To Consortium Executive Director Linda L. Croushore, they are “true ambassadors of education for all kids.”

To longtime Great Idea Grants Coordinator Patricia E. Hoke, they are that and more. “It’s been an honor to call so many of you my friends…Your enthusiasm has helped sustain me.”

Both spoke at a May 21 gathering of School Action Committee members who had worked with the Consortium, some from the very beginnings of the Great Idea Grants program in 1987, to bring the program to teachers and students across the region. They raised funds and awarded teacher-level grants, lent expertise when needed, visited schools and helped out at the Kennywood Capers.

They became the critical mass that the Consortium called on to support a wide spectrum of educational efforts, its grassroots arms in school districts up and down the Mon Valley.

With the restructuring of the Great Idea Grants program, School Action Committees are being phased out, but “that doesn’t mean we don’t need you…we do,” Hoke said.

With the 2008 Fall Round of grants, all applications will be evaluated by a regional committee that will be similar to the group that has awarded the larger school and district grants in the past (School Action Committees awarded grants at the smaller teacher level in their home school districts). Members of the regional group will be drawn from all areas of the Consortium, Hoke said.

Dr. Croushore reflected that the grants program began at a time (the mid-1980s) “when teachers were not really feeling very good about the work they were doing.” “Great Idea Grants were an amazingly simple thing to do, but it meant so very much for teachers…and in creating lasting memories for kids,” she added.

She thanked the committee members for “giving so many evenings for so many years” and Coordinator Hoke added, “You’ve done a tremendous job…Thank you for all of the history you have helped create….Because of your commitment, the depth and breadth of commitment to our schools and our children has grown.”

Committee members with 10 or more years service received a red marble apple; all others received a gold apple bookmark.

Those who were members of School Action Committees for 10 years or more received red marble  apples as a token of thanks for their dedication and service. Consortium Director of Communications Karen M. Kost and Literacy for Life Coordinator David M. Pribish helped Grants Coordinator Patricia E. Hoke pass out the apples in the photos below.

James Butler (l), an original member of the McKeesport Area committee, with Pribish.


Carol Manack of the Belle Vernon Area committee.


Hoke embraces Rose Bashour of the Brownsville Area committee.


Dr. Kevin Ryan of the Elizabeth Forward committee with Kost.


Pribish congratulates Dee Taylor of the Yough committee.

Justine Conwell of the East Allegheny committee with Pribish.

Hoke and Dr. Cathy Lobaugh (l) of the McKeesport Area committee.


Lawrence Nemec (l) of the Yough committee.


Renee Shaw (l) of the McKeesport Area committee.


Mohney took the mic for an impromptu message from the heart about her experiences with the Consortium and the grants program.


Sara Greenlee from the Bentworth committee accepts our token of appreciation.

Sue Mohney of Charleroi Area School District and Dr. Linda L. Croushore share a laugh. Mohney has been the chair of the Charleroi School Action Committee, is a multiple grant winner herself, a member of the regional grant review committee, and is a member of the Consortium’s Board of Directors.


Representing Elizabeth Forward School District, l-r, were Marsha Cornell, Nancy Stanich, Carol Ryan and Dr. Kevin Ryan. Both Cornell and Dr. Ryan, School Action Committee members with Stanich, have been involved  in Consortium activities since the early days of the organization. Carol Ryan, an elementary principal in the Albert Gallatin School District, hopes to bring her district into the Consortium in the near future.


Longtime friends Helen Fallon of West Jefferson Hills School District and Michael Boyles of Frazier School District both have served on their local School Action Committees. Additionally, Fallon has long been a member of the larger regional committee that reviews school and district grants, and Boyles is a member of the Consortium’s Board of Directors.

Consortium Associate Executive Director Stephen G. Seliy, left, talks with Consortium board member Paul Rach.


Linda Pankiewicz (l) of the Monessen committee.



Marsha Cornell (l) of the Elizabeth Forward committee.

Terry Kinavey of the West Jefferson Hills committee makes her way from the stage.

Shari Lang of the South Allegheny committee.

Michael Boyles (l) of the Frazier committee.

Saundra Isariyawongse of the Brownsville committee.

Suzan Mohney (l) of the Charleroi Area committee.

Hoke congratulates Amy Montalbano of the McKeesport Area committee.