TURNING POINTS FOR CHILDREN TO HONOR
PHILADELPHIA SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT,
DR. ARLENE ACKERMAN

Organization’s Annual “Kids at Heart” Gala Shines the Spotlight on Ackerman for Her Achievements in Empowering Stronger Families and Brighter Futures.

Philadelphia (April 9, 2010) – Turning Points for Children, a nonprofit organization providing services and support for children and their families, announced today the selection of Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman, School District of Philadelphia Superintendent, as their honoree for the annual “Kids at Heart” Gala. The annual fundraising event, to be held this year on Saturday, May 1 at The Down Town Club in Philadelphia, is a celebration of the community’s achievements in strengthening families and providing hope for brighter futures.  Dr. Ackerman was selected for the honor based on her more than thirty years of experience in leading and affecting change in large, diverse, urban public school systems.

“Here in Philadelphia, as well as several other communities around the country, Dr. Ackerman truly and dynamically embodies everything Turning Points for Children advocates—a conviction in the power of families, and a devotion to leaving no one behind,” said Mike Vogel, CEO Points for Children. “She is both a resourceful leader who gets things done, as well as a compassionate friend who instills hope and confidence in the many generations she has nurtured throughout her career.”

In addition to the award presentation to Dr. Ackerman, the Turning Points for Children “Kids at Heart” Gala will feature cocktails and dinner in the elegant Down Town Club, as well as a silent auction and entertainment. The festivities run from 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM on Saturday, May 1, 2010. The Down Town Club is located at 150 South Independence Mall West in Philadelphia. Further information, including sponsorship and tickets, is at www.turningpointsforchildren.org/kah ; or call 215.875.4964.

“We are honored to host this celebratory event and embrace even more people in the personal and professional fulfillment to be found in living out our
mission,” said Vogel. “We also thank Dr. Ackerman and all the generous people of our community who support the empowerment of families and future through their special contributions… not just for this event, but all year ‘round.”

About Turning Points for Children

Turning Points for Children is the new identity of the recently merged non-profit organizations, Children’s Aid Society of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia
Society for Services to Children. Combined, both organizations have provided nearly 300 years of services and support to children and families. These two organizations, now at a 175th anniversary milestone, merged in 2008 to provide more quality programs to more families in the region.Through their outreach mission, Turning Points for Children provides proven, innovative programs that nurture families with children who are struggling
against difficult economic and environmental odds. Implementing an approach that includes after-school family programs, teen parent education, and assistance to relative caregivers, they provide the critical resources, life skills and supportive partnerships needed to create stronger families and raise children with the hope for brighter futures.

Dr. Arlene C. Ackerman

With more than thirty years of experience leading large, diverse, urban public schools, Dr. Ackerman assumed her duties as School District of Philadelphia Superintendent in June 2008. Prior to coming to Philadelphia, she was with the School District from the Teachers College of Columbia University, where she served as Chairperson of the Superintendents and Scholars Symposium and Director of the Urban Education Leaders Program –the College's largest doctoral program for public-school leaders. She joined Teachers College's Education Leadership faculty as the Christian A. Johnson Professor of Outstanding Educational Practice in 2006.

Dr. Ackerman also is Superintendent in Residence of Los Angeles-based Broad Center, where she facilitates and directs the Broad Superintendents Academy, a ten-month executive management program designed to prepare CEOs and senior executives from business, government, and education backgrounds to lead urban public school systems.

Prior to 2006, Dr. Ackerman was Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District and the District of Columbia Public Schools. During her tenure in San Francisco, the city's public schools--with, 62,000 students and 117 schools--attained five consecutive years of improved achievement for all groups of students while also holding the distinction as the highest-performing large urban school district in the state of California during the last two years of her superintendency.