Dan Cirucci: LEAP, Rutgers, Knight Launch ELRA In Camden

Monday, November 22, 2010

LEAP, Rutgers, Knight Launch ELRA In Camden

Dr. Richard L. McCormick, President of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey speaks as Rutgers Camden Chancellor Dr. Wendell Pritchett and LEAP Founder Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago listen.

The site of the new Early Learning Research Academy.

LEAP Founder Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago

Dr. Wendell Pritchett, Chancellor of Rutgers Camden speaks at the event.

It was a glorious morning in our hometown of Camden, NJ this morning and we were happy to be on hand for the groundbreaking of the new John S. and James L. Knight Early Learning Research Academy on the campus of Rutgers University.
We attended this gala event at the invitation of Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, the Rutgers Board of Governors Distingtuished Service Professor and the driving force behind the LEAP Academy University Charter School. The school was created in 1997 as one of 13 inaugural public charter schools in the state of New Jersey. Originally a K–5 charter school serving 324 students, LEAP has since expanded to serve 780 students grades K–12 and also houses a 90-student preschool program.
LEAP’s story actually began in 1993, when Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago and the Rutgers Center for Strategic Urban Community Leadership developed the concept of an independently governed, public charter school that could improve education and opportunities for the children and families of Camden City.
In its time LEAP Academy has graduated four senior classes and every year since the first in 2005, LEAP graduates have achieved 100% college acceptance. The school has earned praise from the state, receiving both the New Jersey Public Charter School ExemplarySchool Award and the 2002-2003 Pioneer Award from NJ Dept. of Education.
This new facility will mark a move by LEAP, Rutgers and the Knight Foundation into the realm of preschool and early learning. It's a very exciting development and it bodes well for Camden and the entire region.
BTW: We understand that $30 million in state funds are available to eligible charter schools and LEAP would certainly seem to be a worthwhile beneficiary of such funding. New Jersey's Acting Education Commissioner, Rochelle Hendricks was at today's groundbreaking and she spoke highly of LEAP. We also know that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is a major booster of charter schools.
We direct the Governor and the Commissioner's attention to LEAP. Here's one program that certainly seems worthy of additional funding.

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About Dan Cirucci

He's been cited by the late Rush Limbaugh, quoted in the New York Times, featured at Real Clear Politics and Lucianne.com and interviewed across all media.

He's Dan Cirucci, the founder and editor-in chief of the Dan Cirucci Blog, a Save Jersey blog columnist, frequent guest on the Matt Rooney radio show and one of the most widely honored public relations professionals in his field. He's also been a public relations consultant to numerous organizations and individuals and hosted The Advocates on RVN-TV.

Inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Hall of Fame, for many years he served as a Lecturer in Corporate Communication at Penn State University. A former President of the Philadelphia Public Relations Association (PPRA) he has lectured at Rowan University, Temple University, The College of New Jersey and Arcadia University. He has conducted workshops on public relations for thousands of participants throughout the nation and has taught countless others the art of public speaking. He has also advised numerous lawyers, judges, public officials and political candidates.

Cirucci is a prolific writer and his op-ed pieces have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Courier-Post, Broad and Liberty and other print and online platforms.

A native of Camden NJ, Cirucci is a former President of the Philadelphia chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. Cirucci served as Associate Executive Director of the Philadelphia Bar Association for nearly 30 years. He served as Chair of Penn State University's Professional Advisory Board for the Corporate Communication major at Penn State Abington and on the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Judicial Selection Commission.

He received his MA degree from Rowan University and his BA from Villanova University. He has been named a Distinguished Alumnus of Rowan's public relations program and received the E. A. "Wally" Richter Leadership Award, the highest honor from the National Association of Bar Executives' Communications Section. He has also been honored by numerous other local, state and national groups.

In his hometown of Camden, Cirucci taught fifth grade at the Ulysses Wiggins Elementary School named for the founder of the Camden NAACP. There he was one of the first teachers in the country to teach African-American history to inner city students. He later served as editor of a local weekly newspaper, as Assistant to the Township Manager of Cherry Hill Township and as Associate Director of Communications at the New Jersey State Bar Association.

Cirucci's passions include all things Italian, politics, the popular culture, books and authors, art, communication, music, theatre, movies, dining and travel.

He and his wife Carole have two grown children and seven grandchildren.

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