Women2Women, a special program of the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, will honor the 2023 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient Adelle Schade Thursday April 20, at its 12th Annual Conference + Expo.
As the Founder of Total Learning Experience and Dean of Pre-College + Summer Programs at Albright College, Schade has been a catalyst for educational change in Berks County.
Total Experience Learning was named a top four STEM program in the United States in 2019 by District Administrator Journal. In December 2022, the program received international recognition during a ceremony by the United Nations, New York, as the Most Innovative Educational Model by the Materials Science sub-division of the United Nations.
Schade has taken the program from the high school environment to launching a world-class program that embraces students and educators. Developing a curriculum for teachers while continuing to push the boundaries for students, Schade continues to add resources and research to the sought-after Total Learning Experience Schade’s leadership and expertise also extends to the Berks County community.
At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Schade partnered with community leaders and manufacturers to address PPE shortages in the community. She worked to source 3-D printers and supplies to print equipment for first responders, educators and those in most need of protection from the virus.
Schade was appointed to Adjunct Instructor of Pediatrics in the Penn State College of Medicine and also is a part of the Visions Federal Credit Union CEO Advisory Board. In 2022, she was named the recipient of the Whitaker Center’s Women in STEM Game Changer Award, and in 2023, was named a Girl Scout Take the Lead award recipient.
”Thank you to GRCA Women2Women for honoring me with the ATHENA Leadership Award. This recognition has humbled me and strengthened my commitment to serving our community. I am especially grateful for the support system of inspiring women leaders in Berks County who have played a crucial role in my personal and professional growth. Thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement to revolutionize education,” said Schade.
The ATHENA Leadership Model, developed by Martha Mayhood Mertz through a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, identifies eight distinct attributes that are reflective of women’s contributions to leadership: living authentically, learning constantly, advocating fiercely, acting courageously, fostering collaboration, building relationships, giving back and celebrating. These personal traits that are more intuitive to women, combined with the strongest aspects of traditional leadership -taking risks, assertiveness, hard work-prepare women to be successful leaders in the 21st century.