20 Years Pursuing Excellent Public Education

In 2009, Reaching Heights celebrates 20 years of supporting excellent public education in Cleveland Heights and University Heights. Here’s a look back on some highlights from our first two decades.

1985
• Schools Consensus Project Task Force begins, addressing negative perceptions of our public schools that developed in the wake of racial changes in our community. Idea of a public school foundation discussed.

1988
• A group of dreamers - Dave Sweet, Phyllis Evans, Steve Bullock, Marge Montlack, Dick Obermans, Louisa Oliver, and Tom Gerson - meet on Susie Kaeser’s porch to propose a foundation. Tom Anderson, Joe Shafran and Susie Kaeser negotiate articles of Incorporation with school board president Bernard Greene.

1989
With filing of articles of incorporation, the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Public Schools Foundation is created.

1990
• School Team Grant program created to promote collaboration, innovation, and excellence in instruction (program ongoing in 2009).
• First public forum - Ron Wolk

1991
• We award first four School Team Grants, totaling $4,400 Program - 4 grants and $4,400 (as of 2009, we have awarded 265 School Team Grants worth more than $263,000)
• Wyse Landau Advertising develops Reaching Heights logo and name

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1992
• 1st Reaching Heights Adult Spelling Bee, a fundraiser for our School Team Grants program. The 19th annual Bee will take place Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at Cleveland Heights High School.

1993
• Reception and release of An Introduction to the Heights Schools
• Form Study Group of School Reform
• Workshop for principals on School Based Public Relations
• Public forum on The Achieving Middle School, Hayes Mizell

1994
• Publish first issue of Reaching Heights newsletter - Powerful Learning (ongoing in 2009)
• Launch Community Connection Grant program (ongoing in 2009)

1995
• Reaching Heights becomes a membership organization
• First Music Benefit - Reaching Notable Heights
• Launch PS 21 project - Public Schools for the 21st Century
• Launch Podis-Weiskopf Music Fund

1996
• Involve 150 people in Study Circle conversations
• Hold 3 PS21 public forums

1997
• Launch Thank-A-Teacher program (ongoing in 2009)
• Launch Neighborhood Newsletter program (ongoing in 2009)
• Sponsor Harp Fund
• Hold two PS21 public forums

1998
• HeightSwings Jazz Concert at Cain Park
• Create James Bane Jazz Scholarship (ongoing in 2009)
• Initiate Teaching Fellowship Program

1999
• Support 2000 by 2000 community reading program
• Reaching Heights celebrates 10th anniversary

2000
• Launch 4th Grade Proficiency Network with grant from Cleveland Foundation
• Survey 100 recipients of School Team Grants to assess their impact
• Matchmaker project increases large donor gifts
• Support Concert Club for Monticello students to hear professional musicians

2001
• Advocate and support second year of 4th Grade Proficiency Network

2002
• Publish Parent and Student Guide to the Heights Music Program
• Grant from Henry Doll to investigate service learning
• Provide staff support to 4th grade proficiency network
• Inaugural Friend of Public Education Award honoree: Jim Vail (ongoing in 2009)

2003
• Reaching Musical Heights at Severance Hall ignites community
• Made grant to support CH Teachers Union professional development program
• Public forum on School Governance
• Friend of Public Education Award honoree: Vicki Copeland

2004
• Launch Middle School Honor Band and Orchestra Festival (ongoing in 2009)
• Public Forums on School Funding and on What Works in Schools
• Friend of Public Education Award honoree: Maryann Barnes

2005
• Launch Heights Summer Music Camp (ongoing in 2009)
• Friend of Public Education Award honoree: Calvin Singleton
• Launch Many Village academic tutoring program (ongoing in 2009)

2006
• Friend of Public Education Award honoree: Amy Jenkins

2007
• Patti Family Fund Music Lesson Scholarship program begins with 33 scholarships (ongoing in 2009)
• Reaching Musical Heights-Encore! brings children and families from across the district back to Severance Hall
• Patrick Mullen hired as Executive Director upon retirement of Susie Kaeser
• Friend of Public Education Award honorees: Don & Donalene Poduska

2008
• Fourth Heights Summer Music Camp energizes 85 campers, who share their abundant talent at Finale Concert,
• Friend of Public Education Award honoree: Andrea Freeman
• Reaching Heights adopts new logo, along with tagline: Our Passion: Excellent Public Education

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2009
• Reaching Heights celebrates 20th anniversary
• New reachingheighs.org website is launched, incorporating video clips from our
   YouTube channel, ReachingHeightsOH
• Friend of Public Education Award honoree: John Carroll University.
• 18th Annual Adult Community Spelling Bee Champions: The Know Knothings, representing Cleveland Heights High School Parent Connection Council. Team members: Anne Kugler, Fran Lissemore, Jim Wright.
• 5th Annual Heights Summer Music Camp gives 85 young musicians a chance to shine during a fun and intense week of learning, culminating in a magnificent Finale Concert

2010
Join us for the 19th Annual Reaching Heights Spelling Bee April 21 at Heights High.

2011
Reaching Musical Heights 3! takes the stage.