6/29/2011 5:05:00 AMPeter Raskind, Barbara Snyder honored by Project Love, Remember the Children Foundation
June 29, 2011, 5:05 AM
By Regina Garcia Cano, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Two of Cleveland's education administrators were recognized Tuesday for inspiring dedication and collaboration in community work.
Peter Raskind, interim chief executive officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and Barbara Snyder, president of Case Western Reserve University, received this year's Sam Miller Goodness Award from the Project Love, Remember the Children Foundation.
"Peter Raskin and Barbara Snyder have a selfless desire to serve," said Stuart Muszynksi, the foundation's president and CEO. "They're both leaders who want to make their community better."
Raskind has become the "go-to" person when there is a problem or crisis that needs to be solved, Muszynski said. Raskind, previously a bank executive, volunteered to lead the Cleveland district for $1, a job he has been doing since January.
"Peter is a retired executive that emulates the individual who could otherwise have an easy life and go to the beach in Florida. But contrary to that, he wants to continue investing, investing, investing in building our community," Muszynski said.
In a video interview presented during Tuesday's program, Raskind admitted that his current job has been the most difficult one he have ever had.
"It is a really important job, and it needed to be done," Raskind said. "I thought I had perhaps a contribution to make.
Raskind will be replaced by Eric Gordon who was recently appointed to lead the Cleveland schools.
Project Love, Remember The Children Foundation encourages teens and adults to promote kindness and mutual respect in their community.
The award bears Miller's name, recently retired co-chairman of the board of directors of Forest City Enterprises.
Past recipients of the award include Rev. Otis Moss Jr., former senior pastor of Olivet Institutional Baptist Church, and his wife Edina Moss; former Cleveland schools CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett; and Mayor Frank Jackson.
Also receiving the this year's award was Snyder, who was recognized for CWRU's "refreshing focus on community and inclusion" during her tenure.
Muszynkski said Snyder's leadership has created an institution that "stands for something that others can look up and say: 'I want to do what that university does.' "
A video of Snyder's accomplishments noted among other things, CWRU School of Dental Medicine's Healthy Smiles program, which works to end disparities in oral health care among underprivileged school children.
Snyder became the university's president in 2007. Formerly, she was executive vice president and provost of The Ohio State University.
Raskind's advice for future good leaders: "You make your own luck. Figure out what you're passionate about, work hard at it and good things will fall."