Professional Partner of the Month: July 2007
Connie Schulz
“What is most impressive to me about Connie is her caring approach to each and every individual. Through her gentle listening, she hears about the needs and dreams of students and families that often go unheard. She is the one that discovers - and acts - when a young person can’t afford a field trip, a prom ticket, the repair for a musical instrument.”
- Katherine Genovese, Vice President, Program, The Second Mile
“How Connie carries out her work is what makes her a pleasure to work with. Respect characterizes her interactions, no matter the person’s age or position. When Connie can help someone find something they need, she is like a kid in a candy shop; it excites her to make those connections.”
- Denise DeGeorge, Counselor, State College Area School District
“In terms of childhood, early childhood, special family circumstances, teen parenting, and other general family issues, Connie is the central point in this school district – the hub of the wheel of services to these families.”
- Dr. John Sheridan, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, State College Area School District
Connie Schulz has been an energetic advocate for students and families in the State College School District and in Centre County throughout her career. Her interest in outreach is notable: whether it’s taking a leadership role in the Focus on Strong Families Conference planning to provide education for parents and professionals, connecting teen parents to needed resources and skills, or recognizing parents’ needs and designing courses, Connie’s contribution has been profound. And if you’ve ever talked with Connie Schulz for a length of time, you know she’s a great listener - someone who hears the essence of what you’re saying and knows it before you do. Mentor, teacher, organizer, friend to many, Connie holds the title of Family Outreach Specialist for State College Area School District. For her outstanding work, The Second Mile is proud to recognize Connie Schulz as its July Professional Partner of the Month.
When asked what gives her the most satisfaction in her job, Mrs. Schulz replied that it’s those times when she hears that a family managed to overcome an obstacle that was once in the way. Sometimes this satisfaction is immediate, and sometimes it takes several years to get this feedback - but then it is even more satisfying!
Two things seem to most motivate her to come into her office every morning: one is that every day is a little different and may not even be what she imagined; the other is that she’s done this long enough to know that sometimes it’s the smallest thing she’s said or done that has made a difference, so no effort is wasted if it has a possibility of planting a seed for change, no matter how slow-growing it may be!
This last motivator certainly fits in with one of her favorite quotations by Leo Buscaglia, which Connie cites as one she never tires of seeing and pondering:
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“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” |
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Clearly, Connie’s colleagues from all over Centre County see both the small and the larger acts of her caring which bring this quotation to life, and which characterize her work. Norma Keller, Executive Director of the Centre County Youth Service Bureau, notes that two years ago Connie was awarded the very distinguished Anne Graybill Cook award, given by the Centre County Council for Human Services for great service to the council and human service agencies – a unique distinction given the rarity of a school district employee being recognized for excellent work with social service agencies. Many other colleagues chimed in when learning of The Second Mile’s recognition of Connie, enumerating the myriad of roles and tasks she has tackled or implemented:
- Meeting weekly with parents of the Park Forest Day Nursery to assist them in considering parenting issues
- Serving as a key organizer for the annual Focus on Strong Families Conference in State College
- Developing parenting curricula, recruiting school district parent educators, obtaining volunteers, teaching and co-teaching parenting classes
- Mentoring teen parents in the district, helping them to manage the challenges of pregnancy, schooling and parenting
- Making home visits and/or accompanying parents to school for meetings with teachers and other staff
- Developing a Family Outreach Library for the school district
- Participating in Smart Start Centre County, a coalition of local people and agencies whose mission it is to help children start school ready to learn
- Starting a “Prom Attire Event,” which offered girls across Centre County a chance to find their dream gown without incurring any cost
- Heading a program for pregnant girls and chairing a coalition of service providers who offered various services for the same population
- Providing input and expertise in her service in the “Family Domain” of the Care Partnership: Centre Region Communities That Care
Despite the increasing challenges of working with families today, which Connie sees as including increased economic pressure, demands on time, media pressure on children and families to attain material possessions, and an increase in mental health issues (of which children often experience the worst effects), Mrs. Schulz manages to maintain a great sense of humor while constantly looking for new ways to collaborate with others. Connie is the consummate team player, and The Second Mile especially appreciates her partnership in requesting and delivering Children’s Fund grants, parenting education, and other services for families.
Connie lives in State College with husband Rick, and they are preparing to celebrate their 29th anniversary next month. They have two children, Andy, 24, and Claire, 21, and enjoy the rare times that all four of them can be together. Add two aging, eccentric cats to the mix, and hobbies such as cooking, reading, and quilting – sometimes alone, sometimes with friends – and you get a snapshot of a hard-working, dynamic, and caring woman who constantly keeps her ears tuned to cries for help. It’s been a privilege for The Second Mile to be able, on occasion, to serve as a resource when Connie’s listening has heard such a cry, and we celebrate her service to others with this recognition.
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