FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June Streckfus, to be inducted into the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame

(April 29, 2009) - June Streckfus, Executive Director of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT), will be inducted into the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame when the Chamber holds it's annual Awards Dinner, held April 29, 2009.

For Streckfus, the induction marks the second major recognition this month for a career spent working to improve student achievement in Maryland. Earlier in April, Streckfus received the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Award of Excellence "for inspiring our youth and serving as a role model for young men and women who are focused on reaching their full potential," according to Dwayne Ashley, President and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Streckfus has served as Executive Director of MBRT - a coalition of more than 100 Maryland companies that have made a long-term commitment to support education reform and improve student achievement in Maryland - since the organization was founded in 1992.

Since that time, Streckfus and MBRT have been in the forefront of Maryland's school reform effort. MBRT consistently has worked to achieve meaningful, measurable, and systemic improvement in schools and student achievement by stressing high standards, rigorous assessments, and strong accountability.

Under Streckfus' leadership, MBRT has also pioneered Achievement Counts, an innovative and highly acclaimed campaign that demonstrates the important connection between achievement in school and success in the workplace. Elements of Achievement Counts include:

  • A Speakers Bureau comprised of 2,600 volunteers that, to date, has made more than 200,000 presentations to eighth and ninth graders statewide;
  • Maryland Scholars, a program that encourages students to take and complete rigorous high school coursework, particularly in math and science;
  • Parents Count, a website that provides parents with information on how they can help their children to succeed in school; and
  • BeWhatIWantToBe.com, an interactive, career-exploration website aimed at teens.

Both the business and education communities have recognized Streckfus and MBRT for their successful efforts to involve business as a full partner in comprehensive education reform. Previous honors include awards from the National Alliance of Business, The Business Roundtable, the U.S. Department of Education, the National Association of State Directors of Vocational Technical Education, and the Maryland State Teachers Association.

In addition, Streckfus has been named one of Maryland's Top 100 Women and the recipient of the Nancy S. Grasmick Excellence for Minority Achievement Award. She received the Alumni Award as the Outstanding Professional from the University of Maryland in 2007.

Beyond MBRT, Streckfus has served as Co-Chair of Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley's Education Transition Team in 2006 and is currently co-chairing the Governor's Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Task Force. She is also a member of the U.S. Department of Education's Negotiated Rulemaking Committee for Academic Competitiveness Grants in 2007.

Prior to leading MBRT, Streckfus spent 11 years as a classroom teacher before entering government service as State Administrator to U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski and Intergovernmental Coordinator and Assistant to the Administrative Officer of Baltimore County Government.

Streckfus' induction into the Maryland Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame will take place on Wednesday, April 29, beginning at 5:30, at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, 300 Light Street in Downtown Baltimore. For more information about the Awards Dinner, contact the Maryland Chamber at 410-296-5247 or visit the Chamber's website at www.mdchamber.org.

###

Back to top