The CIS board is pleased to announce that Dr. Janice M. Brown, former KPS Superintendent and Executive Director of The Kalamazoo Promise, has been chosen to receive the first Diether Haenicke Promise of Excellence Award.

The Diether Haenicke Promise of Excellence Award was established by the Communities In Schools Board in 2010 with the support of Carol Haenicke and the Haenicke family.  The Award was established to honor Diether’s extensive contributions to his adopted home of Kalamazoo and in particular, his service and genuine concern for the children and young people of our community.  While everyone knew of his love for higher education, and for Western Michigan University most especially, Diether Haenicke cherished teaching and learning at all levels and wanted all young people to have the gift of an excellent education and perhaps more importantly, the joy of life-long curiosity and learning. 

This year’s Diether Haenicke Promise of Excellence Award---the first---goes to Dr. Janice M. Brown, Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Promise.  Her nominators, Vice Mayor Hannah McKinney and City Commissioner Barbara Miller share these words as evidence that she exemplifies the criteria for this honor:  “For the past 40 years, Janice Brown’s career, as a teacher, principal, superintendent, consultant and educational executive, has involved finding ways to support student success in school and in life.  Her work touched individual students, districts, the state and the country.  Janice is currently one of the most important stewards of philanthropic and grant dollars in the community as Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Promise.  The Promise, rolled out in 2005, is a direct result of the respect and trust that the philanthropic community has in her vision and ability to implement that vision.  She is a tireless advocate for the public schools and for student achievement.”

This nomination was supported with letters from seven other community leaders.  Among the comments that support the nomination are the following:

¨     “I cannot think of a more fitting person to inaugurate an award that honors the dedication to education and the challenge to our community to take bold action to improve the lives of young people, as exemplified by Dr. Haenicke’s professional career and personal commitment to Kalamazoo.”

¨      “Dr. Brown recognizes the role she plays in dismantling the barriers for children to achieve.  She is a beacon and a lightning rod in our community for doing whatever is necessary to keep our community focused on our children.  She sells hope very well and has vastly improved the thinking that every child can learn.”

¨      “As an architect of the Kalamazoo Promise, she took a lead role in the development of a revolutionary program that has forever changed the education landscape and economy of the Kalamazoo region.”

¨      “As a consensus builder, Janice is an asset to any organization fortunate enough to have her in their ranks.  She’s smart, tough and compassionate.  If those aren’t the qualities that remind us of Diether, what are?”

Janice, on behalf of the Board and staff of Communities In Schools, and in recognition of the organizations which founded us---the City Commission, the Kalamazoo Public Schools and the Kalamazoo Regional Chamber of Commerce, we thank and honor you with the first Diether Haenicke Promise of Excellence Award.  We share this symbol of the award with you at this time.  In addition, a public display will be created to honor Diether Haenicke’s spirit, your award and all future award winners.  Congratulations.