Local People
- Last Updated on Friday, 08 June 2018 03:07
The Washington County Community Foundation (WCCF) has named Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski, an internationally known expert in sex education, the recipient of this year’s Dr. Howard Jack Outstanding Public Educator Award.
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| Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski |
For the past ten years, she has overseen both Common Ground Teen Center, which provides a safe place for teens to gather and learn about becoming adults, and Teen Outreach, part of the Washington Health System.
For Dr. Podgurski, supporting teens is a 24/7 responsibility. She thinks adults would be well served to stop and listen. “The best thing adults can do is get to experience silence. These kids are wise – listen to them. They have a depth our generation didn’t have. This generation has unique challenges. They have a different wisdom.”
The Dr. Howard Jack Outstanding Public Educator Award was presented to her at the WCCF’s annual Legacy Luncheon on Friday, May 11. In her honor, the Foundation will award a $1,000 grant to the Teen Outreach ECHO program at the Washington School District.
