Booz Allen Employees Go Back to School – To Help Students, Teachers and Administrators

Some businesses “adopt” particular schools. Booz Allen has, in a way, adopted an entire school system.

Dozens of Booz Allen Hamilton employees have donated their time and expertise to the Montgomery County Public Schools, with everything from technology education for students, to curriculum planning for teachers, to advice to school officials on project management.

As a result of that extensive, multi-level contribution, the Montgomery County Board of Education has honored Booz Allen with a 2008 Distinguished Service to Public Education Award.

“Their participation – both in breadth and depth – stands out from their peers,” says Heather Schwager, executive director of the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education (MCBRE), who nominated Booz Allen for the award. “Time and again, they have gone beyond what’s expected of them.”

Chris Ghion, a Booz Allen principal who accepted the award on behalf of the firm, praises the dedication of Booz Allen employees who are willing to devote their after-hours time to the schools. He says particular credit goes to three Booz Allen associates, Willa Fleming, who leads the day-to-day volunteer work at Wheaton High School, and Kathleen Flynn and Greg Chait, who have headed up the work at Argyle Middle School in Silver Spring.

Both Wheaton and Argyle are magnet IT schools for the county, and Booz Allen’s volunteers have helped the students develop their computer and Internet skills to prepare for real-world challenges. That has included a robotics course, a Web-design contest, and presentations on Internet safety for students and parents.

Booz Allen itself has also played a significant role, providing donations to the schools, participating in career fairs at Wheaton High School, and offering Wheaton students internships at the firm in which they interact directly with clients.

“It’s rewarding working the kids,” says Ghion. “We do have an influence on them and how they are going to develop. Kids at the junior-high school level are involved in the arts, music and sciences, and they’re starting to pick their areas of expertise now. Coming in, we have their attention.”

At the same time, Booz Allen volunteers have partnered with teachers at Argyle and Wheaton to develop technology-based curriculum, and have offered insight into what skills will best prepare students for successful careers. And Booz Allen employees have assisted top school administrators in adopting best business and management practices.

Booz Allen employees also do volunteer work for MCBRE, which helps bring a business perspective to the school system. Ghion is a board member of MCBRE.

story posted March 9, 2009