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WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AUGUST 23, 2024) — The Williamsport Area School District Education Foundation (WASDEF) is pleased to announce the keynote speaker for its second Cherry + White Appreciation Night, an evening dedicated to paying tribute to WASD educators.

Dr. Adolph Brown will headline the Sept. 19 event, which also will include the induction of this year’s cohort of Williamsport Area High School Distinguished Alumni, that will be held at the Michael Ross Event Center, located in Trade and Transit Centre II in downtown Williamsport.

Brown is an internationally renowned credentialed master teacher, character education leader, servant leadership consultant, educational and clinical psychologist, author, researcher, entrepreneur, and an influential thinker/practitioner in the fields of education, human behavior and neuroscience. He was once the youngest tenured full professor in our nation even after his extremely humble beginnings and being the first in his family of five to graduate from high school.

Brown credits Head Start for giving him his aptitude for learning, and he continues to grow and learn to this very day. He is a graduate of the College of William & Mary with degrees in psychology, anthropology and a minor in education. He completed his graduate studies in clinical psychology at the College of William & Mary extension of the Virginia Consortium for Professional Psychology (child and family and education tracks). He completed his residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School.

He writes and teaches from a unique perspective of an experienced passionate and award-winning educator and research scientist, an innovative and effective business leader, and an engaging consultant. He’s devoted his life’s mission to positive human development. He is not the typical “motivational speaker” or self-proclaimed “guru.” He educates, informs, challenges and delights with some amusement and a little “show-and-tell.”

He stars with Ali Wentworth on the new show “The Parent Test” on ABC primetime.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Brown to Williamsport,” said WASDEF Executive Director Greg Hayes. “The message he’s set to deliver is timely and relevant. I’m confident our educators in attendance will once again leave the event inspired to drive positive changes not only in themselves but in their classrooms.”

Last year, Hayes said the education foundation felt it was important to add another layer to its support for Williamsport teachers in addition to its grant-making, and the event was very well-received.

“We wanted to further demonstrate our support with a night dedicated to them and allow them to celebrate themselves, alongside their colleagues, in the roles they have in helping to shape the futures of our community’s youth. Embedding the induction of this year’s Distinguished Alumni allows them to see the impact of a WASD education.”

Attendance at the event is limited to WASD educators and administrators. The celebration is being co-sponsored by C&N Bank, Bayada Home Health Care, Baker Tilly and EQT.

WASDEF is the recognized nonprofit affiliate of the Williamsport Area School District. The education foundation facilitates charitable giving and permanent legacies based on individual areas of interest in educational innovation, the arts, athletics and scholarships. For more information, visit www.wasdeducationfoundation.org.

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