Fall 2006
To whom it may concern:
I am writing on behalf of Mr. Paul Harvey who has been retained by the Syracuse City School District for the past year and a half and is currently still working as a parent advocate consultant with our Lincoln and Levy Middle School programs. In addition I am aware of several programs initiated by Mr. Harvey as the PTO president at the Ed Smith Elementary school and of his efforts with our four high schools developing internships in political offices over the past four years.
In his many efforts on behalf of the SCSD Mr. Harvey has achieved substantial success at reaching out to and empowering diverse members of our community as partners in our public schools. He has facilitated the Lincoln staff in conducting a family dinner focused on their AVID program, created a successful program at Lincoln dealing with chronically tardy students, developed groups of Parent Representatives in two of our schools. He has assisted these parent groups in preparing lists of district programs available to students and their families, developing a climate survey to assess community support and conducting a “thank you” effort from the community to the staff.
At Ed Smith Elementary Mr. Harvey was instrumental in developing a partnership between the school and the Syracuse City Parks and Recreation department which offers all parents free after school day care for school age children throughout the entire school year and offers a camp for local youth during the summer. Mr. Harvey also initiated the partnership between Ed Smith and Sensis Corporation which is in its’ fourth year and he facilitated a group of parents seeking to develop their highly profitable “Art Auction” and their Community Talent Show both of which are also in their fourth year. Mr. Harvey is currently working with Ed Smith principal Tony Tolbert to facilitate several community groups, the SUNY Environmental School of Forestry, Syracuse University, the Syracuse City Department of Parks and Recreation and Oakwood Cemetery Management in creating a cultural trail.
Mr. Harvey has, over the past four years, developed and facilitated the SCSD and Senator Schumer’s office to offer year long internships as credited courses to four Seniors from the school district. He has initiated the growth of the program to three other state politicians and is looking to grow the program further.
It has been my experience with Mr. Harvey that he believes in using his thirty years of experience in leadership and public education to facilitate and empower all the stakeholder groups of our school community in their efforts to improve the educational experience and the community climate in all our schools. He works with the utmost integrity to build teams that meet with genuine, lasting effects. I would highly recommend him as a consultant and/or coordinator for family, staff and community efforts in other schools needing his services.
Sincerely yours,
Daniel G. Lowengard
Superintendent of Schools