Horizons at Radcliffe Creek School Selects Bob Parks as Director

Horizons at Radcliffe Creek School is pleased to announce the hiring of Bob Parks as Executive Director and Laura Kurz as Communications Director.

They join former executive director Connie Schroth, who has moved into the new  position of Director of Academic Programs. “By restructuring from one full time director  to three part-time positions, we are able to benefit from the remarkable strengths each  brings to our mission, while still keeping administrative costs low,” says board Vice  President Mary Price, who headed up the search committee.

Parks, former Executive Director of the Chester River Association, will be responsible for the organization’s strategic planning, fundraising, and oversight. He is a graduate of  Bucknell University and has more than a decade of experience working for non-profits,  including time at the Alzheimer’s Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. He  previously served as secretary for the Horizons at Radcliffe Creek Board.

Kurz, former Director of Communications at St. Paul’s School in Baltimore, will manage  the organization’s communications initiatives and public outreach. A graduate of Lehigh  University and The Johns Hopkins University, Kurz has been working in non-profit  communications and public relations since 2001, including positions at the University of  Oklahoma and the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.

In her new role as Director of Academic Programs, Connie Schroth, who has led the  program as executive director for the past three years, will now focus totally on
curriculum planning, teacher hiring, and other academic aspects. Schroth taught for 33  years in New Jersey public schools and has her master’s in education from Rutgers  University.

“We believe these new hires bring the perfect combination of experience and expertise to  strengthen and broaden our impact on the children we serve,” says Horizons Board  President Kay MacIntosh. “The board could not be happier to have three such talented  people on the team. Connie Schroth is the very personification of Horizons—a passionate teacher who thrives  on interaction with the students and values the talents and dedication of the teaching  staff. She’s done a terrific job as Executive Director for the past three years and is eager, inn this new position, to focus her time and talents fully on strengthening the curriculum  and supporting the teaching staff.

In Bob Parks as the new Executive Director, we have a seasoned fundraising professional  who knows and loves Kent County and, as a former board member, knows and loves  Horizons and the children it serves.  And as Communications Director, Laura Kurz brings us a fresh perspective and energy along with the perfect set of communications skills. Her experiences in the advancement  office at St. Paul’s School will be invaluable to our own growing program.”

Horizons at Radcliffe Creek School is a six-week summer enrichment program that  serves Kent County’s vulnerable, low-income public school children in kindergarten  through fifth grade. The program includes academic instruction in reading and  mathematics, swimming, arts, field trips, and more. It is one of 19 national affiliates of Horizons National. Visit https://www.horizonsnational.org for more information.