Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs

The Vincent E. Reed Award

Photo of Vincent E. Reed with Students The Vincent E. Reed Award was first presented by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee in 2003. The award is given in the name of Dr. Vincent Reed, the distinguished educator whose encouragement and support were directly responsible for the Committee’s decision to establish its public education support programs.

Following his graduation from West Virginia State College and military service during the Korean War, Vincent Reed began his career as an educator in the D.C. Public Schools in 1956. Within several years, he was promoted from a teaching position to a series of important administrative posts in the school system, culminating in his appointment as D.C. School Superintendent in 1975. His appointment to this post came at a time when the local schools were experiencing enormous stress and public criticism. Dr. Reed’s charismatic leadership and the rigorous educational programs he championed helped immeasurably to restore public confidence in the city’s schools.

In 1978, Dr. Reed met with the staff of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee and encouraged them to seek law firm volunteers to serve as legal counsel for parent leaders at a dozen public schools in Southeast Washington. This initial effort became the basis for the Committee’s representation of Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools and the D.C. Public School/Law Firm Partnership Program, which now operates in 45 schools across the city.

Following his tenure as D.C. School Superintendent, Dr. Reed went on to serve as an Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education at the U.S. Department of Education and as Vice President for Communications at the Washington Post Company.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

The partnership that Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld established with Tyler Elementary School in 1997 represents a wonderful example of the kind of collaboration envisioned by Vincent Reed when he encouraged the Washington Lawyers’ Committee to begin its Public Education Legal Services Program. Aided by sustained leadership at the partnership level, Akin Gump has provided a remarkable level of resources to the children and staff of their partner school. The list of firm initiatives is long and growing. It includes: tutoring and mentoring, sponsoring book and supply drives, providing transportation for field trips and meals for parents attending school functions, purchasing school uniforms for needy children, and hosting an International Day where firm employees speak to students about different countries. The firm has pioneered in the creation of a non-profit corporation, which has provided a vehicle for individual firm employees to make tax-deductible gifts to benefit their partner school.

In a major service to the Committee’s overall partnership program, Akin Gump for the past five years has hosted regular meetings for all partnership coordinators and school principals. These meetings have been extremely valuable, facilitating the exchange of information between law firms and schools and encouraging new firms to become part of the Committee’s program.

Patton Boggs LLP

Over the past eight years Patton Boggs has established a unique record of support for public education and children in the District of Columbia. The firm’s efforts have encompassed a major commitment of resources to a model partnership with Francis Junior High School and sustained support for Parents United for the District of Columbia Public Schools in its vital advocacy on behalf of school reform and fair funding.

As the first partnership linking an area law firm with a junior high school, Patton Boggs’ longstanding relationship with Francis Junior High School has been distinguished by a number of innovative programs in addition to major commitments to tutoring and mentoring. These programs have included: service as coaches, music instructors, and advisors for the chess club and science projects, as well as sponsorship of a number of career days for students. In addition, the firm has supported the school financially through sales of a cookbook written by firm employees with school staff and organizing a large book fair. The success of the Patton Boggs’ school partnership in D.C. has led to the creation of similar programs in several of the firm’s other offices around the country.

Over the past five years, a group of lawyers from the firm’s Public Policy Department has provided invaluable assistance to Parents United for the D.C. Public Schools in preparing advocacy materials supporting calls for vital school programs and funding. On numerous occasions, the firm’s exceptional efforts have made a critical difference in preserving basic school programs and services.