Barbara Kraus-Blackney Visionary Service Award 

At their May 2021 Board Meeting, the ADVIS Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the ADVIS Visionary Service Award for then retiring ADVIS President, Barbara Kraus-Blackney, who served the association for 22 years. In response to the announcement of Barbara's retirement, ADVIS Board Chair and then Head of Abington Friends School, Rich Nourie, wrote:

"ADVIS has flourished under your vision and care, becoming one of the most respected associations in the country. ADVIS is renowned for its creative, responsive and high-quality professional development programs, your careful listening to the needs of schools large and small and your extraordinary ability to bring together thought leaders, resources and always fresh and timely opportunities for collegiality and learning."

Barbara Kraus-Blackney Visionary Service Award recipients are nominated by approved representatives from ADVIS member schools. Nominees’ contributions may reflect an ongoing or extraordinary gift of time, commitment, expertise, or financial support. Falling under one or more of the traditional categories of contributors of “Work, Wealth, and Wisdom,” or the more recent categories of “Raises Friends, Raises Funds, Raises Students,” award recipients are:

• Exemplary school trustees, volunteers, and/or philanthropists, or
• Individuals, not directly tied to one institution, yet having had a profound impact on area independent school education, or
• Education professionals who have shown outstanding commitment and service to the broader educational professional community in addition to their individual school. 

To submit a nomination, click on the button at the top of this page.