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Julia Pile Receives Inaugural LEXINGTON, KY — The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence has named Julia (Julie) Pile the inaugural recipient of the Beverly Nickell Raimondo Leadership Award to recognize exemplary leadership by parents who are engaged in advocating for education excellence for all students. The award, established in 2017 by the Committee and Raimondo’s family to honor her vision for excellent education and its impact on students, was announced at the Committee’s annual meeting in Lexington on Sunday night. Ms. Pile, a resident of Florence, Kentucky, was nominated by Boone County School Superintendent, Dr. Randy Poe, and Northern Kentucky community leader, Helen Carroll, for her work leading parent engagement activities for the school district. “To receive an award named after and in memory of Bev Raimondo is a humbling honor,” said Pile. “Bev was on the forefront of parent and community engagement and knew the critical success factor for our children was for parents to be involved.” “When parents are involved in schools, it benefits children, teachers, and whole communities,” said Brigitte Blom Ramsey, executive director of the Prichard Committee. “Julie’s tireless work to include and empower parents as advocates for excellent education sets an example for all to follow.” Raimondo conceived and launched the Governor’s Commonwealth Institute for Parent Leadership (GCIPL) and the Parents and Teachers Talking Together Program in the early 1990s, both of which were instrumental in shaping Kentucky’s groundswell of support for education excellence. “I remember Bev attending our GCIPL sessions and encouraging us to break down barriers and build relationships. It was through this program which Bev started that I found my passion to build opportunities for families and communities to connect and become partners with their schools and each other,” said Pile. More than 2,500 parents have completed GCIPL training. Graduates have become essential partners in positively transforming Kentucky’s schools and communities through leadership on school boards and committees and as informed public school advocates. “My daughters and I can think of a no more fitting way to honor Bev’s memory and legacy than to recognize parent achievement with this award,” said Tony Raimondo, Bev’s husband. “In addition, we hope the award will help to motivate other parents to carry the torch of parent involvement and achievement in the Commonwealth for many years to come.”
Pictured in Photo Attached Left to Right: Franklin Jelsma, Prichard Committee Board Chair, Dr. Randy Poe, Julia Pile, Tony Raimondo, Laurel Raimondo Martin, Brigitte Blom Ramsey, Prichard Committee Executive Director. |
| The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence is an independent, non-partisan citizens’ advocacy group. Comprised of volunteer civic and business leaders from across Kentucky, the Committee has worked to improve education for Kentuckians of all ages since 1983.
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