NEF Announces New Co-President and Welcomes Eight New Board Members

Needham, Mass. – June 19, 2009 – The Needham Education Foundation (NEF) welcomes eight new board members and is delighted to announce the appointment of new Co-President Pamela Rosin. She will join Frank Fortin to lead academic year 2009-2010.

“Over the last two years, Pamela’s strong management skills and web design expertise have enabled the NEF to vault into the 21st century. I look forward to the progress the next two years will bring under Pamela’s leadership as co-president,” said Fortin.

Rosin has served the NEF for the last two years in an array of instrumental roles including: co-chair of the Small Grants Committee, development of the NEF web site, and database development for the Annual NEF Spelling Bee. She has been intricately involved with the Cultural Arts programs of the Needham Public Schools as chair of Eliot's Cultural Arts committee and co-chair of the Needham Cultural Arts Council. Born in South Africa, Rosin was trained in clinical psychology and taught at the University of Cape Town. She and her husband, Jonathan, emigrated to Needham in 1994. They have a son at Pollard and a daughter at Eliot.

Rosin will succeed Carolyn Perelmuter, who showed exemplary leadership during her two years as co-president.

“Carolyn's term boasted the foundation's largest grant awards year ever, followed by another successful year in spite of difficult economic times,” said Fortin. “We would like to commend Carolyn for her sure, steady and successful guidance.”

Joining the talented and dedicated individuals who are the faces of the NEF are the following board members beginning their three year terms:

Alison Dick – Third Grade Teacher at John Eliot Elementary; Co-Creator of the Summer METCO Jumpstart Program, Westwood High School Field Hockey Coach

Seth Evans – Fifth Grade Teacher at Mitchell Elementary; Past President Cooperation Home Care of Boston

Don Gratz – Past Chair and Vice Chair and 10 year member of the Needham School Committee; Director of Graduate Programs in Education and Chair of the Education Department at Curry College

Karen McCalley – Needham High School English Teacher; Steering Committee member for the NEASC (New England Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation process; Past Assistant Director of Admissions at Bryn Mawr College

Lisa Tanzer – Senior Vice President of Marketing for children’s television production company, Cookie Jar Entertainment; Board of Director member for Project Joy, a non-profit organization that uses play therapy to assist disadvantaged youth

Leslie Falk Tillotson – Human Resources Consultant; Past Vice President Human Resources for Cybertrust; Past Co-Chair of the Enrichment Grant Committees at Newman Elementary and Pollard Middle School

Mark Ward – East Coast Senior Vice President for Kaplan, Inc. currently developing Kaplan Tutoring; Former attorney representing public schools

Anne Weinstein –Chair of Hillside Elementary PTC Program on Disabilities; Former employment law litigation and civil rights law attorney

“Each of these new member’s devotion to education is readily apparent in their careers and extracurricular activities,” said NEF Co-President Pamela Rosin. “We are fortunate to have such a diverse group of people and skills coming together within the NEF to bring learning alive for the children of Needham.”

The NEF would also like to extend a hearty thank you to those board members who have completed their last year of service. It is the generosity of the people of Needham, both volunteers and donors, who continue to make the NEF a grand success.

“Over the 2008-2009 school year, the NEF awarded 20 grants worth $83,459.60 – a total that is a tremendous credit to the Needham community and a strong indicator of the value our town places on education,” said Fortin.

The NEF funds programs that promote innovation and excellence from pre-kindergarten through high school, for projects that are outside normal and expected public funding. Since 1990, the NEF has supported more than 250 grants worth more than $1 million.

For more information, contact:
NEF Co-Presidents
Frank Fortin (781) 249-2244
Pamela Rosin (781) 801-0634

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