Geauga Growth Partnership stepped away from the regular business agenda during its bi-monthly board meeting May 15 to recognize its outstanding partnership with Berkshire Schools Superintendent Douglas DeLong, who will be retiring July 31.
GGP Board Chairman John Epprecht recalled DeLong’s involvement when GGP hosted the first class of high school sophomores for the inaugural GGP Career Readiness Training in 2013. That first class laid the groundwork for what has become the highly successful GGP Youth Workforce Development Program, which in 2016 provided training experiences for more than 1200 students, said GGP Communications & Development Director Paige Orvis.
When GGP founder Frank Samuel first developed the concept for youth career training, he sent preliminary information to all the Geauga County school superintendents to solicit interest.
“Doug DeLong was the first, and perhaps the only, educator to respond,” said GGP Youth Education Task Force Chair John Wilhelm.
Since that time, Berkshire Schools, under DeLong’s leadership, have piloted every aspect of the Youth Workforce Development Program.
GGP Board of Directors presented DeLong with a Certificate of Appreciation, which reads:
“The Geauga Growth Partnership is pleased to honor Mr. Douglas DeLong for his vision and unwavering commitment to student success and educational excellence during his distinguished tenure as Superintendent of the Berkshire School District in Burton, Ohio.
“In grateful recognition for his passionate service and valued partnership, the Geauga Growth Partnership has contributed $750.00 to the Kent State University Geauga Campus Educational Scholarship Fund to advance higher education. This scholarship will be awarded to a Berkshire High School graduate from the Class of 2017 in honor of Douglas DeLong.
“Our sincere best wishes to Douglas DeLong for continued success and good fortune.”
“In all my years as an educator, this is one of the best things I’ve done,” said DeLong. “It’s been a great experience.”
DeLong has been superintendent for Berkshire Schools since 2008. He formerly served as principal of Chardon High School.
