Title
Proclamation congratulating Dr. Charles T. Blocksidge for earning the 2008 John Fry Individual Merit Award from the North American Council for Staff, Program and Organizational Development.
Body
WHEREAS, each year, the North American Council for Staff, Program and Organizational Development (NCSPOD), an affiliate of the American Association of Community Colleges, honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to staff, program and organizational development on a regional, state, and/or local level; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Charles T. Blocksidge was recently selected to receive the 2008 John Fry Individual Merit Award from the North American Council for Staff, Program and Organizational Development; and
WHEREAS, as Executive Director of the Community College of Allegheny (CCAC)- Allegheny County Workforce Alliance, Dr. Blocksidge and CCAC are working with local employers, unions, community organizations, and government officials to identify and meet the diverse needs of Allegheny County's workforce; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Blocksidge expanded the Faculty Professional Development Program at CCAC in both size and scope, which includes a tuition reimbursement program and a yearly training seminar for adjunct faculty of the program, and which was nationally recognized in 2007 for adhering to “best practices” by offering a comprehensive program which meets the needs of the CCAC faculty and which responds to the initiatives of the college; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Blocksidge was also instrumental in creating the Western Pennsylvania Community College Consortium, comprised of five local community colleges in Western Pennsylvania who recognized that through sharing resources they could provide quality professional development experiences for their faulty and staff; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Blocksidge's work extends to the national level, where he worked with the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training on a three-year grant from the Department of Education's Demonstration Projects to establish a new source of professional development and training for community college educators in instructional strategies for students with disabilities and the creation of a national website for faculty; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Allegheny County Council hereby commends Dr. Charles T. Blocksidge for earning the honor of the 2008 John Fry Individual Merit Award. Furthermore, we thank you for your demonstrated commitment to supporting both professional and educational development, which serves as an inspiration to the members of this Council.