In recognition of his work for charter schools, Grand Valley State University President Arend D. Lubbers has received the annual Plachta Award from the Michigan Association of Public School Academies.
The award was presented during the recent GVSU Board of Control meeting in the Loosemore Auditorium on the Grand Rapids Campus.
Dan Quisenberry, MAPSA president, said the annual award is given to someone who has promoted and encouraged school choice and educational reform. Previous winners were former Central Michigan University President Leonard Plachta (for whom the award is named after) and Arthur Carter, founder of a Detroit charter school and former deputy superintendent of Detroit Public Schools.
Pat Sandro, GVSU special assistant for charter schools, said the choice of Lubbers as award recipient was appropriate, given his leadership in trying to improve education.
President Lubbers hosts regular meeting of local public school superintendents to keep them apprised of Grand Valley's direction and listens to their input, Sandro said. He has spoken to service clubs, legislative committees and state board of education members about charter schools.
GVSU has licensed 28 charter schools in west and central lower Michigan and metropolitan Detroit.
