Awards/Honors
Pace School
Award: The Alfred W. Wishart Award for Excellence in Non-profit Management.
The Alfred W. Wishart Award is made annually to a local nonprofit human service or community development organization that has demonstrated a sustained commitment to excellence in management and governance. Each year, the award-winning organization is publicly honored for its achievements and receives a $10,000 cash grant to be used for management support purposes.
Pace School received the award for exhibiting commitment to outstanding management by demonstrating leadership among their staff and board of director. Pace School was specifically commended for their extensive use of data to improve the education, treatment, and care of children and organizational effectiveness.
Pace School was nominated and selected from a pool of over 1800 nonprofits in the Pittsburgh Area. Pace School's competition was formidable, the other finalists included the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh and the Veterans Leadership Council which provides services to homeless vets and their families. The award was announced at the Nonprofit Summit where 550 people representing the entire nonprofit and foundation community throughout Southwestern PA were present.
Pace School
Award: National Association of Special Education Teachers' (NASET's) School of Excellence Award for the 2009-2010 School Year
Pace School is 1 of 56 schools nationwide to receive this distinction. The NASET School of Excellence award is bestowed on private special education schools that have met rigorous professional criteria and have demonstrated truly exceptional dedication, commitment and achievement in the field of special education.
Kelly Evanochko, LSW, Program Supervisor
Certification: Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) award by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board, Inc.(BACB) on August 31, 2009.
Kelly Evanochko, a licensed social worker and Pace School Program Supervisor, has joined other professionals in Pennsylvania to meet the educational, experiential, and examination requirements to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. BACB, a non-profit corporation, which establishes credentialing criteria for behavior analysts is accredited by the National Council for Certifying Agencies in Washington, DC.
Ms. Evanochko completed her required graduate-level coursework at the University of Pittsburgh, acquired 1,500 hours of supervised fieldwork and passed the rigorous Behavior Analyst Certification Examination to receive this credential. With the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, Kelly is able to enhance the Pace School staff's understanding of the meaning and function of the behavior of their students. Through this understanding, staff can develop responses to increase positive behavior and help students build skills that lead to greater chances of school success.
