Downingtown, PA- The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is getting connected thanks to the dedication and leadership of Dr. John P. Branson, director of Educational Research, Development and Technology for the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). Over the past three years, Branson has worked tirelessly to make the Pennsylvania statewide, high-speed educational network, known as PAIUnet, a reality for the commonwealth’s 501 school districts and 29 intermediate units.
His work has not gone unnoticed. In June, Branson was name the Pennsylvania Association of Intermediate Units (PAIU) employee of the year and was presented with the Gary L. Miller Memorial Award at the PAIU annual conference in Penn State.
According to Richard Daubert, executive director of the Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11 and chair of the award selection committee, “The purpose of the award is to recognize an intermediate unit employee who exemplifies the dedication and leadership for which Dr. Gary Miller, a former intermediate unit executive director, was renowned.”
Branson, said Daubert, is an excellent prototype of what an intermediate unit employee should be; and he personifies the criteria for the Dr. Gary L. Miller Memorial Award.
Miller, who was the executive director of the Midwestern Intermediate Unit from 1983 to 1992, strongly believed that all intermediate units should work collectively whenever possible for the advancement of education in Pennsylvania.
“John’s work with PAIUnet is a clear indication that he is not only working vigorously for the good of the Chester County Intermediate Unit, but also for the good of all intermediate units,” said Daubert. “There are countless intermediate unit employees who are fantastic employees. However, we annually recognize one of those employees who stand out among them and John was undoubtedly that person this year.”
According to PAIUnet.org, PAIUnet enables Pennsylvania educators and students to create, communicate, collaborate, and share beneficial resources with a goal of enhancing student learning. Branson is the project director and sole point of contact for the PAIUnet project.
There are 29 intermediate units in the commonwealth and over 20,000 IU employees statewide.
“Winning this award is a great honor that I never expected,” said Branson. “It is a humbling experience because I am aware of the caliber of those who have won the award in the past and of my colleagues throughout the state.”
Branson is modest about his many undertakings and accomplishments that include earning various degrees and certifications, authoring several publications, holding numerous leadership positions and memberships in professional associations, demonstrating leadership through presentations to peers, and being recipient of a long list of awards.
Dr. Joseph O’Brien, executive director of the Chester County Intermediate Unit, can attest to Branson’s character and work ethic.
“John is an outstanding employee who pays incredible attention to detail and is always working towards a goal,” said O’Brien. “He is a team player, which is part of what makes him so great. He is constantly deflecting whatever praise he receives onto others.”
This is recognizable in Branson’s expressed appreciativeness for others.
“I didn’t do it alone,” said Branson. “All of the people I work with who make things happen and put forth their best efforts every day are the ones who should receive the credit,” said Branson. “There are people exchanging emails at ten o’clock at night about a new project or a new finding because it’s going to improve educational opportunities for the students”
According to O’Brien, Branson is an educator first who always keeps the best interests of students in mind.
“What I really like about him is his utmost dedication to the kids,” said O’Brien. “It can be easy to lose sight of what is truly important within an organization but it is clear that John’s character does not allow for this possibility to exist.”
Branson’s dedication translates to an ongoing process of researching, developing, and delivering top-notch services, resources, and programs. One of the many undertakings with which he is currently involved is the Innovation Institute, a project aimed at assisting educators in developing instructional strategies to better prepare students for the 21st century’s global society.
“It is very important that we teach our students new, basic skills in addition to the traditional skills and thought processes,” said Branson. “We want to help students broaden their thoughts and develop competency in collaborating with people all over the world.”
