On May 24, 2022, eight students were honored for their participation in the "Possibilities Program" at St. Luke's Anderson Campus. This career readiness program provides on-the-job skills through volunteerism. At the ceremony, St. Luke's University Health Network leadership and Colonial IU 20 team members praised the Colonial IU 20 student interns for the dedication, resiliency, and overall positive energy they brought to the St. Luke's campus on a daily basis. The interns also gave individual speeches detailing which departments they worked and enjoyed the most.

Kenneth Blakley

Alejandra Camarena Diaz

Emily Cruz

Gabriel Perez

Evan O'Sullivan

Gabriel Sefcik

Michael O'Krepka

Dylan Bartholemew

Colonial IU 20 plans to grow this collaborative partnership with St. Luke’s during the 2022-2023 school year and give even more students the opportunity to learn these valuable employability and independence skills.

Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 held a 50th anniversary celebration on April 27, 2022 at Colonial Academy with representatives from its member districts, legislators, community partners, and other stakeholders. The official anniversary occurred in 2021, but the in person celebration was pushed to this year due to the pandemic. The event featured guest speakers that discussed the positive impact of Intermediate Units across the Commonwealth, and specifically the Colonial IU 20 region. Colonial IU 20 was presented with a Certificate of Recognition from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on behalf of Senator Mario Scavello, Representative Ann Flood, Representative Joe Emrick, and Representative Zachary Mako.

The full list of speakers includes: Dr. Christopher Wolfel - Executive Director of Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, Dr. John George - Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units, Dr. Charlene Brennan - Former Executive Director of Colonial Intermediate Unit 20, Dr. Dennis Riker - Superintendent of Nazareth Area School District, Mr. Nick Dorion - Former student / current Special Olympics Ambassador, Ms. Amanda Sechrist - Director of Northampton County Special Olympics, and Ms. Caterina Campbell - Co-Founder of the Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 Parent Support T.E.A.M.

Refreshments were provided by a food truck operated by the Bethlehem Area Vocational-Technical School Culinary Program. Created in 1971 by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Intermediate Units provide services to school districts in ways that create economies of scale, cost savings, and better efficiencies in the delivery of important programs and services to children, especially those with special needs. There are 29 intermediates across the Commonwealth.

Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 jointly celebrated the Excellence in Education Awards and the National Merit Scholar Recognition Ceremony at The Event Center at Blue on May 12, 2022. This annual event honors outstanding educational programs and students throughout the public schools in Northampton, Monroe and Pike counties. The keynote address was delivered by Debora Carrera, Ed.D., Pennsylvania Department of Education Executive Deputy Secretary. See below for a complete listing of honorees.

Northampton Borough Elementary School, Northampton Area School District

Provides inclusive programming in school settings

On May 24, 2022, a team of administrators from Colonial Intermediate Unit 20 participated in the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) Spring Day on the Hill at the Capitol in Harrisburg. The CIU 20 team shared the valuable work we do in supporting students and educators, and advocated for Early Intervention funding, Special Education funding, Mental Health supports and discussed strategies to address the education staffing shortage that is impacting our schools and communities.

Christopher Rice has been a Teacher in the Colonial IU 20 Autistic Support Program since 2017. He worked at Colonial Academy until the start of this school year with the opening of the Autistic Support room at Nitschmann Middle School, Bethlehem Area School District. He says the most rewarding part of his job is "Hearing from parents and family members about the progress (social, academic, whatever it may be) that they see in their child - or that I see in the student. Sometimes the smallest accomplishments make the biggest difference in the lives of our kiddos and their families, and it can be difficult to recognize during the daily grind."

Mr. Rice recognizes the importance of teaming and self care in helping students in a sometimes challenging environment, "You have to be able to lean on each other as team members and recognize the good that you are doing, sometimes out loud. Sometimes you need to tap out and give yourself a few minutes to breathe. Nobody can be perfect or do it, all but accepting that and doing the best you can makes all the difference."

When asked what piece of advice he would give a new employee starting out at the IU, he says, "Create positive relationships with your team as well as your students. Not only do students need to feel safe, accepted, and cared for to get the most out of their time in school, but so do the team members who are there to support them. School should be a secure and happy place for everyone first - all the rest is built on that foundation."

When CIU 20 opened the Autistic Support classroom at Nitschmann Middle School this year, Mr. Rice with the support of his Associate Teachers Juan Kauer and Marita Paton, created a "reverse inclusion" buddy program. The goal of the program is to promote inclusion and acceptance by bringing students from other classrooms into the Autistic Support classroom. The students learn from each other and share experiences about the common hurdles that middle school can present.

Mr. Rice's motivation to start the reverse inclusion program stemmed from the challenges that arose with traditional inclusion methods, "The reason I started this program is because getting my students out for inclusion classes proved to be quite a challenge given their needs for support, the schedule that middle schoolers follow, and the format of the classes. I wanted to find a way to support inclusion and everything that comes with it, but in a format that is better suited to my students."

With the early success of the program, Christopher is optimistic that this initiative will grow and continue to have a positive impact on the school community, "My students get to spend time interacting, socializing, and learning with peers that they otherwise likely don’t get to spend time with, and those peer buddies gain valuable experience in a number of ways as well - helping others, building relationships, and gaining an appreciation for those that might seem very different from themselves at first glance."

The Colonial IU 20 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Committee seeks to foster a sense of belonging for all students, families, and staff. Below is what is being celebrated this month.

Colonial IU 20 was one of the first IU's to provide mental health services to students since its inception as an educational services provider in 1971. Our mental health programming has grown tremendously and we are currently one of the largest IU providers of mental health services in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Follow us on our social media channels to learn more about the resiliency of #AmazingIU20Kids and creative approaches to learning that our #AmazingIU20Staff have implemented!

At Colonial IU 20, we believe in RELATIONSHIPS that support student growth, RESPONSIVENESS to stakeholders crucial needs, RESULTS demonstrated through effective services and programs, and INNOVATION to improve student outcomes.