Congratulations to Jennifer Wood, the Recipient of the 2016 Brooks Thomas Exemplary Service Award

The Brooks Thomas Exemplary Service Award was established in 2010 by the EL Education Board of Directors to honor staff who exemplify the qualities and character of our founding trustees and illustrate our commitment to serve as “Crew, not passengers.”. The award is named in honor of Thomas’ commitment and contributions to the EL Education vision for experiential education. Honorees demonstrate excellence, collaboration, and perseverance, and their contributions to enhance our mission exceed expectations.

Jen recently received the award at a special ceremony in New York City where her husband, EL Education Board members, and colleagues celebrated her work and commitment to our mission to help teachers and students achieve more than they think possible.

“If you believe in an organization in the way that I believe in EL Education and our mission, then you want to do work that is worthy. I get to see the impact of EL’s vision on a daily basis. I get to see that in the teachers who do more than they thought possible. I get to see that in the kids,” Jen said.

Jen cited her personal hero EL Education founder, former president, and current board member Greg Farrell who likened EL Education’s work to growing trees. “EL has been growing trees for 25 years, working shoulder to shoulder one school at a time. We now have a tremendously strong system of roots — orchards of schools across the country that is extraordinary,” she noted. “That tending of the individual trees that I do, individual schools, doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It happens with everyone in EL being side by side, growing and tending the trees.”

Congratulations to our friend, colleague, and partner in Crew, Jen Wood