woman on school partnerships and provided policy analysis to Public Citizens for to have a chair named for her at a predominantly white Ivy League U.S. Children and Youth on kindergarten readiness. She now serves as a pro bono university. The Clayton lecture series on urban education was also named in thought partner to rising leaders in a variety of educational non-profits and her honor. government agencies. A Night at the Roundtable • April 18, 2017 A Night at the Roundtable • April 18, 2017 AWARD RECIPIENTS AWARD RECIPIENTS HONORABLE K. LEROY IRVIS DR. CONSTANCE CLAYTON CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AWARD EDUCATION AWARD Senator Vincent J. Hughes Laura W. Perna Senator Vincent J. Hughes is a leading Laura W. Perna is James S. Riepe Professor progressive voice on local, state, and national and Executive Director of the Alliance issues. He was elected by his colleagues in forHigher Education and Democracy 2010 to be the Democratic Chairman of the (AHEAD) at the University of Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee. He has (Penn). She has served as President of been a member of the Pennsylvania Senate for the Association for the Study of Higher over 20 years, first elected to represent the 7th Education (ASHE) and Vice President of Senatorial District in 1994. Senator Hughes the Postsecondary Division of the American served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1987 Educational Research Association (AERA), and is currently chair of Penn’s to 1994. Faculty Senate. His commitment to creating access to college is demonstrated through Her research uses a range of methodological approaches to identify his service on the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Higher Education how social structures, educational practices,