Peterkin Receives AASA Humanitarian Award

Keppel Professor Robert Peterkin received the Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award yesterday at the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) Annual Conference in San Diego. The award, which is given annually, recognizes AASA members who exemplify the professional qualities espoused and modeled by the late Effie Jones, a champion of women and minorities in educational leadership.

Peterkin, director of the Urban Superintendents Program (USP) at HGSE for 15 years, has mentored a number of USP graduates who are currently in high-profile urban school systems. The USP is a rigorous course of study designed for professionals who have worked innovatively and effectively in metropolitan school districts as teachers, school principals, or central office administrators.

"We should all be proud--students, faculty, and superintendents," said Peterkin. "We've created a network that's really inclusive and we've given a lot of opportunity. This award is recognition of a lot of work that a lot of people did."

Jones, a school administrator and teacher, organized the Office of Minority Affairs at AASA. She was profiled in the film Women at the Top, for her groundbreaking work with women who aspired to the superintendency. The awards recognize individual efforts related to the advocacy, support, mentoring, encouragement, and successful advancement of women and minorities in education. Winners were chosen by select members of the AASA Committee on Student Equity and Excellence.

Peterkin personally knew Jones and said he feels especially honored receiving this award. "I know how hard she had to work to get the women's conference and luncheon," he said. "She was about opening opportunities for women and women of color."

Peterkin has held school superintendencies in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Milwaukee, and enjoyed a long career in educational leadership, from special education teacher to deputy superintendent, primarily with the Boston Public Schools.