PA EDGE Outstanding Curriculum Leadership Award

We are proud to announce that Dr. Michael W. Donnelly, Assistant to the Superintendent for Educational Services in the Palisades School District, has been selected as the recipient of the Outstanding Curriculum Leadership Award. This honor recognizes Dr. Donnelly’s exceptional contributions to curriculum development across Pennsylvania and his steadfast commitment to advancing high-quality learning experiences for all students.

Dr. Donnelly is widely regarded as a visionary educational leader and systems thinker, bringing more than two decades of expertise in curriculum renewal, instructional design, and strategic planning. His leadership spans roles as a Principal and Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, where he has steered districtwide initiatives with clarity, innovation, and purpose. His professional accomplishments, ranging from managing federal accountability grants to helping a school earn the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence designation, reflect his deep commitment to academic excellence and organizational coherence.

Beyond his K-12 leadership, Dr. Donnelly invests in the future of the profession as an Adjunct Professor and dissertation advisor at institutions such as Gwynedd Mercy University and Lehigh University. His scholarly and professional preparation, including a Doctor of Education from Temple University and advanced studies through the Pennsylvania Education Policy Fellowship Program and Cornell University, further inform his strategic and student-centered approach to educational leadership. He also extends his expertise to statewide service through his involvement with the America250 Planning Committee and the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Donnelly on this well-deserved recognition. We are grateful for his leadership, expertise, and lasting impact on curriculum development across Pennsylvania.

PA EDGE Outstanding Supervision Leadership Award

We are honored to announce that Dr. Smita Weakland, Supervisor of English Language Development (ELD) for the School District of the City of York, has been selected as the recipient of the PA EDGE Outstanding Supervision Leadership Award. This recognition celebrates Dr. Weakland’s exemplary contributions to instructional supervision and her steadfast commitment to improving outcomes for students, educators, and school communities across Pennsylvania.

With more than a decade of experience in public education, Dr. Weakland has distinguished herself as a servant leader dedicated to equity, access, and the creation of systems that support all learners. In her current role, she oversees districtwide programming for multilingual learners, guiding instructional frameworks anchored in “Language First” principles that honor students’ linguistic strengths and ensure high-quality, inclusive learning experiences. Her leadership has also spanned multiple administrative roles, including elementary principal, assistant principal, and K-12 cyber coordinator, during which she has successfully built sustainable structures such as MTSS frameworks, academic support models, and restorative discipline practices.

Dr. Weakland’s professional expertise is strengthened by her multilingual background and her academic preparation. She holds a Master of Science in Teaching and Curriculum and is completing her Doctorate in Educational Administration and Curriculum Leadership at Drexel University. A deeply reflective and data-informed leader, she is known for her heart-led approach, ensuring that every student, especially those with exceptional or multilingual needs, feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Weakland on this well-deserved honor. We are grateful for her leadership, vision, and unwavering dedication to uplifting students and educators across Pennsylvania.

PA EDGE Outstanding Research & Publication Award

We are pleased to announce that Dr. W. Edward Bureau and Dr. John M. Gould have been selected as recipients of the Outstanding Research and Publication Award. This prestigious honor recognizes PA EDGE members whose scholarly work makes a significant contribution to the profession. Their co-authored book, Schools as Seeds of Change: A Regenerative Approach to Transforming Learning (2025), offers an inspiring and timely framework for reimagining schools as vibrant, adaptive, learner-centered ecosystems.

Dr. Bureau brings more than five decades of experience as a teacher, administrator, professor, and steadfast leader within PASCD/PA EDGE. As PASCD President (2000-2002), he championed sustaining momentum in regional and committee work, cultivating new leaders, and addressing membership needs. These are priorities that continue to guide the organization today. Dr. Bureau’s work is grounded in his enduring belief that schools transform most powerfully through collaborative, organic processes that uplift students, educators, and communities.

Dr. Gould contributes nearly six decades of leadership as a K-12 administrator, professor, and influential PASCD/PA EDGE member. As PASCD President, he oversaw the redesign of the organization’s constitution and later served as PASCD’s representative on the ASCD Board of Directors (1987-1989). Dr. Gould’s leadership reflects his unwavering belief in the power of visionary, learner-centered systems to strengthen schools, uplift communities, and shape a more hopeful future for education.

Together, Dr. Bureau and Dr. Gould have enriched Pennsylvania’s educational landscape through both scholarship and service. Their recent publication provides the field with a compelling model for regenerative, future-ready learning, while their lifelong commitment to PASCD/PA EDGE has strengthened the organization’s mission and impact.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Bureau and Dr. Gould on this well-deserved recognition and in celebrating their extraordinary contributions to educational leadership, research, and professional community across Pennsylvania.

PA EDGE Robert V. Flynn Memorial Distinguished Service Award

We are honored to announce that Dr. Brian Griffith, Superintendent of the Penns Valley Area School District, has been selected as the recipient of the Robert V. Flynn Memorial Distinguished Service Award. This distinguished recognition is presented to a PA EDGE member who has demonstrated exceptional commitment, leadership, and longstanding service to PA EDGE/PASCD and its mission to support educators across the Commonwealth.

Dr. Griffith has dedicated 22 years of service to the organization, including seven years as the North Central regional president and as PASCD President from 2020 to 2022. He actively participates in programs, committees, and professional learning initiatives that enhance the work of educational leaders across Pennsylvania. His thoughtful leadership and collaborative approach have significantly strengthened PA EDGE’s impact statewide, particularly through his contributions to mentoring, professional development, and advocacy for high-quality teaching and learning.

In his role as Superintendent, Dr. Griffith is recognized for building strong relationships, enhancing instructional quality, and promoting student-centered decision-making. His dedication to service goes beyond his district, driven by a deep belief in developing collective capacity and supporting the wider educational community. His influence has advanced the work of PA EDGE/PASCD and enriched the professional lives of numerous educators across the state. Most importantly, Dr. Griffith’s engagement with PA EDGE has strengthened his connection to a statewide network of educators and deepened his commitment to fostering student growth through intentional leadership.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Griffith on this well-deserved honor. We are grateful for his leadership, his generous service to the organization, and his enduring contributions to education in Pennsylvania.