Pittsburgh Teachers Institute Director Honored in "Strong Men & Women Program"

Helen S. Faison, Director of the Pittsburgh Teachers Institute, was honored by Dominion, one of the nation's largest producers of energy serving 5.3 million retail energy customers in nine states, along with eight other prominent African-Americans in its 14th annual "Strong Men & Women: Excellence in Leadership." Faison, a former Acting Superintendent of the Pittsburgh School District, was Pittsburgh's first African-American and female school principal. She served as a teacher and administrator in the Pittsburgh Schools for 43 years and helped to establish the Teachers Institute in 1998.

This presentation ceremony for Faison and two other honorees was held February 5 at the Cleveland Marriott at Key Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Among her many achievements, she was cited for her work as the founding and current director of the Teachers Institute. Thomas E. Capps, chairman and chief executive officer of Dominion, said, "Through our honorees, we hope to show young people that no dream is unattainable if it's matched by equal amounts of desire and hard work."

Dominion's "Strong Men & Women" program highlights the accomplishments of selected African-American role models and tells their stories through an educational series that is distributed to more than 12,000 schools across Dominion's natural gas and electric franchise service areas in Virginia, northeastern North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

A team of company employees selects each year's "Strong Men & Women" honorees. Judges look for candidates who have demonstrated leadership and courage in public life. Past honorees include Colin Powell, U.S. Secretary of State; Shirley A. Jackson, former U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission chairman; L. Douglas Wilder, former Virginia governor; and Cathy L. Hughes, founder and chairperson of Radio One Inc.

That same day, Faison also received an award from George Westinghouse High School, her alma mater, as its outstanding alumna. That presentation took place at a rededication ceremony for the newly renovated building. The honor also cited her work with the Pittsburgh Teachers Institute.

The Pittsburgh Teachers Institute is a member of the League of Teachers Institutes within the Yale National Initiative to strengthen teaching in public schools. It was established during the National Demonstration Project of the Yale-New Haven Teachers Institute. Building on the success of the Demonstration Project, the Initiative seeks to establish Teachers Institutes in states around the country.