PTW Awardees

Dana’s work is grounded in compassion and action—going far beyond her job description to create meaningful change. From developing “Victory Closets” that provide students with essentials in a dignified, private setting, to organizing workforce initiatives that support the parents of displaced youth, Dana’s efforts reflect a deep understanding that stability at home is essential for success in school.

Her leadership is both strategic and deeply personal. She ensures all staff are trained in trauma-informed, culturally responsive practices, while centering student voice in every decision. Under her guidance, the district has embraced mental wellness and social-emotional learning, implementing innovative tools like the “First Five” strategy and the “How We Feel” app. Whether she’s delivering supplies to shelters, collaborating with community partners, or shaping policy at the state level, Dana leads with heart, humility, and relentless commitment. Her work has transformed not only student outcomes—but the culture of her entire district.

Margarita’s role spans across five schools, directly impacting the lives of over 80 students through hands-on support, thoughtful advocacy, and unwavering compassion. From conducting home visits to distributing essentials like groceries, school uniforms, winter coats, and hygiene kits, Margarita ensures that every child and family she serves feels seen, supported, and safe. Beyond meeting immediate needs, Margarita has forged strong partnerships to secure grant funding for everything from utility assistance and furniture to transportation and funeral costs. Thanks to her efforts and passion, students can also access enriching experiences like afterschool programs, summer camps, and field trips—all at no cost.

She also facilitates annual training to ensure professional development occurs with new and returning staff, closely coordinates with the Philadelphia School District and community agencies, and has achieved excellent McKinney-Vento audit results while maintaining impeccable data, records, and standards. Margarita’s leadership is both heart-driven and results-oriented, making her an invaluable force within the Belmont Charter community.

Krissy is the heart behind Foster Love Project’s free shopping center for children in foster care, where she creates a warm, welcoming, and dignified experience for every child who walks through the door. She ensures that each visit is about more than just clothing – it’s about being seen, heard, and cared for.

She is especially committed to inclusivity, maintaining a wide selection of stylish, size-inclusive clothing and shoes and ensuring the center is filled with items kids will truly love. Her thoughtfulness, like nonverbal communication thumbs up/thumbs down for kids who prefer not to speak, providing translation options, multilingual signage, and culturally responsive options reflect her deep respect for each child’s identity and comfort. Krissy’s unwavering dedication, compassion, and thoughtfulness have made a lasting impact on the foster youth in the region, and her work continues to uplift and empower countless lives.

Known for going far beyond her official duties, Shannon ensures that every student’s needs are met with dignity and care. When one McKinney-Vento student needed everything, from transportation across the state, to a cap and gown to attend his graduation as the first in his family to do so, Shannon made it happen without hesitation.

She sees her role as that of a coach, showing up for her students no matter what the odds and helping them build the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Her hands-on, heart-forward approach has made her a trusted partner in the regional program and a powerful force for good within her district. Shannon’s steadfast belief in her students and her tireless efforts on their behalf embody the true spirit of McKinney-Vento, making her a truly deserving recipient of this year’s Paving the Way Award.

As the driving force behind a district-wide system of care, she ensures early identification of families in crisis and coordinates essential services like transportation, meals, school supplies, and trauma-informed support. Her leadership has streamlined enrollment procedures, sustained educational continuity during housing transitions, and built a school environment where every student experiencing homelessness and student experiencing foster care feels seen, safe, and supported.

Doris is also a recognized voice at the state level, having recently joined lawmakers and advocates at the Capitol to champion legislative efforts that reduce barriers for students experiencing homelessness. She has implemented proactive strategies, strengthened community partnerships, and modeled sustainable, compassionate solutions. Whether she’s building systems, training staff, or meeting directly with families in need, Doris leads with empathy, expertise, and an unwavering commitment to educational equity.

Through her exceptional leadership and collaboration with Pennsylvania’s Permanency Barriers Project with the American Bar Association and Lancaster County Children and Youth Services, Lisette has helped address challenges with insight and purpose to reduce the time children spend in foster care before achieving permanency. Lisette has also represented her district on both state and national stages, co-presenting on best practices for supporting unaccompanied youth and lending her expertise to webinars focused on the educational impact of homelessness.

Lisette generously shares her district’s successful strategies with peers across the state and has built strong relationships with community partners to ensure that immediate needs are met with dignity for all students served under the school’s Families in Transition program. Known for her compassion and deep commitment, she has made a profound impact on every student and family she serves.

Attorney Sholley is known for her no-excuses approach, ensuring educational stability for youth by never missing an IEP, BID, or permanency meeting—and often going above and beyond, including late nights and weekends, to meet their needs. Her advocacy is trauma-informed, child-centered, and focused on creating opportunities for normalcy and long-term success, whether by maintaining school continuity or recommending a fresh start when it’s in the child’s best interest.

Her leadership extends beyond the courtroom. She serves numerous state and local workgroups, trains child welfare professionals, and has played a pivotal role in initiatives like the Family Engagement Leadership Summit. Her efforts have led to increased use of kinship care, stronger family voice, and expanded mentoring supports—dramatically improving outcomes for youth across multiple counties. Carrying forward a powerful family legacy, Attorney Sholley has already made a lasting difference in the lives of countless foster youth and families, and continues to lead with compassion, excellence, and purpose.

As dedicated liaison for both ECYEH and the Educational Stability for Youth in Foster Care programs, Dr. Sweeney works diligently to provide much needed services for students experiencing homelessness and in foster care. Alongside the demands of district leadership, she remains deeply involved and collaborates with the ECYEH and Foster Care regional offices regularly; and maintains a high level of collaboration with other homeless liaisons, administrators and community agencies and shelters. She also ensures her entire staff is well-versed in the needs and rights of these student populations.

Dr. Sweeney’s passion and commitment are evident in everything she does, from organizing supply drives and donations to ensuring students are able to start school prepared and supported. She truly embodies the spirit of liaison, and her tireless efforts make her a standout leader and a most deserving recipient of the 2025 Paving the Way Award.

Debbie consistently goes above and beyond to ensure students experiencing homelessness and those in foster care receive the referrals, resources, and support they need to succeed from personally picking up supplies, educating families about their rights, and ensuring timely access to services. Her commitment extends to training staff across the district and actively participating in every regional learning opportunity to strengthen her impact.

Beyond her district, Debbie is a true community connector. She has led outreach efforts to engage faith-based and non-traditional support systems and collaborates seamlessly with partner agencies and neighboring districts. Known for her positivity, humor, and heart-first approach, Debbie’s unwavering efforts have helped countless students stay in school and overcome barriers. Her work is a powerful reminder that advocacy, when rooted in care, can truly change lives.

Since 2018, Lori has brought organization, care, and determination to a role that touches hundreds of lives each year. In just the past two school years, she has managed the intake of nearly 1,000 students into the ECYEH system, maintained critical data, and ensured students stay connected to essential services. Her behind-the-scenes work has become the backbone of the school’s efforts to support families in crisis.

But Lori’s impact goes far beyond spreadsheets and systems. She personally fulfills clothing orders, mails backpacks of school supplies, and assembles hygiene kits with a level of care and dignity that reflects her deep compassion. She stretches every dollar to meet students’ real needs and ensures they feel valued and seen. Lori’s work reminds us that program impact is found in both the numbers and the human stories behind them.